July 1957

WRH Diary July 1957

July 1, 1957

Had a card from Ron.  He wrote from camp Mohican.  To me his father it does many things 1-upsets me that a 10 yr old doesn’t have a better writing vocabulary and better word usage. 2- makes me proud of the fact that he would write me so promptly 3-I appreciate his sensitiveness and kindness in writing Julie.  Think I’ll put his card between these pages for the enjoyment of someone who may read these words in the years to come. (Card has been returned to Ron and he can share what he wrote if he wants)

Cold , cloudy and showers but we have no choice.  We must proceed with our schedule.  Hiram Allyson one of our guides took 5 boys and left for the North Pole Camp.  They will be gone until Thursday.  May find some salmon fishing when they arrive.  Don and I worked with the boys who stayed behind teaching them water safety and canoeing.  Our cook-John McIvor is a great baker.  He has hot biscuits, pie, cake on the table for every meal.  The kids are going to put on weight like mad.  Mr. Peters and John Dykstra are finishing the heavy timbers that will support the new 10 X 20 foot dining room we are building onto the back of the kitchen.  Kids all seem happy and seem to be having a good time.

July 2, 1957

Through Ken Story-our old cook friend we are getting in good with the air strip driver.  He goes to town daily-so we get mail and provisions hauled both ways as a service.  We beat the air-strip team in volleyball last night so they want us to come up and play them on their court tonight.  Too cold (54 last night) to put the kids in the water.  Had them practice with canoes for a while.  Broke out some fishing gear and spent some time teaching them how to care for their rods, how to cast, tie flies to leader etc.  Gave them a couple of worms each and had a fishing derby from the boat dock.  Gave them all a candy bar and a pkg of gum for their efforts.

Had lunch and took all the boys, via station wagon to where the new road crosses the cowboy outlet.  We fished a couple of hundred yards of the stream with excellent success.  I took one 15″ brook trout that weighed 1 1/2 lbs.  Dick Vlasak took a 13 1/4″ trout that weighed 1 lb.  Several that were nearly a lb. were taken.  After dinner we drove to the air strip.  Unable to play volley-ball they were spraying.  We enjoyed watching the planes work.  Had some mail for camp.  For me a letter from Mrs. Foss.

July 3, 1957

Not sleeping too well.  Lots of worries about these boys are on my mind.  Planes sprayed a bit this morning.  Peters and Dykstra started laying flooring on the new dining area.  We worked the boys on canoe rescues.  Nice day for a change but the water is still cold.  Working our non-swimmer in a life jacket.  Our camp is on a beautiful lake.  Holmes Lake to be exact.  The open land around our cabins is one solid field of Loopins (tall violet strings of flowers) all in bloom.  Took some pictures and wrote a supply list for Kiah.

Helped the cook with lunch and took the boys over to the main camp for a tour of the big sport camp  They were very much impressed.  Shot the 22 rifles for a while and tried some water skiing.  Hurried through dinner and KP and took off for the air strip.  Won 2 out of 3 games of volleyball and had a coffee break with their crew.  Just as we were leaving a shot rang out and we all dashed to the garbage pit.  A bounty hunter had shot a big black bear with a 30-30 rifle  He cut off his head for a $10 bounty.  Our kids were all eyes.

July 4, 1957

We all slept late-8:00 AM.  Breakfast consisted of stewed prunes, cereal, sausages, pie and cake.  A Holiday so we planned no program.  Rained like mad so I put my poncho on and washed clothes.  repaired a reel and fly rod that had been broken.  wrote a letter to Helen and it was lunch time.  We had Pepsi-Cola as a treat thanks to Mr. Martin, vice-president of Pepsi-Cola Co. who sent some in with his compliments.  I also gave the boys a candy ration as a 4th of July treat.

