A History of Camp Wonposet for Boys
Litchfield, Connecticut
Established 1906
Written on the occasion of the camp's 85th anniversary
by David F. Anderson, Camper - Counselor - Director
(1947-1986)
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In December of 1906, Robert A. Tindale of New York City purchased 3.5 acres of land on the east shore of Bantam Lake from the Wonposet Club of Torrington, Connecticut. The Wonposet Club with lake frontage of nearly 1,000 feet was a fishing and hunting club that was named after one of the chiefs of the twelve Indian tribes of the area. Chief Wonposet and his tribe had lived on the grounds where the camp is now located.
Mr. Tindale was sexton of the St. James Episcopal Church on Madison Avenue in New York City. His intent was to establish a summer camp where the male youth of his church, and others in New York City, could escape the heat of the city and the threat of polio.
Campers coming to Wonposet in the early years arrived at Bantam by train from New York City on the Shepaug Railroad, which had been completed to Litchfield in 1872. They were transported to Keeler's Cove on the west shore by horse and wagon and then taken across the mile of water in 20 foot motor launches called salt water boats. This was the only route to enter Wonposet, for East Shore Road would not extend to Wonposet until 1918. Everything that came into the camp at that time came across Bantam Lake.
The campers arrived to a very rustic and isolated setting. There was one main building of two stories which was the former lodge of the fishing club, several smaller buildings for storage, and the tents where the boys and counselors slept. A view to the north showed little civilization of any kind except the ice house of the Berkshire Ice Company that was built in 1889.
A canoe ride around the lake would show an occasional tent and camp fire in the dense foliage, but for the most part the campers had this "wonderland", as a camp brochure described it, to themselves.
In 1913, Mr. Tindale purchased an additional 10 acres which was cleared to be an athletic field with tennis courts and a baseball diamond.
The first camping seasons were 10 weeks in duration and cost $200.00. By 1924, it was a 9 week session and cost $300.00. Beginning in 1936, the sessions were 8 weeks, also for $300.00. All campers came for the full season.
During the early years and into the 1920's, more buildings were constructed. An addition was attached to the former fishing lodge which was used for the dining hall. There would be further additions to this structure as the camp grew. A guest house for parents, called the Wau Winet, was built and parents could stay there for $5.00 a day. A two story infirmary was built next to the Wau Winet with more accommodations for the parents on the first floor. In 1929, a recreation hall used for campfires, plays, and indoor games was built behind the tents on the south side. It collapsed under the weight of a heavy snow in the first winter with a loss of many canoes that were stored there. The hall was rebuilt for the next summer.
In 1929, Frank Brundage of Bantam came to the camp as it maintenance superintendent. He replaced a caretaker who drowned in Bantam Lake when his car went through the ice while driving across the lake to get the mail.
Frank worked at Wonposet in earlier years for his father who was hired by Mr. Tindale to clear and level the athletic field. His father also dug the 36,000 gallon, 18 foot deep water reservoir on the hill above camp.
Frank and his wife Eleanor lived in the Wau Winet summer cottage during the winter, which was heated only by a Franklin stove. All of the maintenance functions of the camp were under his direction, including the harvesting of ice from the lake and storing it in the ice house, which still stands today and is used for storage. The Brundages retired from Wonposet in 1950 and continued to live in the log cabin near the camp until their deaths in the early 1980's.
For the 1933 season, cabins replaced the tents that were used since the camp opened 27 years earlier. Robert Tindale was reluctant to eliminate the tents because he liked their rustic nature and the outdoor living experience they provided for the boys. However, the tents needed constant repair and often had to be retrieved from the woods after strong wind storms.
Mr. Tindale changed his mind about keeping the tents after seeing a style of cabin at a camp in New Hampshire. The cabin was similar in size and shape to the large camp tents that Wonposet was using. The sides of the cabin folded up, and the front and back doors slid open. Like the tents, they allowed the cool breezes from Bantam Lake to flow through their interiors making them airy and comfortable even on the hottest of summer days. The cost of each of the 19 cabins was $350.00, and they were popular with the campers and counselors, as they are today.
Each cabin, and the tent it replaced, held 7 campers and a counselor who slept on double bunks. The bedding lay on a canvas sling between cast iron side bars. Although somewhat primitive by current standards, the beds were quite comfortable.
From its beginning, Wonposet offered many activities based on camping and living in the out-of-doors. The camp's setting near the water was natural for canoeing, rowing, sailing, and fishing, and the camp over the years had as many as 60 boats at one time. Canoe trips up the Bantam river were frequent, and the boys would canoe to Little Pond and hike into Litchfield to see the historical sights and visit the candy counter at the corner drug store. The 11 man war canoes used then are still a familiar sight on the lake.
