Even though it was a Senior event, today's Team Game was something even the Inters got to watch: The Senior Tennis Finals. This was truly a clash of the Titans, because it pitted the Captain of the White Team, Ronnie Durchlag, against the Captain of the Green Team, Bobbie Rosenheim. This was something that rarely happened. So, this match was looked on with great anticipation. Even from my lowly Inter standpoint, I could see that Ronnie Durschlag was an amazing athlete. Strong and muscular, she clearly was good at everything. And all the younger campers looked at her with nothing short of awe. We literally stopped talking when she walked by. Bobbie Rosenheim, on the other hand, seemed to me to be more glamorous and graceful, so it was going to be interesting to see how this match would turn out. My money was on Ronnie. Here's the entry from the '59 Lenorlog, written by Judy Lager and Ellen Karlitz
"Linesmen ready? Players ready? Begin! This was the familiar call which started off the 1959 Annual Tennis Finals.
the finalists were Ronnie Durchlag of the White Team, and Bobbie Rosenheim of the Green
Team.
After an exciting two sets, Bobbie emerged victor. The scores of the matches were 6-0 and 6-1.
It was agreed that both players showed great skill in this tournament."
So, beauty and grace triumphed. And it wasn't even close.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13 -Changes in Ownership
Somwhere around this time in mid-August, I always had a feeling of excitement and melancholy. There were all these culminating activities: Big team meets, and finals in many sports.There was still a full two weeks of camp left, but, there was also a sense of things winding down. And, if you looked carefully enough, you could even start to see some of the trees starting to fade... As a camper, you knew your day would be just as full and busy, and yet you also knew that these days were numbered. As color war moved into its final phases, there was also much talk about the Final Campfire, and the Banquet, where the winning teams would be announced.
It was also around this time in 1963, as we headed back from the lake, that we heard the words, "The camp has been sold!" The news rebounded from one girl to another, in disbelief and dismay. What? How was this possible? What would happen to us and the camp? We should have seen it coming. As early as 1962, in the Banquet edition of the Lenorlog, a man named Milton Sicherman bestowed an award on a camper. I guess the plan was for the old director team to gradually ease out and try to segue in the new foursome of directors, (Milton and Sylvia Sicherman and Irving and Dorothy Golob) as seamlessly as possible. By the summer of '63, the new team was obviously in place, though not readily visible to us. Both couples had daughters who had attended Lenore, and who were, at the time, counselors. I have no doubt that the new directors were operating from a position of great affection for the camp. From what I could tell, the Sichermans were the "outside" faces, and The Golobs were behind the scenes, working in the kitchen and the office. - A decision that was clearly regrettable. Even Mrs. Spec sensed it. (A few years later, Irving Golob mentioned to me, that Mrs. Spec advised him, "Irving, get out of the kitchen!") By the end of the '63 season, many of the campers and parents were justifiably concerned about Lenore's future. As a result, some girls didn't return in 1964, despite assurances that all would remain as it was. It didn't.
Change is not always good. Part of Lenore's cachet was that it had STAYED THE SAME. Lenore offered stability, continuity, and the unique assurance that a contemporary camper could experience the same traditions that her grandmother did. Among those traditions was Color War. It was literally woven into the fabric of our CL sweaters, and was an integral part of our day to day existence. Its elimination was akin to pulling the foundation out from under a house. ( And a rather shaky house, at that.) Those of us who did return in good faith, felt betrayed and outraged. The summer of '64 was a disaster. Enrollment dropped even further. And ultimately, the partnership of the Sichermans and Golobs broke up. By 1965, Irving and Dorothy Golob, and Howard and Risa Golob (their son and daughter-in-law) became sole owners of Lenore, and attempted to put things back on track, with the promise that the "old Lenore" would return exactly as it was, traditions intact. Irv Golob finally followed Mrs. Spec's advice; emerged from the kitchen; took the helm and attempted to right a sinking ship. It took a great deal of courage to do so. The Golobs made a huge effort to reach out to my family and others and bring us back. Because of his honesty and earnestness, we returned. And for the following two summers, Lenore was once again the camp on that "lonely, lofty mountaintop" that we loved.