Mr. Peters, Mr. Dykstra and Don took three loads to Smith forks fishing.  I took the half dozen who stayed across the lake.  Most went by canoe- I pulled one across on water skis.  They swam, fished for perch and fooled around, while I wrote a letter to Julie Harris.  Lovely ham for dinner.  We hurried to the airstrip and beat the strip crew at softball 6-0.  I pitched!  We had a coffee break and then drove to the strip and set off about $35 worth of fireworks.  Mr. Copp came in with supplies and mail.  Letter from Helen, to bed by midnight.

July 5, 1957

What a beautiful day to wake up to.  Birds singing, blue lake, sun shining and a blue sky full of beautiful white fleecy clouds.  Mr. Peters and the Rev Dykstra started on the corners and roof plates of the dining hall.  It begins to shape up.  Rev Dykstra slipped out to the spring in the lake and caught a 15″ trout weighing 1 1/4 lb. (eastern brook)  Put the boys in canoes while Don and I whipped and lashed two fly rods in an attempt to repair them.  Started to rain.  It poured and poured for six straight hours.  I wrote letters to Mr. Pratt, Cozart and Mrs. Foss.  Caught 3 hours of much needed rest.  Put the boys to fishing and canoeing in the evening.  Otis Storey, his wife and Ken Storey came in.  Otis and wife will care take.  Ken will cook for us  I paid John MacIvor $120 for 11 days as cook $115.50 wages and 4.50 gratuity.  Started reading Bhawani Junction

July 6, 1957

Again-a beautiful day-to start with.  Sunshine-blue skies-birds singing.  Hearty breakfast and two groups of boys start packing.  Don with one group to Renous Lake and me with  group to the upper forks.  We carefully selected supplies of food stuff and started.  Our path led along Mud Lake to Beaver Lake.  The shores of Beaver Lake were awash with silver side minnows and mullet or suckers (later 6-12 inches long)  who were all dead.  D.D.T. from the spray plane?

Across the new road and down to Smith Forks.  Hauled out one of the 22′ flat bottomed canoes and crossed to the island.  We stopped to hang signs reading “Pratt’s Leased Waters” “Fishing by permission only”.  Up to the boat cache and up the river to the Upper forks cabin.  Rain showers on the way up.  We heard planes come into the airstrip.  Wonder why.  Left two fishing poles at the boat landing so R. Bauer and T. Nollman paddled back after them.  Fished the river and enjoyed our lunch and dinner.  I do all the cooking.  We caught 6 trout for breakfast.  Browning and Schaffner dashed to the roof when a couple of boys growled like bears.  Took some pictures-Ruined my shoe moccasins by heat when drying them.

July 7, 1957

Enjoyed the luxury of sleeping late.  I was the first one up and prepared breakfast-link sausage, scrambled eggs and a pan of trout.  I’m currently engrossed in reading John Masters Bhawani Junction”-rather a powerful sociological book on India with the usual sex trash thrown in to make it sell many copies.  Cleaned up and packed up.  the kids went fishing.  One canoe tipped over soaking Schaffner and Browning.

Back down the river we paddled with a wind at our backs.  Stored the canoes and talked world religion and philosophy to R. Bauer for the entire walk to the Smith Forks boathouse.  Have to wear canoe moccasins.  Walked back via the airstrip road.  We were late for dinner-baked ham and coconut cream pie was featured.  Kiah was in.  Had a letter from Teri Ann as dictated to her mother.  Went through and cleaned and straightened all my fish gear, flies, spinners, etc.  Don sewed a piece of lambs’ wool on my cap for flies.  Cold supper and church services followed.  A quiet hour on the lake with Dykstra fishing.  Read late and wrote Teri Ann.

July 8, 1957

Every day starts out as the most beautiful ever yet each day provides its shower.  Where will today’s catch me?  Worked hard all morning getting groups ready for the trail.  Don’s group went down Cowboy stream fishing (a favorite stream since we have taken 1-1 1/2 and 2 lb trout out of it.  He will go to the upper forks and MacDonald’s Pond tomorrow.  Worked with Hiram’s group.  Finally had all their food and provisions ready and Mr. Peters hauled them to Smith Forks with the Grey canoe.  they are going on to Mitchell and Grover Lake.  Will spend tonight at the Upper forks.  Finally lunch was ready.  Wrote Mr. Pratt a note inclosing clippings from a Moncton paper about New Castle, its town square, Lord Beaverbook etc.