Day and over night trips were popular, and the boys would hike seven miles to Mt. Tom after a canoe trip across to Dempsey's landing. Other trips included overnight excursions to Mt. Prospect and a day's outing at Lake Quassapaug. this trip is still a tradition at camp and looked forward to by the boys during the sixth week of camp. Overnight trips to Steep Rock and to spots on the White Memorial Foundation are favorites today.
After World War I, early morning calisthenics were instituted as a part of the daily routine, and the boys would fall out their tents each morning after reveille for 15 minutes of exercise drill. Not always popular with the campers, the exercises endured, however, as a part of the early morning program until the mid 1940's.
Physical conditioning was a goal of Wonposet in those early years, and a statement from a 1929 brochure indicated it played an important part of daily camp life.
"The open air, the woods, the fishing, the outdoor sports and exercises and the living and sleeping close to the heart of nature make sound, sturdy, erect, and vigorous young men out of boys who would otherwise be round shouldered, narrow chested, timid, and indecisive."
After the upper field was cleared and leveled in 1913-1914, baseball became a very popular sport. The camp had junior and senior uniformed teams that often played teams of local boys in Litchfield and Bantam. Baseball has remained a very popular activity through the years thanks to the enthusiasm and expertise of its instructors.
One of the buildings constructed in the 1920's was the woodshop. Early camp catalogues show projects of great quality what were made there, including model sail and motorboats, and finely crafted canoe paddles. The shop still stands today and has continued to be the place where the boys can create projects from wood with great pride.
Horseback riding was introduced in 1928. The campers who wanted to ride were taken to Keefe's Stables in Litchfield twice a week. The activity continued until the early 1970's when it was discontinued because of lack of interest and high insurance rates.
The waterfront at Wonposet was truly the best location on Bantam Lake. In the 1920's the beach was improved by adding hundreds of yards of sand to the bottom and the shore. This was done by carting in sand by horse and wagon in the winter months and leaving it on the ice. It spread naturally as the ice melted in the spring.
From 1906 to 1938 the dress of the campers and counselors was rather regimented and did not change. The camp uniform, which was worn daily, was a dark blue sleeveless jersey with a 6 inch red "W" on the chest, a cardigan sweater with red trimming, and brown canvas pants with a red stripe on the side. Like many other camps of the day, the uniform was purchased from Alexander Taylor in New York City.
The counselors wore white dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up. In 1939, they were issued white T-shirts with red trim on the neck and sleeves with Camp Wonposet written on the chest with a profile on an Indian. The campers' uniform changed to the same T-shirt as the counselors wore in 1941. The dress became more casual during the late 1940's and on into the 1960's where eventually no uniform was required, and the purchase of the T-shirts was optional. Over the years, the campers came to dislike the regimentation of uniforms and felt more comfortable in their own T-shirts and shorts.
Tragedy struck Wonposet in 1936 when a young camper died of polio. The camp closed early that summer, but unlike many camps where a death occurs, Wonposet opened again for the 1937 season. That year there were less than 40 campers, about half of what was average at the time.
From its conception Wonposet was known for its fine staff of professional educators and mature college men. If you attended camp in the 20's, 30's, and early 40's, you would recognize the names of men such as Harry Nordstrom, William Schmidt, Edwin King, Frank Gartley, and Frederick McClement, who was the assistant to Mr. Tindale from 1920-1938. These counselors, among numerous others, were at Wonposet for many successive years and added to the continuity of its program.
In 1937, Mr. Tindale hired a young dramatics counselor who would later become a popular television comedian and Wonposet's most famous staff alumni. His name was Art Carney. Frank Gartley recalled that even then, Carney was the cause of constant laughter and great fun at camp.
During the Tindale years, the average enrollment was 75 to 80 campers. The exception to this was during the World War II years when the enrollment was over 100 boys each summer. The increase was due to the uncertainty of the times and changes in family vacations that were limited by travel restrictions during the war.
E. Herman Anderson came to Wonposet in 1947 as an assistant to Frank Gartley and Robert Tindale. This was the beginning of transition years at camp as many of the older men from the previous summers were retiring.
In 1949, Robert Tindale died at age 79. He had been Camp Wonposet's director for 44 years. A year earlier, he lost a leg due to a circulatory problem caused by wading in the cold water of Bantam Lake searching for bait for fishing, a sport he truly loved.
The provisions of Mr. Tindale's will left the camp to his two sisters, who like him, never married. The details of the will allowed Frank Gartley and Herman Anderson the opportunity to operate the camp for the 1950 season. All taxes and maintenance expenses were paid for by the estate with the option for them to purchase the camp at the end of the summer for $39,000. At the close of the 1950 season, Mr. Gartley wished to continue to work at the camp, but not as an owner, so he offered to stay on as assistant to Herman Anderson, who was to be the next director of Wonposet.