It was also around this time in 1963, as we headed back from the lake, that we heard the words, "The camp has been sold!" The news rebounded from one girl to another, in disbelief and dismay. What? How was this possible? What would happen to us and the camp? We should have seen it coming. As early as 1962, in the Banquet edition of the Lenorlog, a man named Milton Sicherman bestowed an award on a camper. I guess the plan was for the old director team to gradually ease out and try to segue in the new foursome of directors, (Milton and Sylvia Sicherman and Irving and Dorothy Golob) as seamlessly as possible. By the summer of '63, the new team was obviously in place, though not readily visible to us. Both couples had daughters who had attended Lenore, and who were, at the time, counselors. I have no doubt that the new directors were operating from a position of great affection for the camp. From what I could tell, the Sichermans were the "outside" faces, and The Golobs were behind the scenes, working in the kitchen and the office. - A decision that was clearly regrettable. Even Mrs. Spec sensed it. (A few years later, Irving Golob mentioned to me, that Mrs. Spec advised him, "Irving, get out of the kitchen!") By the end of the '63 season, many of the campers and parents were justifiably concerned about Lenore's future. As a result, some girls didn't return in 1964, despite assurances that all would remain as it was. It didn't.
Change is not always good. Part of Lenore's cachet was that it had STAYED THE SAME. Lenore offered stability, continuity, and the unique assurance that a contemporary camper could experience the same traditions that her grandmother did. Among those traditions was Color War. It was literally woven into the fabric of our CL sweaters, and was an integral part of our day to day existence. Its elimination was akin to pulling the foundation out from under a house. ( And a rather shaky house, at that.) Those of us who did return in good faith, felt betrayed and outraged. The summer of '64 was a disaster. Enrollment dropped even further. And ultimately, the partnership of the Sichermans and Golobs broke up. By 1965, Irving and Dorothy Golob, and Howard and Risa Golob (their son and daughter-in-law) became sole owners of Lenore, and attempted to put things back on track, with the promise that the "old Lenore" would return exactly as it was, traditions intact. Irv Golob finally followed Mrs. Spec's advice; emerged from the kitchen; took the helm and attempted to right a sinking ship. It took a great deal of courage to do so. The Golobs made a huge effort to reach out to my family and others and bring us back. Because of his honesty and earnestness, we returned. And for the following two summers, Lenore was once again the camp on that "lonely, lofty mountaintop" that we loved.
Wednesday, August 12 The Counselors
Since I've been reminscing about staff members, I probably should take some time to talk about the counselors we had over the years. For the most part, the bunk counselors were young, college students. (Of course, to us, they seemed really OLD.) Many of them were Phys, Ed majors, and they came from all over the country, mostly for one summer. But, there were a few, key, "upper level" counselors (like the head counselors), who returned year after year. These women were tough. And they had tough names like, Sandy, Rusty, Foxy and Bobby. In fact, I spent my first week of camp in 1959, thinking Sandy was a guy. However, no one instilled more fear in me than Bobby Schammel. She was the head counselor of Inter Camp when I started and was still Head Counselor my last summer. Oddly enough, the 1959 Lenorlog had a section called, "Dirt from the Dustpan", which mentioned that Bobby was once a can-can dancer. A fact I find surprising and almost surreal. Bobby was so intimidating that even at the Camp Lenore reunion at the Yale Club in 2006, I was still a little afraid to talk to her...At any rate, one fateful summer, I had the bad luck to randomly be assigned to Bobby's table in the dining room. Now, the head counselor's table was usually reserved for the trouble-makers and miscreants of the Camp. But, usually, even the best behaved, got assigned there once. That's how I got there.
Bobby was a stickler for table manners and "taste portions." (a required tablespoon of whatever was being served.) One evening, we were served peas and little diced carrots. I dutifully took my taste portion. But, while I was spooning it into my mouth, some accidentally spilled onto the floor. Just as I finished the few remaining peas, Bobby noticed, and said, "See? You liked them after all! Would you like some more?" Something vindictive inside me prompted me to say, "Yes!" I then proceeded to take my new, full portion of peas, and discreetly drop them, one by one, onto the floor. I couldn't wait for us to be excused, thinking I was the first girl in Camp Lenore history to pull a fast-one on Bobby Schammel. However, just as we prepared to push in our chairs in and leave, Bobby decided to make us check under the table for napkins, thus revealing the pile of peas under my chair. I spent the rest of that summer seated right next to her.
There were other counselors of note. Some were in my bunks, and others were simply memorable human beings. Like my counselor in Bunk 33, Lucy Browder, who was from Sweetwater, Tennessee, and was the Nature Counselor. She kept killing jars, filled with dead bugs and butterflies in our backroom. There wer Drama counselors, like Shelley Schulman, who was the main counselor in Bunk 18 when I was a CIT. I have fond memories of Fran Streiter, who was a counselor the whole time that I was at Lenore, and was a wonderful, kind and motivating force during our summers. She was so attached to us and Lenore, that in 1967, when she had to leave camp early for some surgery, she wrote a long and poignant letter to us that was published in the Lenorlog.