My group is headed for Tuadock Lake (Big Lake) and Squaw Baron Brook and Pocket Lake.  Short run across Holmes Lake in the 10 HP motor boat.  Short but heavy haul to the dam at Big Lake with the 3 HP motor and extra gasoline.  Straight up the middle of Big Lake.  Used Mr. Pratt’s air map photo to find our mistake and get to the mouth of Squaw Baron Brook.  A beautiful place.  We pitched tents on high ground in the woods.  Cooking on a big rock by a beautiful pool and waterfall.  Good fishing.  enjoyed dinner-soup-spaghetti sauce on rice and meat.-pudding!  Caught a nice mess of trout.  Enjoyed a beautiful moon-a fishing trip down the stream in the canoe-saw a muskrat.

July 9, 1957

Leisure morning.  although I carry an air mattress in the woods I still don’t sleep well at night.  Could be that I am listening for bears with one ear.  We had a good breakfast of pancakes an trout.  After we were all cleaned up we all took a bath in the big pool, water was really cold.  I slipped on a rock and skinned my side.  Bruised rather badly-probably live though.  Took our lunch and went exploring up stream.  Nothing but brush.  Lots of deer trails, tracks and droppings and a few beaver dams.  Glad to get back to our camp.  Cooked lunch and went down stream in the canoes.  Had a lot of fun exploring.  Started to rain.  Hurried back to camp.  Secured against rain.  Lousy dinner.  One of the kids started to cook it and loused it up.  Lots of rain.  Find Raymond Bauer a most interesting boy.  Sweat out the rain all night.  Tent held fine except for a few drops.  Lousy night for sleep.

July 10, 1957

Still raining like mad.  I got a fire started.  Soaked from waist down.  Poncho helps some.  Boiled potatoes, onions, eggs for breakfast.  Only thing one could do in the rain.  Packed our gear and took off.  Out of Squaw Baron Brook into Big Lake and across to the big island.  Saw a moose and a muskrat.  Lots of bird life.  White throated Song Sparrow is my favorite.

Dr. Lockhart’s camp was empty so we “holed up”.  Big fire to dry out our gear and washed up all of our dirty pots and pans.  Ran out of bread.  but we still have lots of soups, meat and some pancakes.  Won’t get fat-but we will live.  Lockhart has plenty of food but I won’t let the kids touch it.  Law of the woods.  Nice big lunch and to fishing.  30 chubs in 10 minutes then up Pocket Lake outlet where I caught a dozen trout.  Lockhart has a beautiful-peeled log cabin.  Nothing fancy but very functional.  The kids are pleased that we are going to spend the night here.  Rain and more rain.  Light dinner, miss the bread.  Kids do too.  A game of hearts (cards) by candlelight and all the kids jumped in bed.  I caught up with my diary and Bauer read.  He is a strange but a good boy.  Picked up by police for attempted robbery twice.  But seems to be OK now-hope so I like him.

July 11, 1957

Best night’s sleep in several nights.  What a pleasure to cook on a stove after a few days of a boil pot in the woods.  Bacon, pancakes, trout for breakfast.  Wrote Dr. Lockhart a note of thanks and swept and mopped his floors.  Two little otter kittens swan the lake to our island and put on a show I shall never forget.  Cutest things..  We got some pictures and enjoyed watching them.  Loaded our gear and started down the lake.  About 2/3’s of the way home when we realized we had forgotten the ax ( we broke a handle out of a camp ax at Dr. Lockhart’s)  Put Bauer and Caggiano in the lee of an Island and ran back for the ax.  Made the lake run OK and had a fast trip from the dam to Holmes lake.  Good to be back at the base camp.  We had mail and lunch waiting for us.  Letter from Helen & Ron.  Ron enclosed a letter from Sheldon Morris-my favorite cousin who lives in Sun Valley, California.  Had a hot bath and picked up the group coming down from the upper forks and Grover Lake with the grey canoe.  We had our first meal in the new dining hall.  Not quite finished but far enough to permit using from now on.  Went fishing at Cowboy Stream.  Caught a nice 1 lb Eastern Brook trout and got real wet.

