1967 – 1987 (Written by Edie in 1988)
To carry on where Rachel left off, I’ll go back a little. In the late 50’s – early 60’s, while Leonard of Ann was treasurer, he used to check all the number plates on the cars to make sure all had registered in his office. Another thing that happened in those days was people used to cover their number plates so no one knew where they were from. In those days nudism was hush hush!
While Al Jones was still in charge of this camp, everyone adults and children – had to be in their tents or cabins by 11 p.m. with curtains drawn. He also would not allow anyone to have a clothesline, and he would not permit the wild cutting down of trees.
As Rachel mentioned about the two barrels on the roof of the Canteen for use, there was a hose that came from the roof that the water ran through into a lattice-work shower stall with two nozzles, barely big enough for two people to stand in. It was located near where the children’s Jungle gym is today. Then a few years later the showers were installed in the building with the sauna in back of the Canteen.
One couple who were not mentioned earlier, but joined in 1955, were Dave and Mary and their 3 little blonde daughters. The girls grew up here in the summers and now in ’87 have come back with their children to visit. Mary and Dave are the couple who have been members of the camp the longest. Herbie is next. He joined in 1952. From there on people began coming and joining more and more.
Preacher Bill (Chaplain), who also joined in 1954, held Sunday services in the hand-built chapel for those who wished to attend. It was nondenominational. Preacher Bill also had a comical side to him and during the late 60’s – 70’s he’d do a skit in our talent shows of a “Lady Taking a Bath.” It was hilarious.
In the 50’s, when the pond was drained, all the trees and roots in it were dragged out by a “human chain” of men.
In 1956 the lagoon was drained and Herbie and Al Jones and other members put rocks along the sides to keep the banks from washing away, and a plank was put across smaller banks towards our waterfall to help control the depth of the water in the pond.
Between the ‘50’s – 60’s “before civilization grew” at Solair, nature was a sight to behold. We all saw animals of many varieties. Raccoons roaming freely at night for food (still do) and tipping over garbage cans. Deer drinking from the pond by moonlight, wildcats screeching in the woods, red and silver foxes (barking like dogs, only not as loud) at night, as well as an old all-white skunk and a Johnny skunk leaving their perfume around camp, reminding us we were invading their territory.
One experience some of us will remember about a raccoon was the time Carroll S. found a coon that had been injured. Carroll made a cage for it and nursed it back to health and then let it go. The raccoon had only one eye.
As we have been growing, people have come and gone. Mostly they came and stayed for quite a few years. Then because of job changes or family problems some leave.
We have made many changes – improvements in the camp over the years. In 1960 the teen club was formed. They called themselves “Neetagers,” using the letters in teenagers. Edie became the Teen Advisor from 1960 – 1975. During that time there were 20 teens. One rule out of 15 they kept was no one under 12-3/4 years of age could enter the teen pavilion. That was strictly for teens. They had earned enough money to build the pavilion by having cake sales, game day with a kissing booth, and they sure enjoyed it. One of the initiation things the new teen members had to do on one Sunday every summer was take part in the Teen Service. The Chapel was always overflowing on that Sunday. They also had their own dances, games, and even served afternoon tea to their parents. That was the only time parents were allowed in their club house other than Edie and Art, and once in a while Captain Ed of Doris. He was the one who would take them water skiing at Webster Lake. Half went on a Saturday afternoon, the other half on Sunday, with a couple of parents going along. The teens helped to do things about the camp when asked. They also went once a year to dinner and miniature golf – using their own money. They earned enough money so that they had $500 in their camp bank account by 1974. – The older group went by themselves to the Woodstock Fair each year, and the younger ones went with whomever had a couple of station wagons for them to pile into.
One of the Church Services they did, Edie had the 5-12 year old youngsters take part. They learned “Jesus Loves Me,” and after everyone was seated, they marched in singing it. All they wore around their shoulders was a medium size white towel with a navy blue bow. It was very impressive and adorable. One of the Sermons the teens did, Preacher Bill taped and used it at the school where he taught.
When Edie retired as Teen Advisor, after 15 years, they surprised her with a party. They had for her a large cake with a little rocking chair on it, and a beautiful plaque which says on-it:
EDITH – TEEN MOTHER – 1960 – 1975
TO ONE WHO GAVE SO MUCH AND ASKED SO LITTLE
OUR LOVE AND RESPECT
TEENS OF SOLAIR
This is something I will always cherish. The teens dwindled down after that with parents moving away, just leaving camp, or the teens not wanting to come any more. We’ve had different advisors since then doing a good job with the teens. We have about 6 or 7 teens now, but with the growth of family into the camp again the younger generations of children should bring – the number of teens up once more in the next few years. The teens, mostly the boys, nude, used to go up to the sand pit, and jump from the top of it, where Dan and Isabel’s trailer is, down into the rough sand and roll the rest of the way down. Great Fun!
