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A Look back
in time ...
1967 Article about Solair and its people...
Text below from 1967
So much for business and the physical aspects of the camp – let us turn to
People. Without the people it wouldn’t amount to much. I’ll try to give you a
brief story about our long-standing members and a few interesting things that
have happened here.
Florence joined Solair at one of the earlier camps. She is still with us as an
honorary member. Only the members who have been here for some years know her as
she has not attended for some time. When I visited her at her home, I tried to
persuade her to come for the 30th year party, but she thought her
health was such that she could neither stand it or enjoy it. She is eighty-four
years old, so it is understandable, but I was disappointed.
Al J. told me he, too, joined in 1936, but there is little record of him in the
years prior to 1946. From 1942 to 1946, the war years, the camp was dormant.
Al and his son were in Maine. Alexander and Capt. Greene and others had moved
away, too. Some members began to write to Al, asking him to come back to camp
and open it, I suppose as caretaker or manager or maybe just an interested
member. I forgot to ask. But, anyway, from then on he seemed to be the one who
took the active interest in the camp welfare. Some time after then his name was
put on the deeds, which had always been in Florence’s name, and remained so
until the camp incorporated and they were put in the name of Laurel Ridge, Inc.
Orrell is not a member here now and is still a nudist also, he is the earliest
to attend a camp of any of the early group. For that reason I am telling you
about him. He first went to a camp in New York in 1932 and joined Solair in one
of the early years. It was he who took Florence and Willard to the camp in
1936. He stayed with Solair until two or three years ago when he joined Hampton
Pond. Orrell told me of two incidents of interest in two early camps. At one,
a single man on a trial visit, tossed a match after lighting a cigarette. It
landed on dry grass and away the blaze spread. They barely had time to get to
their cars where their clothes were. Needless to say, that ended outings in
that location. Another time a group, not Solair, had rented a spot at a pond on
the Connecticut – Rhode Island border and were enjoying themselves when in
strolled a Rhode Island State Policeman. They were on the Connecticut side,
cars in Rhode Island. He hauled them all into court, they were able to square
themselves but it scared most so they wouldn’t go back. That ended that group.
These three are the only ones of the early group as far as we know. After the
camp reopened in ’46, a few new members began to join. Al thought there were
about 20 or 22 at first. Bill and Thora S. joined in ’49. Bill has always been
active, serving as Treasurer and President. He has also been the builder of
many cabins and buildings. It was through Bill that the camp gained its “Four
Generation Family.” After Thora died and before he married Louise, he brought
her into camp. When she returned home, she said, “Where do you think I’ve been
today?” and told her family. To make a long story short, she joined in 1956.
Her brother Bob and Ella, also Bob and Louise’s parents. Robert and Alice
joined in ’57. In ’58 Bob and Ella’s daughter, Jan and Richie became members
and their children as they arrived. So, we have the four generations.
Lucy and Willard are another pair of ‘40ers. Willard served as President and
until recent years, was active here. Now they spend more time at camps in
Florida in the winter. During the growing season, they are busy with gardens
and fruit trees, so seldom get out here. Their cabin, built in 1950, has
recently been sold to Bob and Irene.
Ann (Chaplain Bill) has been a long time member, joining as a child in 1947.
Bill came in 1954. In between, during the summer season, he was at Sunny Rest
as Chaplain and in a children’s camp in connection with that camp. He and Ann
were married in ’59 and in the next year they brought the children’s camp here,
but in time that petered out. At this time I am going to insert a story about
Solair Chapel that should have been in before but I didn’t get the data in time.
Since Chaplain Bill has been here he has conducted services on Sundays during
the summer months – sometimes in the Canteen, later in the open where the Chapel
now stands. He had been offered a site at the other end of camp but walking on
rough paths was difficult for some members so the Directors at that time offered
the present site. Four or five years ago a platform was given, another
purchased by the Directors and set up. These were painted by voluntary help to
preserve them. At first services were held on them in the open air. Later a
large Army wall storage tent was erected on the platform so services could be
held regardless of inclement weather. Several pews that had been used in a
church rebuilding program were added next.
During this time offerings had been accumulating and along with some special
gifts, it made it possible to start the Chapel building. Bill is doing most of
the work. He had had help – one member strengthening the roof and putting on
the roof shingles, another wiring the building and donating the lights. There
have been innumerable gifts of money, materials and furnishings, the last being
a Magnus Chord Organ. Perhaps the dearest to our hearts is the Terry B.
Memorial alter and Panel, fashioned by the loving hands of Bill in memory of one
of our teenagers who left this life while visiting camp last summer. Another
gift is to become a part of this memorial soon.
This building is incomplete, maybe not beautiful but the part it is playing in
the life of the camp is important. We have had our first memorial service
there. We have had our first wedding there when Marge and Vic were reunited,
both happening in 1966. These were both heartwarming experiences but the weekly
attendance, the desire to give, to help, to serve are the most heartwarming of
all and the most important.
According to a membership list brought to me by Ann, kept by her mother, Lydia,
when she was secretary in 1950, dot and Irv, also Frank and Peggy were members
then, maybe earlier. My records don’t show the dates of their joining. At
least we know they have been with us for seventeen years, quite a stretch.
Archie joined in 1952. He is a quiet, single, not here often until he retired
in ’66. Then as he was about more people began to ask him if he were a new
member, much to his amusement.Stephan K., also quiet, and only a Sunday visitor
is an old-timer, having joined in 1951. He was one of the three incorporators
when we became Laurel Ridge, Inc. instead of Associates.
Ann and Leonard have been members since 1953, Len serving as Treasurer for
several years. Ann prepared and served meals at the Lodge and later at the
Canteen. Leonard furnished me with a list of members belonging at that time, 43
in all.
Red and Doris joined the next year, ’54. They are the only ones joining that
year who are still with us.
After that there are quite a group having belonged as follows:
8 – for 11
years 18 –
for 8 years
16 – for 10
years 16 – for
7 years
9 – for 9
years 18 –
for 6 years
You can see from this that while we have a coming and going of members, we keep
many familiar faces with us and some of those who have been with us up to five
years will, in all probability, become “Old Timers.”
This is my story. It is not professional. I never professed to be a writer,
nor am I a typist. My only idea was to give interested people a picture of what
has gone into making Solair what it is today and maybe entertain you a bit. May
it stand as a testimonial to the hundreds of people who with their money, work,
and pleasant ways have made this the happy place we all love.
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