July 12, 1957

8 AM breakfast.  Very cold.  Temperature last night dropped to 48 degrees !  We will have showers again today.  We split the boys up into work groups  Some helped Rev. Dykstra shingle on the new dining hall roof.  Others helped Mr. Peters with odds and ends of carpentry.  Don had a crew working on the waterfront.  Many things were accomplished.  Don’s crew successfully cleaned up the old boat house area and built a new canoe landing.  I worked hard at papers, bills, accounts and correspondence.  Wrote several letters and after about 8 hours felt I had some what caught up.  We enjoy our new dining facilities.  It is good to have everyone sitting at one table.  Mr. Kiah Copp sent in a Moncton paper with a picture and clipping about our “Oscar” presentation to the Hon. Norman B Buchanan.  Our gang was pretty tired.  Everyone seemed ready to turn in early.  Some reading, a little playing of games and cards and slowly they headed for their sacks.  A good bunch but rather immature and childish on the whole. Not quite the quality of other groups other years.

July 13, 1957

Had the kids split into details-two cabins and the day room to clean.  Passed out 3 $2 fines- no sheets in sleeping bags.  Don’s crew took on the job of opening a new passage to the dining hall.  Long 30′ spruce trees spiked to 3′ cross pieces and cut flat on top with an ax makes a nice board walk.  Sent one group to Martin’s Bluff (an old fire tower makes it the highest point in this country-excellent observation) with Hiram Allison our guide.  This is a one day trip with lunch carried and an excellent opportunity for photos.

I took a crew and we worked like blazes digging and hauling 100 wheel barrow loads of dirt to level and top dress the lawn area in front of the Winter Camp.  We staked the area and worked hard to rake out roots, rocks and long grass and trash.  Helped Mr. Peters put the last few feet of flooring down in the dining room.  Supplies and some mail came in.  Mr. Peters, John Dykstra and I went Salmon fishing.  Not one strike.  Mr. Peters lost a beautiful mother-of-pearl trout minnow lure of mine.  Broke my heart.  We rode down to see the new bridge across the river.

July 14, 1957

Everyone slept until 9 AM.  Sausage and pancakes for breakfast.  Cleland gas and plumber came in to make some service calls.  More interested in fishing than working.  Damn poor representatives of their company.  Roped-raked and put pieces of cloth on the rope  around the new front lawn area.  Another church service.  Can’t help but see the difference between the LDS concepts and the way John explains the bible as he presents his sermon.

Took the kids and split them into two groups representing 1st year campers and 2nd year campers.  Don conducted swimming and rifle contests while I conducted canoeing races and tests and water skiing contests.  Stopped long enough for dinner and right back at it.  It took us all afternoon to finish.  Tired but happy group lined up for chow.  Rained real hard.  We still have a perfect record of rain every day.  We put wallboard up and linoleum on the floor and hooks and eyes on the screws of the dining hall.  Took a lot of pictures using flash bulbs.  Did some writing and played a game of hearts that was loads of fun.  Won the game by “shooting the moon”.  The kids are getting real sharp-but can’t quite beat me.