Another thing that happened many years in a row – once every summer – at a back edge of camp (Laurel Ridge, Inc. property) the Enduro motorcycle race went through. Well, some of the teens and some adults would go and rearrange the trail, then they’d hide in the trees or bushes and when the cyclist would see the nude bodies jump out at them they’d wipe out. No one was ever hurt, but a photographer for a motorcycle magazine caught one picture and it was printed in the magazine. You could pick out 2 or 3 of our teens and a couple of the adults. Needless to say, the following year there were a lot more bike riders in the race.
In the early 60’s there were wooden flat wide benches built for people to sun themselves on. Then we all gave $5.00 per person and bought some nice sand for the beach.
As the camp grew, it was great to see the change from one light in the small canteen and a few kerosene lanterns along the main road to electricity all over the camp, plus pumping water from the well by the canteen. When you became a member after that and received your camp site, you had to buy an electric light pole at $45 (now it’s over $300), so you’d have electric power on your site.
From the 60’s on there were many bonfires, cook-outs, sing-a-long and marshmallow roasts on the left side of the beach, near where the jungle gym now stands. We also had many pot luck suppers.
Carroll S. used to paint cute animals on the tiny tots’ backs with washable paints. They would then parade around afterwards and each child received a prize of a tootsie pop or candy bar.
Then there were the mud baths, the children, mostly teens, would cover themselves with the mud clay from the bottom of the pond. They would let it dry on them and parade around like zombies.
From the 60’s – 80’s we had snoopers at different times. They’d be sitting on top of our big rock, or sneaking in by the road. A bunch of teen snoopers were caught and the directors threatened to undress them all and make them stay. They were really scared and swore they’d never come back and they didn’t. Others were seen on the rock and someone yelled “Snoopers on the rock!.” Our gun club responded and one shot was fired into the sky. Needless to say the snoopers never came back.
There is a small airport nearby and every so often we’d have a plane fly low over camp, so low you could see the people in it, so we just waved and it went away.
We have had many delicious dinners over the years put on by our different members. They all have been great and the entertainment very interesting. This is what makes our camp, all the volunteer help and ideas. It’s great.
One of those impressive dinners was Len and Jan’s Hawaiian Luau with the catamaran coming across the lake in the dark with its Tiki lamps lit on it as well as the Hawaiian music, and dry ice making the fog coming across. The men in their Hawaiian shirts and the ladies in grass skirts and leis running to the shore to help them bring the food onto the beach which was in coolers on the catamaran. A real good time was had by all.
During the 70’s we started having Talent Shows every year, as well as the skit Carroll nd Margie used to do called “Mabel and Harry’s first day at a nudist camp.” They were Great.Margie S. emceed the talent shows for about 6 years, then when Margie stopped coming to camp, Edie did them for 10 years. They lasted about 1-1/2 hours. They were a lot of work, but so much fun for everyone in and out of them.
Margie was also a comedian, a song writer, and played the accordion fantastically. Bob Supernon and son Bobby had a bank and played some of the music for the shows, as well as for dances held in the canteen.As time went on, many beautiful cabins have been built in camp. The oldest one is Frank and Fuzy’s (now owned by Hug). It’s by the parking lot, near the tennis court. It has the colored lights on it at night.Back to nature again, around the camp you can see many wild flowers, lady slippers, and plenty of Laurel, as well as blueberry bushes and raspberry bushes, plus all the beautiful trees and shrubs and birds.
There is always an election time in September each year with healthy competition for different directors and plenty of rumors pro and con, but after the election is over everyone accepts the outcome and everyone settles down and the camp works together again. We also have camp managers as well as the seven directors. We have many committees. There is the Finance Committee, the Recreation Committee, the Membership Committee, the Tennis Club, the Beautification Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee, the Construction and Maintenance Committee, and maybe a few more I can’t think of. We also have a gun club.
The Lodge, in which Hazel and Alfred lived before moving to California, was struck by lightning in 1977 and burnt to the ground. It also used to house the little camp library in the back, and it was run by Ann of Preacher Bill. The Lodge stood just about where the new round building is today. The chapel was situated – further back.
In the 70’s the tots’ building was built. For the conventions it was turned into a refreshment stand for the camp, then in the late 80’s it was turned back to the tots. It’s located near the tennis court.