And then there was Ellen Greenfield, my counselor in Bunk 34 in 1965. Maybe it was our age, her age, or the fact that we all were New Yorkers, but, to us, Ellen was the greatest counselor a sixteen year old girl could have had. Pretty, with beautiful strawberry blond hair and freckles, Ellen was funny, athletic, and was really the first counselor to whom we all could totally relate. She came to Lenore from Camp Tamarack to teach tennis, along with her sister Jane. They were quite the dynamic duo. Jane was a counselor in Lower Camp, whie Ellen was my counselor in the Valley. And, in what had to be a first for Lenore, their brother, George, also worked at Camp, too. George was a little older than us, very handsome, and as such, was quite the center of all the girls' attention. My bunkmate, Nancy Katzman ended up capturing his.
At the time she was our counselor, Ellen was engaged to marry a young, soon-to-be attorney named Roger Rosenberg. She graciously let us in on all her plans. We were even invited to her wedding. Several years later, Ellen came to mine. Time passed, and though I lost touch with her, I thought I'd try and reconnect with her when I heard about the reunion plans in 2006. Sadly, I learned that Ellen was suffering from a form of brain cancer, and was gravely ill. She passed away shortly after that.
So, here's to you, Ellen along with all the wonderful women (and men) who taught us how to swim, canoe, water ski, play tennis, golf and volley ball, and helped us grow up to be responsible, caring adults.
Bobby was a stickler for table manners and "taste portions." (a required tablespoon of whatever was being served.) One evening, we were served peas and little diced carrots. I dutifully took my taste portion. But, while I was spooning it into my mouth, some accidentally spilled onto the floor. Just as I finished the few remaining peas, Bobby noticed, and said, "See? You liked them after all! Would you like some more?" Something vindictive inside me prompted me to say, "Yes!" I then proceeded to take my new, full portion of peas, and discreetly drop them, one by one, onto the floor. I couldn't wait for us to be excused, thinking I was the first girl in Camp Lenore history to pull a fast-one on Bobby Schammel. However, just as we prepared to push in our chairs in and leave, Bobby decided to make us check under the table for napkins, thus revealing the pile of peas under my chair. I spent the rest of that summer seated right next to her.
There were other counselors of note. Some were in my bunks, and others were simply memorable human beings. Like my counselor in Bunk 33, Lucy Browder, who was from Sweetwater, Tennessee, and was the Nature Counselor. She kept killing jars, filled with dead bugs and butterflies in our backroom. There wer Drama counselors, like Shelley Schulman, who was the main counselor in Bunk 18 when I was a CIT. I have fond memories of Fran Streiter, who was a counselor the whole time that I was at Lenore, and was a wonderful, kind and motivating force during our summers. She was so attached to us and Lenore, that in 1967, when she had to leave camp early for some surgery, she wrote a long and poignant letter to us that was published in the Lenorlog.
And then there was Ellen Greenfield, my counselor in Bunk 34 in 1965. Maybe it was our age, her age, or the fact that we all were New Yorkers, but, to us, Ellen was the greatest counselor a sixteen year old girl could have had. Pretty, with beautiful strawberry blond hair and freckles, Ellen was funny, athletic, and was really the first counselor to whom we all could totally relate. She came to Lenore from Camp Tamarack to teach tennis, along with her sister Jane. They were quite the dynamic duo. Jane was a counselor in Lower Camp, whie Ellen was my counselor in the Valley. And, in what had to be a first for Lenore, their brother, George, also worked at Camp, too. George was a little older than us, very handsome, and as such, was quite the center of all the girls' attention. My bunkmate, Nancy Katzman ended up capturing his.
At the time she was our counselor, Ellen was engaged to marry a young, soon-to-be attorney named Roger Rosenberg. She graciously let us in on all her plans. We were even invited to her wedding. Several years later, Ellen came to mine. Time passed, and though I lost touch with her, I thought I'd try and reconnect with her when I heard about the reunion plans in 2006. Sadly, I learned that Ellen was suffering from a form of brain cancer, and was gravely ill. She passed away shortly after that.