July 15, 1957

Sent two fishing parties down Cowboy Stream.  One with Hiram and one with Don.  Packed lunches for all twenty campers.  Started up into big lake with Peters and Dykstra and four boys.  Had to stop at boat house and work on the 15 HP motor.  Pushed off from the dam in the big canoe with 3 HP on it and the little canoe with two boys in it in tow.  Middle of the lake we hit worst rain storm I have ever seen in this country.  We had to put in to an Island to keep from sinking.  We were shipping water.  Lots of close thunder and lightning.  finally continued on up the lake to Dr. Lockhart’s camp.  Got a fire going-begin to dry out.  Between showers Nick Peters and I started back down to the dam.  Hit a rock and sheared a pin on the motor.  Paddled on down to the dam.  Nick and I came back to the winter camp in a rain storm.  Ate dinner -picked up Don O’Rourke-tools and a pin and headed back in another terrible rain storm.  Repaired the pin and was half way up the lake when the motor lost half of its compression.  Limped on into camp, ate, read and hit the sack in one of the Drs. sleeping bags.

July 16, 1957

Storm and more storm-rain and more rain.  Had breakfast, fished, cleaned up camp, scrubbed floor, chopped a big supply of wood and pushed off for the dam.  At the dam we found a fishing rod had been left behind.  Bauer, Aitcheson and Tomlinson returned for it while the rest of us fished at the dam.  I didn’t have a pole so cut an alder bush and used a few feet of leader and some worm.  Caught six down between the logs of the dam.  We caught about 15 trout in twenty minutes.

Returned to camp at Holmes Lake.  fire in the dayroom and all clothes piled inside to dry.  We made a Winter Camp Log for Mr. Pratt and had all the boys sign it.  Our way of saying thanks for a wonderful time.  We had our final banquet.  Gave “coffee cups” to Jerry Poole -best camper-George Tomlinson-Best Swimmer-Angelo Giovinazzo-Best rifle shot-Asher Chapman Jr.-Best water skier,-Don O’Rourke-biggest trout, Bruce Aitcheson-Best Canoeist.  Nice dinner with Swiss steak, soda rations and candy rations.  Last night in camp-kids a bit wild. nothing serious.  Fished at the Spring Hole-couple of nice ones.

July 17, 1957

Two car loads had breakfast and hit the trail for New York.  Dykstra and O’Rourke driving.  Peters, myself, Chapman, Poole, Aitcheson, Tomlinson and Conger stayed behind.  Trimmed the door to the dining room.  Worked all day with Mr. Peters laying new board walk at the Winter Camp.  We built all the cross pieces up with rocks so that the board walk is now all off the ground.  Seems real quiet with 12 of the gang gone.  After dinner Mr. Peters and I worked 3 or 4 more hours finishing the board walk section we were on.  Put a lid and hasp on a big wooden box and remodeled a gun cabinet to use as a fishing cabinet.  In the calm of the evening we all went up to the Holmes Lake Inlet to fish.  Caught a dozen or so.  Had a nice snack-Ken is a terrific cook and does a good job of caring for these boys.  We are lucky to get him.

July 18, 1957

Beautiful day!  It will turn out to be the only one that didn’t rain-first one in a month.  Sent Hiram and 3 boys to the Upper forks to clean up-bough the bed and cut some fire wood.  I worked all day repairing fishing rods, wrapping etc.  Also packed a lot of packs away.  the kids and Mr. Peters worked on boardwalk and in cleaning up in general.  Burnt a lot of trash, rubbish and old rotten lumber.  Put a big wash away.  Beautiful drying day.  We enjoy listening to Caribou Maine radio station.  Good popular music in the evenings its WNEW & Wm B Williams in New York.  Mr. Peters and I went to the Inlet fishing.  Took a dozen trout.  Enjoyed watching a beaver work.  He would swim by our boat with alder branches just as nonchalant as could be.  We fished and he kept right on working.  Nice quiet beautiful evening that we both enjoyed.  Beautiful view of the Northern Lights.  Mr. Peters said that this indicates a weather change.

July 19, 1957

We got our weather change.  Right back to clouds and rain.  I sewed some tents that needed repairing and put new mosquito and fly netting in all three of the kitchen windows.  We rigged up some Rube Goldberg devices for opening and closing the windows.  At any rate they will help to hold flies out of the kitchen.  After lunch Mr. Peters and I went across the lake.  Mr. Peters to put new seats in the boat and me to overhaul the 3 HP motor.  Gas tank was dirty and the head gasket broken plus fouled plugs and cylinder heads.