In 1979 we had the ESA Convention and in 1982 the ASA Convention. We had about 1,000 people attend these, and both conventions were handled very well. The members worked very hard before, during, and after the conventions. Cooperation was great. Again thanks to all who pitched in and helped so much.
One entertainment was nude sky divers floating down and landing on our raft. There were both men and women. A helicopter landed on the water near Dave and Mary’s. Another was John of Pauline firing his small cannon on the beach.In the late 70’s a solarium was built on the beach mostly for winter sunny days. Also, in the winter they used to plow the snow off the ice with a piece of plywood attached to an Austin Mini Minor Car. Leicester of Nancy and others used to use the sauna – then break the ice in the pond and jump in. BRR!
Another thing Leicester would do was wake up in the morning and give a couple of good Tarzan yells and wake up the late sleepers.Frank of Fuzy had a Tarzan call, train whistle, siren, and a voga horn on their car, so everyone knew when they arrived or left camp. Blueberries were a delicacy in those days. The children would pick enough, take them to Doris of Red, who would bake blueberry muffins for the children. These beat Betty Crocker by a long shot.
Red of Doris gave all the children on the beach Saturday and Sunday a tootsie pop. He’d come to the beach with a big bucket full of pops. In no time he looked like the pied piper walking around.Adults used to row across the lake and look for blueberries. They’d stand in the boating holding onto a branch while balancing themselves and while trying to pick the berries would get a good sunburn.
As time has gone by, more cabins have been built. More roads made. We first had the lower road called Fox Hollow Drive. We now have the lower, lower road called Pine Needle Creek Road, as well as Beaver Lane, where most of the large trailers are. These were mostly all updated in 1987-88, so now it’s called “Beaver Estates.”
In 1984 the pond was drained once again and a new culvert was put in under the supervision of Norman of Flo.
The biggest project that was started in 1985 has been the round building, the Arent Pavilion. It is beautiful with its new coat of juniper blue paint and white trim (1988) and it has in it on the first floor, bathrooms, showers, electric sauna, dressing room, and hot tub. Upstairs there is a large recreation hall and more bathrooms. It has added a lot to our camp. Milan of Erna was the “Super in charge” while the building was being built. The building was Milan’s idea. They have had many functions upstairs in the building such as game nights and dances, and socials. Square dancing was part of our fun way back when Bob Shield’s Dad was the caller. Now we have it again with Barbara and Howard doing the calling.
In 1987 lawn mowing races began with Ed of Billie in charge. They have many different style mowers to use. Some real old.During the early pioneering days we had an embarrassing incident which can now be told since so much time has passed.We had been challenged by a large nudist lawn mowing racing club and in our enthusiasm forgot to pick up gas for our racing mower. We found an old mower in what we thought was a trash pile, and it had plenty of gas, so we “borrowed” some. To our surprise – that mower was their racer, and we had to tell them we had depleted their tank. To keep from being arrested – thrown out, etc., we had to agree to cleaning up and tuning their mower before the race. Although their racer was now in excellent shape, their team wasn’t and we easily defeated them.We have never been defeated. We are the undisputed champions and because of our sparkling performance, have been unchallenged for the last two years. We enjoy racing among ourselves and keep in tip-top condition.
On June 18, 1988, a doe – female deer – swam across the pond from the rock, stood by Billy and MaryAnn’s car for a few minutes before she took off. Then on June 21st, 1988, a scarlet tanager landed on the beach about two yards from where we were sitting, stayed for a while, then flew off. About 3 weeks before that, some members saw a wild cat sitting up on the big rock at dusk. This spring we’ve had 2 sets of Canada Geese. Each set had 4 goslings. They stayed until the little ones’ wings were strong enough to fly away. Once again we are seeing wild life around here. Now one set of the geese are back.
Since June we’ve had a barbecue, square dance, pot lucks, Tennis Tournament, Volley Ball, President’s Bavarian dinner with German Band, old camp movies, young kids’ camp-out on beach, parades, Mexican dinner by the teens and their parents, hay ride, Christmas in July, Carribean Festival with a steel band and Hungarian dinner plus Las Vegas Night, New England boiled dinner, prime rib dinner and entertainment, the talent show, and some dances. We will probably have a few more good dinners by our members. So you see, everyone has something to do, thanks to our entertainment director and her committee.
Through the years, Volley Ball was the big thing at Solair, now Tennis is the big thing. Volley Ball is still played, but not in competition with other camps as yet. Many, many trophies were won by our Solair Volley Ball Travel Team over the years. Tennis is real great here now and the court is busy most every day. This brings the history of Solair up to date as of the year 1988.