Camp Nebagamon

A number of alumni wrote in to express their appreciation for the 90^th SUMMER issue of The Keylog, published last May. Bill Sloan (Chicago/Los Angeles 52-56, 59-61, 63-64, pictured here in 1959), whose grandson Gabriel Sloan-Garcia was an eight-week camper this past summer, declared: “The Keylog is fabulous!  It is totally consuming.  Literally ‘word for word’ it brings back old memories. Thanks for the detailed history of camp, and it’s many events.”

Ted Silberstein (Cincinnati 47-52) recalled, “So much touches my heart as I scroll down through the wonderful traditions of CN… A volume could be written on the goat badge skullduggery in which LJ-4 participated in 1950 or ’51. Recently honored Stu Kornfeld won the cooking competition for Throck in 1951, and it was clear chemistry lay in his future.” And Joe Kirkish (Houghton, MI 52-58) exclaimed, “WOW! WHAM! ZOWIE! This is the most expansive, prestigious, emotionally explosive tome I’ve ever seen – and as a teacher of English for nearly a century, I know a keeper when I see it.”

Raven Deerwater (Mendocino, CA 70-74, 76-85) wrote in to say: “Thank you for editing such a nice edition of The Keylog. I’m glad you chose and pictured the 1983 Pow Wow Day, allowing me to show my wife the glory I had as Honorary Big Chief that year.  (Frank Sachs told me that I was the first Honorary Big Chief in decades who was actually the right size for the costume.) What you do is a labor of love, and I truly appreciate it.” At left is a photo of Raven (back when he was known as Dan Hirschhorn) during a 1982 GTC.

 

Paul Guggenheim (Highland Park, IL 66-71, 73-77) wrote Nardie and Sally Stein with a specific reminiscence from decades earlier: “My earliest recollections of Camp were when Dad (Dick) brought me up to post camp when I was 4 (there was a special exception made for me, the age limit was 5 at the time). Being 4, I woke up at 6 am and went down to the rec hall and sat at the fireplace with Muggs where he would tell me stories. I still remember your dad holding out his arms about 3 feet wide and saying “I caught a fish…”, and then a dramatic pause, “about this far from shore and about this big” (hands two inches apart).”

Tom Goldman (St. Louis/San Francisco 53-66) wrote in with a recollection about longtime staff member Clair Houston (at right in 1961), who spent his summers at Nebagamon for a quarter-century (1943-68) after being a Hall of Fame three-sport star at the University of Missouri. Tom’s memory, however, took place while he was playing football for the John Burroughs School in St. Louis: “My junior year at Burroughs, when my eyesight was already pretty terrible, I specialized in catching short passes. Playing on the B squad against league foe, Principia, I scored the only touchdown of the game on a pass play called T-54. (I always pretended the passes were named for me instead of the T formation.)  As I was lying in the end zone, the ref suddenly said, “Tom, toss me the ball”. Until that point, I had no idea the guy officiating the game was Clair Houston!”

The spring Keylog included a photo, sent by Bud Herzog, that featured several counselors carrying a piano toward the Shrine so that it could be played by Ray Liebau (Melbourne, FL/Malvern, AR 57-62) during a Sunday Service. Bud joked, “Ironically, Ray did not help us carry it!” After Bud sent the photo to Ray, however, he received this response: “Hey, SOMEBODY had to carry the bench! I will always remember Muggs saying, ‘Whenever there’s a piano to be moved, someone reaches for the bench.’” Meanwhile, Ray still tickles the ivories. Click here to see a video of Ray playing a much nicer piano during the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.

Several 90^th Reunion attendees and alumni wrote Brad Herzog to show appreciation for the 176-page coffee table book celebrating camp through hundreds of photos and two-dozen lyrical essays from alumni. “While going through withdrawal from the reunion weekend and dealing with the realities of work and real life, I have been taking some time to read and look through Thanks for the Pines,” wrote Larry Rivkin (Lincolnshire, IL 77-82, 84-86): “It is simply outstanding.  What a gift you have given to me this week and to the camp family for years to come!” Roger Wallenstein (Chicago 55-60, 76, 86-04) wrote: “It is superb. I love the concept of the layout and all the small details you included. It captures the essence of camp with a few words and lots of pictures.” Nardie Stein (St. Louis/Minneapolis 55-90) added: “Sal and I think it is simply wonderful. It shows so much planning, research, design, etc. You have done a fantastic thing for the CN family.” Jim Gerstein (Highland Park, IL/Washington, D.C. 82-85, 86-89) commented: “I read through the Nebagamon book last night with (my son) Emmitt, and we had an awesome time going through it together. (My wife) Aliza found the book this morning and just called me at work to rave about it. It really is an amazing piece of work that you created.” Finally, Irv Stenn (Chicago 42-50) wrote, “To you and all the contributors, my congratulations and thanks for an historic look at the history, relevance, and importance of Camp Nebagamon for so many. My experiences there and life lessons taught to me by a special group of men and women made for a full and happy life now in its 88th year. Best to you folks who contributed so much to camp and to history.” 

After John Montag (Altanta 78-83, 86) sent a “Thanks for the Pines” book as a birthday gift for his brother-in-law Tom Tisch (New York City 65-68), he received the following response, which was shared with The Keylog:

“Thanks, John, for sending the “Thanks for the Pines” Nebagamon anniversary book. It brought back lots of memories, and it was a treat to see a photo of the 1967 First Isle Royale Trip plaque that hangs in the Rec Hall. Along with my brother, I was on the trip and, in fact, the youngest. (I was in Axeman Two and Jim was in Lumberjack Four). For me, the trip was exhilarating and real slog.

Here are some picture from the trip, including a photo of Jim on top of Mount Siskiwit. It is a great photo and it hangs in the bedroom hall of my mother’s apartment. If you look closely, you’ll notice the antler strapped to his pack. It was this antler which was cut down to make the plaque along with a big hunk of copper that was found on the trip. I’ve also sent a photo of me presenting the plaque at camp. In the equal opportunity department, this photo also is in my mother’s hall.

Finally, Peder Kolind led the trip. When Alice and I were in Denmark two years ago, I had the great pleasure of having lunch with Peder’s brother, Lars. Peder passed away in 2015, having spent many years in Nicaragua, where he established Centro Carita Feliz, which provides 1,200 children and young people with food, medical care, scholarships, and education on more than 20 subjects.”