Picked up the group coming in from Smith Forks and continued to work while the kids swam and water skied.  Had to finish after dinner.  Motor runs but needs a lot of timing adjustment.  Boat seats and boards in bottom make Nick’s job look good.  I took a bath in the lake-cold but refreshing.

July 20, 1957

Worked all day at packing and putting things away.  Mr. Peters and the boys replaced the logs on the end of the cabin where the new dining hall was built.  Hubert Holmes brought supplies in.  Mr. Cobb brought Priscilla (the main cook) a helper and Ida Rolph (Ida to work for the Voriseks) in.  I paid all my bills.  Sent checks out with Kiah Copp.  Over $2000 to feed and staff the camp for the month the boys were here.  Cook receives $11 a day-7 days a week-“Cookie” receives $7 a day-7 days a week-Guide receives $7 a day-6 days a week. 

Ken Storey our cook rode out with Kiah.  We brought Ida from across the lake to finish cooking out for us.  Mr. Peters and I went fishing at the Holmes lake inlet.  Caught a nice mess of 10″ trout to put in the ice-box for the Voriseks.  We are cleaning, burning, sorting etc to get ready to leave.  Things are shaping up quite well.  We put the front lawn seed in.  Has been too wet up until now.  We received our rain storm for the day-Quite a record.

July 21, 1957

Beautiful day.  Had a late breakfast and worked on the canoes.  Nick put new canvas seats in them and I painted the bottoms with asphalt paint.  Should be in good shape for the Voriseks.  Had a nice meal-showed Ida how to make a meat loaf- and took a short nap.  Wrote notes to “Shum”-Voriseks, took some things back to the main camp and paid Hiram Allison my guide.

Brought the double ended Adirondack canoe over for the Vorisek boys to use and some gas for the car and the generator.  Some fisherman came walking through camp.  People have a lot of nerve to walk through no trespassing signs.  Took everyone fishing down Cowboy Stream for one last fling.  Everyone got skunked except Geo Tomlinson who caught three.  No Voriseks-guess we will pass them on the road .  Its midnight.

July 22, 1957

Up at 4:15 AM dark-cloudy and raining!  Packed and had breakfast.  Few last minute discussions and notes to leave with Ida and we are off for New York and home.  Seven passengers, 7 duffle bags, 7bedrolls and a few odds and ends and we are very heavily loaded.  Rough road out.  30 miles of bulldozed road straight through the brush.  No grading-just some gravel hauled in.  We scraped, bounced, rubbed and banged along. 5 or 6 cars, all loaded with construction men were coming in from the settlement.  They work for Frazer lumber Co. building and extending the road.  Co. plans to cut pulpwood our of the country.

We saw a big bull moose-full rack-in the road.  He ran about 1/4 of a mile down the road in front of us before he turned off on an old “tote” road.  Also saw a red fox run across the road.  Blew a tire out on the main rd.  Bad rock bruise in coming out.  Glad she lasted until we reached a main highway.  Heavy rain into Fredericton.  We scouted around and located the Voriseks at a grocery store.  Had a 30 minute visit with them and let them continue on to camp.  Had a bit of lunch and after much searching found a 6 ply tire which I bought and had mounted.  Came into the States via St. Croix and Vanceboro, Maine.  Down to Augusta and stopped for dinner.  Picked up the Maine turnpike and headed South!

July 23, 1957

Drove all night.  Storm still with us.  Storm was most welcome to Maine, Mass., New Hampshire, etc.  Radio proclaimed worst drought in 60 years.  Governors were closing forests to the public and New Hampshire had hired planes to “seed” clouds for making artificial rain storms.  With two drivers we hurried straight through and after dropping boys at their homes I woke Helen at 4:30 to let me in.  Family were all in the best of health.  I proceeded to kiss and hug as many as who dared my red beard.  A full month’s growth of whiskers is not to a wife’s and baby daughter’s liking.  a couple of hours sleep and up and at the day’s work.