So, here's to you, Ellen along with all the wonderful women (and men) who taught us how to swim, canoe, water ski, play tennis, golf and volley ball, and helped us grow up to be responsible, caring adults.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 11- Sally #2
Anyone who was ever in a camp play, or Ritual, or anything that required a real costume, would have to meet the camp costumier/seamstress, Sally. (Creighton?) The costume shop, which also served as Sally's living quarters, was located behind the Senior Social Hall, in a very wooded area, And, it was accessed (even in 1959,) by a rickety wooden bridge. The effect was sort of fairy-tale-like, and one couldn't help but think that at any moment, a troll might appear. And it did...in a slightly altered state. Once you opened the door to the costume shop, you belonged to Sally. The first thing that hit you upon entering was the smell of 40 years worth of musty fabric, mixed with rancid make-up, and what I now believe was probably Bourbon. And then, from behind a fabric curtain, a tiny, old woman appeared, who resembled a walking cewpie doll. The effect was quite startling: bright orange hair, rheumy blue eyes, white pancake make-up, and red-rouged cheeks. "Hello darlin', she'd drawl at you." Come on over and let Sally get some measurements..." Depending on what role you were playing, Sally would pull out specific old burlap or canvas togas from her storage area and throw them over you with great flourish. Then, she'd pull out pins from a pin cushion she wore on her wrist, and start pinning away. Over the years, I'd have little conversations with her, while she pinned and pulled at me. Invariably, she'd send me on my way with a, "Now, you just let Sally take care of it..." Considering the age and fragility of what she was working with, the fact that Sally managed to have everything all ready when anyone needed to wear it was nothing short of amazing. She was quite the miracle worker. Or, fairy godmother.
I had heard from someone that Sally was a former chorus girl in vaudeville, which, judging from her make-up, made perfect sense. Moreover, at the end of any of our productions, when we acknowledged the people who helped in the production, our last call was always, "We want Sally! We want Sally!" At that point, Sally would emerge from the wings and do a little can-can or jig. It always brought down the house.
I had heard from someone that Sally was a former chorus girl in vaudeville, which, judging from her make-up, made perfect sense. Moreover, at the end of any of our productions, when we acknowledged the people who helped in the production, our last call was always, "We want Sally! We want Sally!" At that point, Sally would emerge from the wings and do a little can-can or jig. It always brought down the house.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 10 The Canoe Meet & "The Sally" #1
According to the calendar, in 1959, today was the Canoe Meet. As water events went, this was a big one, and a challenging one from both the competitor's and judges' standpoint. The Green Team and White Team faced off in a variety of events: Different length races, different numbers of girls in a canoe, etc. There were a few novelty events as well. I remember there was one where you had to capsize your canoe, right it, get back in it and paddle back to shore, and I think there was some sort of relay race as well as some form events. As a new camper in 1959, I was still a "rower." So, watching the more advanced teammates compete in this was a good incentive to improve...This was one of those events where the winning team wasn't officially announced until the Banquet, so we were all kept guessing until then. If anyone out there has additional recollections, I'd welcome them.
This brings me to my second subject: "The Sally" (the first one, that is...) All this talk about the Waterfront, reminded me that we used to call the building/boat house where we went to change, "The Sally." I vaguely recall that, in true Lenore fashion, it was a corrupted version of the word, "Sailing." True or not, it's as good a guess as any. More on Sallie #2 later...
This brings me to my second subject: "The Sally" (the first one, that is...) All this talk about the Waterfront, reminded me that we used to call the building/boat house where we went to change, "The Sally." I vaguely recall that, in true Lenore fashion, it was a corrupted version of the word, "Sailing." True or not, it's as good a guess as any. More on Sallie #2 later...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday, August 9- Come Campers Mark This Day!
Usually, on the first or second Sunday in August, the Camp Birthday was celebrated. This was a huge event, often with costumed skits performed by campers and counselors, special activities, and of course, special food. The culmination was a banquet-like dinner, which included a humongous, beautifully decorated cake by Albert. The cake was so special, that we all had to line-up in order to take pictures of it. The day even started specially. In 1959, Mrs. Spec was still quite lively, and always had a significant role in making the day's announcements. On a typical day, when she would stand, the entire dining room would have to come to a complete standstill. She would totter around the Director's Table, and say, 'Good morning everybody." We would dutifully reply, "Good morning, Mrs. Spec." She would then proceed to tell us what was in store for us. However, on the Camp's Birthday, when Mrs. Spec would say " Good morning, everybody.", we could respond, "Good Morning, Mrs. Spec-torrrrrrr-SKY!!!" This was apparently quite hilarious, and we would have to be calmed down by the counselors in order for Mrs. Spec to continue. Starting from breakfast on, there was singing. Special songs that only could be sung on the Camp's Birthday: Ho Lenore, Come Campers Mark This Day, We're From Camp Lenore,- along with the "standards' of No Common Task, Here's to Thee, 196_, The Spirit of Lenore, and many others. An entry from the 1960 Lenorlog, by Judy Klimpl, captures some of the ambience:
"The usual Sunday program was altered on August 7, due to the celebration of Lenore's 43 birthday. After the Assembly, which consisted of team, and numerous camp songs, we were divided into three groups according to our individual birth months. This year's theme was "Happy Birthday!" The sound of the bugle at 3;30 summoned the three groups, arrayed in colorful costumes, to the front lawn for the presentation of the skits. The skits were delivered as part of the birthday celebration of Margie and Eloise, played respectively by Sandy and Foxie (head counselors) Artistic flats, designed by Penny and Fifi, represented each of the three skits, "King Size Birthday", "Out of this World", and "Witches Escapade." The cutting of the cake by the oldest campers completed the enjoyable tradition."
