You’ve Got Mail—8
For my family of origin, knowing where to go to camp has never involved any research, any decision-making, nor any comparison shopping, because there is no other camp than Camp Takodah.
In 1921, a few years after the Cheshire County NH YMCA was formally organized, my maternal grandfather’s cousin (my cousin twice removed), Oscar Elwell, became director of the Y and ran the then-newly-established Camp Takodah with his wife Frances for 50 consecutive years.
There’s a camp song that begins with these lines: I’m Takodah born, I’m Takodah bred. Thus has it been for the following family members, all of whom were or have been campers in Takodah’s traditional boys’ and girls’ programs starting in 1939 and/or in Takodah’s family camp program starting in 1981:
• my mom, her brother, and her sister;
• all four of my sisters and I;
• one of my cousins;
• my three children;
• my dad;
• my husband and one of my brothers-in-law;
• four nephews;
• my son-in-law; and, currently,
• my two granddaughters.
Not only that, but also two wool blankets, with cloth name tags hand-sewn onto them, first went to Takodah with my uncle in 1939 and are at camp yet again right now with Caroline and Emmy in 2023!
3.5 x 5″ postcards; acrylic, pencil, and oil pastel on card stock
abstract
2023
back of postcards
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7 responses to “You’ve Got Mail—8”
Those blankets have been going to Takodah for decades! I remember having them—and being darned glad to have them—at camp myself. It is SO satisfying and heartwarming to know the two blankets that we still own have gone off yet again with Caroline and Emmy this month! I’m wondering if the blankets will stay tucked away in duffels for the duration, or if night temps will warrant their use.
holy blanketed wonderment! What a legacy you have! I am astounded and delighted by your camp posts – and by these gorgeous, sweet postcards, which will one day be looked upon by future generations as they open their boxes of personal treasures to show THEIR kids and grandkids what camp was like for them. Awwww!
“holy blanketed wonderment!”—you found les mots justes, lola!
i’m delighted to have you going to camp vicariously along with me, while caroline and emmy enjoy the real deal : )
LOVE your projection into the future—you get it! this is caroline’s third summer of traditional girls’ camp (on top of three earlier years of family camp)(and she comes from virginia!), and a couple of years ago we started creating a ‘family tree’ of my family’s involvement at takodah. lots of fun research and dredging up of collective memories. great project!
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What a lovely history and tradition! FUN! These postcards are so delightful, Dotty! Reminding me of the awesome walks in nature with my girl scout pals at scout camp. And family camping trips, wandering with my cousins. It is close to lunch time, and your vibrant greens have me craving a crunchy, yummy salad. Haha.
Haha, ;o)
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