Had a haircut and a trim of the beard.  As we are going back to Canada the 1st of August on our family vacation I thought that I would leave my mosquito and fly protection on.  Draws a lot of comment in this village.  Checked at the club and proceeded to work my way through the Mt. of mail on my desk.  Two hour delay brought about by a boy with problems about his ex-wife-pregnant-not his so he says and his desire to go to school.

July 24, 1957

Well showered and well groomed and dressed-but with a red beard-I set out to do a few errands before hitting my desk.  Made arrangements to put the car in garage on Friday-stopped off at the local camera store to check on film and pictures and hit my desk.  Worked hard at straightening out my camp accounts.  This will take more than a day.  Very impressed with the excellent job done by Bill Kinnear in organizing and conducting a day camp program.  Many favorable comments from kids, parents, etc.

Had a lovely dinner with the family.  Helen did herself proud with roast turkey, sausage dressing, fresh peas, gravy, fresh fruit salad and ice cream.  We eat well-thanks to the blessings of the Lord.  Banked a couple of pay checks.  My 1/2 month paycheck is a net take home pay of $288.29.  with fringe benefits, group insurance, pension retirement plan, blue cross-blue shield etc, my job is very comfortable and to my liking.  Helen is an excellent manager.  She is currently picking some items up at a local department store that are currently on sale.  Lovely buys of practical goods for herself and the kids for vacation and school wear.  Pitched and lost a softball game in the local league and worked for three more hours until 11:30 PM.

July 25, 1957

Wonderful night’s sleep.  Sort of caved in !  Dug out at 9 and took Ron and some boys to the Creek Club to pull crab grass.  Boys did a good job so they can go back for a couple of days and earn themselves a few dollars.  $1 an hour for 10-11-12 yr. old boys is good earning opportunity for them.  My first job was driving derrick cart for Mr. Lavery in Hibbard, Idaho for 10 cents an hour and my dinner.  I had a dollar at the end of ten hours-Ron at age 10 has one at the end of one hour.  I pray that he learns the value of it and its proper place in respect to job and work responsibilities.  Amen.

Spent hours buried in papers and camp accounts.  Didn’t even get home for lunch-Helen dropped a sandwich off on her way to the village.  Bro. Dale Macdonald came over and we spent the evening ward teaching.  I enjoy it very much,  It’s wonderful to find all of my homes well and happy.  Wish I could motivate them to re-activation or greater efforts.

July 26, 1957

Took the girls for a ride with me when I took Ron and some of the boys back to the Creek Club to pull more crabgrass.  I went on to the office to put the finishing touches on straightening out my three camp accounts.  Made a couple of calls in the village and returned to spend the entire afternoon dictating to my secretary Mrs. Foss.  Weather has cooled a bit but there is still no rain to break the bad drought.  Having been raised a farmer I feel sorry for Long Island’s farmers.

Pitched a 7-6 winning game in our softball league.  Team beaten was the Boy’s Club.  Watched our Boys’ Club basketball team for awhile.  Good league and our team is doing quite well-tied for first place.  Showered and took Helen for a drive to the Bayville Beach, through Bayville along the water to Oyster Bay.  Stopped at “Joe Dee’s” and had a large pizza Pie with the works. (cheese, sausage, anchovies, peppers, etc)  We both enjoyed the short evening together.  We both love Italian food.

July 27, 1957

I left my 30 days growth of whiskers on, subject to a little trimming by my barber.  My hair is dark but my beard is a sharp red.  It has caused a lot of conversation and comment.  I believe a lot of men would like to grow a beard but haven’t the courage in this smooth shaven world of today.  Worked with Mrs. Foss in putting out a lot more mail.  Still have a lot as a result of being in Canada for nearly a month.