I had forgotten that if you were a returning camper of at least four years, (I think) you could cut the cake. And the camper who had attended Lenore the longest was saved for last, and got some sort of special recognition. So, Lenore, in honor of your birthday, here's a rousing 'Ho Lenore" to you! (There are two different lyrics printed in past Lenorlogs!)
Ho Lenore! Honor and glory to your name
Ho Lenore ! Brighter and brighter grows your fame!
With love sincere, shouting your name so clear
Sounding a chorus with resounding cheer
Ho Lenore! Sing it aloud of it we're proud
Our camp, dearest of all Lenore!
"We're From Camp Lenore":
Group #1:We're From Camp Lenore!
Group #2; (We're from Camp Lenore!)
#1: Lots of things to do
#2: (Lots of things to do)
#1: Here at camp
#2: (Here at camp)
#1: We're from Camp Lenore!
#2: (We're from Camp Lenore!)
#1: Joys and laughter
(Together) Mem'ries ever after
Of our camp!
"The usual Sunday program was altered on August 7, due to the celebration of Lenore's 43 birthday. After the Assembly, which consisted of team, and numerous camp songs, we were divided into three groups according to our individual birth months. This year's theme was "Happy Birthday!" The sound of the bugle at 3;30 summoned the three groups, arrayed in colorful costumes, to the front lawn for the presentation of the skits. The skits were delivered as part of the birthday celebration of Margie and Eloise, played respectively by Sandy and Foxie (head counselors) Artistic flats, designed by Penny and Fifi, represented each of the three skits, "King Size Birthday", "Out of this World", and "Witches Escapade." The cutting of the cake by the oldest campers completed the enjoyable tradition."
I had forgotten that if you were a returning camper of at least four years, (I think) you could cut the cake. And the camper who had attended Lenore the longest was saved for last, and got some sort of special recognition. So, Lenore, in honor of your birthday, here's a rousing 'Ho Lenore" to you! (There are two different lyrics printed in past Lenorlogs!)
Ho Lenore! Honor and glory to your name
Ho Lenore ! Brighter and brighter grows your fame!
With love sincere, shouting your name so clear
Sounding a chorus with resounding cheer
Ho Lenore! Sing it aloud of it we're proud
Our camp, dearest of all Lenore!
"We're From Camp Lenore":
Group #1:We're From Camp Lenore!
Group #2; (We're from Camp Lenore!)
#1: Lots of things to do
#2: (Lots of things to do)
#1: Here at camp
#2: (Here at camp)
#1: We're from Camp Lenore!
#2: (We're from Camp Lenore!)
#1: Joys and laughter
(Together) Mem'ries ever after
Of our camp!
Saturday, August 8- PVD 2
I had completely forgotten about this, but for many summers, there were 2 Parents' Visiting Days- one during each month. Somehow, I seem to recall, that in the late 60's it was changed to only one, but I could be wrong about this. At any rate, there definitely was a second one in 1959, which also meant the likelihood of me enduring another long-suffering wait at the Lodge for my parents to arrive. I do remember one year, they were so late, the counselors let us sit on the Lodge porch so we'd have a better view when they finally showed up. According to the Lenorlog, during the second PVD in 1960, we had our encore performance of Robin Hood, in which I got to portray the Sheriff of Nottingham for the parents. This was probably the most thrilling experience of my summer that year. Usually, by the second Visiting Day, we were all far more self-assured in our social standing at camp, as well as in our activities. And it was always fun to show off our newly honed skills. I remember my parents always commenting about how "healthy" my sister and I looked. At least they knew we were well-fed. For most campers, the second Visiting Day went much easier in terms of separation anxiety. We knew there were only a few more weeks left of camp and we'd be seeing them soon enough. In keeping with tradition, there would be a Music Hour at the "shell" to help wind us down from all the day's excitement.
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