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Caswell
"Mac" MacGregor
1947-1951 |
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“The place of North Woods in the lives of its boys is of profound
importance in the cultivation of their capacity to enjoy a full and
satisfying life. Neither school nor home can provide the situation which
is ours. There is the growth and the development in body and spirit which
comes from living up to the demands of a reasonably large group and
simultaneously within that group there exists a liberal choice of
interests and a freedom of movement without the regimentation of a school.
Because our boys live and play with others of their own general abilities,
they are not overwhelmed but rather tend to develop a competency and an
assurance which most of them need. We do our best to take advantage of the
natural beauty of our camp, and of its ideal size in numbers of campers
and in relation to acreage. We strive for an intelligent, exuberant, and
interested staff, all of whom will give their best in our intimate life,
and at the same time we seek to develop a mutual trust and understanding
with our parents.”
Caswell MacGregor 1948
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Highlights
1947
– 65 campers,
War Canoe donated by the parents
1948 – 20th Anniversary, 85 campers
1949 – 92 campers, built rifle shelter (now Senior 7), Parents’ Day
cancelled because of polio epidemic
1950 – 102 campers, 50 acres of land purchased adjacent to the Senior
Section, 3 Beetle sailboats added to the fleet, Junior Section built
1951 – 104 campers, sub-committee on long range planning met and
recommended 17 projects to improve camp
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My wife Mabel, and I first went to North Woods
in 1944, where for three years I was Assistant to Mr. Gilbert Roehrig. In
1947 I became Director. Our son, David, was then 2
1/2 years old, and my wife, a Home Economist, planned the meals as
a labor of love. For the next five years North Woods became a very
integral part of our lives. The steady flow of campers from Juniors to
Explorers, their parents, an outstanding group of counselors and staff
members, as well as the great physical beauty are all cherished memories.
We still “smell” the fragrance of pine-lined paths and feel the
stillness and peace.
Camp meant people, and
the personalities striving for growth, recognition and self-esteem have
all been part of our daily remembering all these years. There are grand
stories about each one of them, and we remember them with love and
respect. Special mention should be made of Mrs. Andrews, “Ma” to the
boys, who cooked unforgettable meals and never ran out of doughnut holes
for the hungry.
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They were wonderful years for all of us.
David, like so many others, found so many things of interest when he
entered the Junior House, that now at age 36 he is still working on some
of them. Some of the counselors and campers still visit us, and such times
are very special indeed.
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Tim Heffernan wrote this
poem
in loving memory in 1999 |
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