Drove Helen to Glen Cove to do some shopping.  Special sale days!  I returned to the club and then drove back to pick her and Debbie up.  Had lunch and ran out of gas on the railroad track-50 ft. from the gas station.  Always try to stretch it too far!  Held an Executive Committee meeting at the club.  Everyone had the economy ax out.  They just won’t go over $40,000 this year.  I think I’m wise in not pushing this matter too hard.  So much as I hate to, I suggested that the physical director’s position be cut from the budget.  That leaves lots of work for the rest of us.

July 28, 1957

First time to church in a month.  Felt good to be up and off with the family.  We drove the 1956 Ford Station Wagon that we (the club) hope to sell for $2100.  Perhaps someone at church will be interested.  My beard caused a great amount of conversation.  The people in the ward all call me “Wild Bill” Hinckley-so this will add to the reason why.  Had to teach my class without benefit of preparation-having had no lesson manual.  Pinched hit with shortest book of the new testament-Paul’s epistle to Philemon.  We enjoyed the ensuing discussion.

My priesthood lesson was also very interesting.  The manual-“An approach to the Book of Mormon”, Hugh Nibley deals with the archeological validity of the Book, the “Dead Sea Scrolls” are up for consideration and will be the basis for much debate.  Had a nice nap.  enjoyed it the more because Helen was a part of it.  We have a deep and lasting love-one which continues to grow  with and on us -in all facets.  Our evening services were most enjoyable.  We concluded our day with a family picnic in the kitchen.

July 29, 1957

Took the boys to the Creek Club for another days work.  At this rate Ron will have a real pocket full of money when he leaves for his vacation.  Agreed to pay Scott $5 if he worked all day with me.  We raked and pulled crab grass from the back lawn.  Next we cut the lawn.  Scott raked the front while I cut it.  Big job in staking the tomato plants up.  They had started to run all over.  Not the best stake job in the world-but it will do.

Wicked storm developed.  Turned as dark as midnight.  High winds-lightning and thunder and torrents of rain.  Debbie and I picked up the boys at the Creek Club and took them home.  then I trimmed our hedge and cut it down about 2 feet.  (Want to develop a new top)  The boys and I cut and raked Mrs. Bailey’s lawn.  She is a widow neighbor.  She made the boys take a dollar each so the boys went to the Drug Store and bought her a box of candy with the money.  Hard to be a good Mormon here!  Everyone thinks of money.

July 30, 1957

Again the girls and I took the boys to work at the Creek Club.  Drove the car to Paddison Motors (Cadillac-Pontiac agency) to have the car serviced.  Nearly 60,000 miles on the car-it has been an excellent vehicle.  Lubrication, oil change, new spark plugs-new points-carburetor adjustment etc and she is like a new automobile.  Scott picked up some boxes at the grocery store and we boxed and tied all of last night’s hedge trimmings and set them out as refuse.  The weather had cooled off from the time I returned from Canada but now it is building back up again, both in temperature and humidity.

I spent a busy day at the office trying to pull things together before taking the family on vacation.  We are having our problems in getting our budget figures straightened out.  Andrew Peck our treasurer is out of town.  Ralph La Bella our accountant is trying to get figures for James Egan our old treasurer to use in clarifying our present position.  If this could have been straightened out before Sunday’s Executive meeting perhaps our budget loss of a physical director would not have occurred.

July 31, 1957

Played taxi for the boys again and took them to the creek for the last day.  Dropped the car by the garage to have the starter repaired.  It wouldn’t disengage after it had started the motor.  Washed the wagon.  Big job when it has to be scrubbed inside and out.  Fed the back lawn and used a chemical “clout” on the front lawn to blast out the crabgrass.  Packed the back of the car with rubber air mattresses, packs, tents, sleeping bags and a mattress with four pillows.

Made my last appearance at the club and left several items for Bill Cullum’s attention.  Back to the house to pack, check and re-check.  Over to Anderson’s to have sausage and pepper sandwiches.  Very good- but ate too much.  I went to bed at 12 midnight with the alarm set for 4:30 AM.  Helen worked until 2:30AM.  We were both dead tired but too keyed up to sleep well.