Camps, then as now, were considered a high risk business by banks, and the financing necessary to purchase the property was not possible to obtain. Mr. Anderson, however, arranged to have the purchase option transferred to the White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield, and he would operate the camp with a long term lease from the Foundation. At this time, White Memorial owned approximately sixty percent of the frontage on Bantam Lake. Wonposet was the fourth camp on the lake that now belonged to this private conservation organization.
Herman Anderson was a biology and physics teacher in Verona, New Jersey, and his background in education and camping suited him well for the directorship. His wife Hedwig, who would assist him, was a nurse. Both had worked at a Good Will Foundation camp for disadvantaged youth in Butler, New Jersey in the early 1930's. Mr. Anderson had also worked at Camp Echo Hill in New Jersey and Camp Snow Hill in Otis, Massachusetts as an assistant director for three years.
During the latter years of Mr. Tindale's ownership, maintenance of the camp was neglected, and the physical condition of the grounds and buildings needed improvement. It was necessary in the first half of the 1950's to correct the enormous erosion problem caused by rain washing the top soil into the lake. In addition, the winter heaving of the ground caused many buildings to separate and move away from their cement piers. Rotting floors in the kitchen and dining hall were replaced with cement. Roofs on the dining hall, Wau Winet cottage, and the infirmary, were reshingled.
Sanitation improvements were a primary concern for Mr. Anderson. The first change dealt with the camp's water supply. Up to this time, most of the water used at the camp was pumped from the lake. There was a 100 foot artesian well that supplied potable water to only the infirmary and kitchen. Tests made by E.O. Phelps of Bantam indicated a new jet pump on this well could adequately supply the entire camp with water.
At this time, the new wash houses and shower buildings with hot water were constructed on each side of camp. Prior to this, each camper had a cubby in an open sided shed where he washed using a basin of cold water pumped from the lake. Signs warning the campers not to drink the lake water were usually unheeded. There was only one hot shower in the camp and that belonged to Mr. Tindale for his private use. The hot showers were welcomed because since 1906 campers took their weekly baths "au naturel" in the lake.
Early camp inhabitants used outhouses until flush toilets were installed in 1929. Now the buildings housing these toilets were remodeled and screened.
Improvements were also made to the athletic field. The baseball diamond which was covered with clay in 1913, was cultivated to grow grass, making it less hot and dusty. The tennis courts were converted to hard top from clay much to the delight of the campers, who now did not have to constantly pull weeds or have to wait for days to have the courts dry out after a rain storm. The archer range was moved to a safer section of the athletic field from the lower area of the camp.
One of the more beautiful sounds on Bantam Lake on a warm summer's night was the notes of "Taps" played by a young bugler at camp. Unfortunately, this was to change, also, when a loudspeaker system was installed to call the campers to activities, meals, and bed.
With all of these improvements in place by the mid-1950's, Camp Wonposet had truly stepped into the 20th century.
The changes at Wonposet were not limited to just physical improvements. Herman Anderson began to add new counselors to the staff. These counselors were mature men who were teachers, coaches, and youth counselors. He was able to attract these men by allowing their sons to come as campers as part of the contract. Their wives also came and were employed as secretaries, nurses, or camp mothers. As a result, a warm family atmosphere prevailed at the camp as a high percentage of the counselors and their families returned to Wonposet for many summers.
Campers during the 1950's and early 1960's were fortunate to have men such as Ken Runquist, Sven Peterson, Cliff Walken, Ted Fleck, Bob Lind, Bob Judd, George Walsh, John McKenna, and Carl Hostnik as their instructors and cabin counselors.
Frank Gartley retired in 1960, after being Wonposet's head counselor since 1937. David Anderson assumed the role of assistant to his father and head counselor. David was also an educator who worked as a junior high school guidance counselor. He had spent most of his summers as a camper and cabin counselor.
Herman Anderson died in July of 1965 at the age of 62 having spent 18 years at Wonposet. Giving young people an opportunity for camping experience was an important part of his life, and his years at Wonposet were very fulfilling for him. David assumed the directorship at this time and Hedwig Anderson was still involved with the camp for a few more years before her retirement.
There were many changes that took place in the next several years. The camp was incorporated and accepted for membership in the American Camping Association. Connecticut was one of the first states that began strict inspection of camps, and Wonposet became licensed by the state to operate as a youth camp.
In 1968, a food service company was hired to plan and prepare all the meals. this was a relatively new idea in camps, and the service supplied the chefs and a supervisor, who planned the menus and ordered the food. Wonposet always had a good reputation for its food, and it improved with this service.
Enrollments grew in the 1970's to as many as 155 campers, and it was necessary to build a 20th cabin on the north side of camp. Also, two storage buildings, were moved from behind the dining hall to be used for staff accommodations. Other improvements included doubling the length of the main dock and adding three paddle tennis courts, and a basketball court.
During these years, Wonposet was known for its fine staff of men and women, 75% of whom returned each summer as counselors, nurses, and administrative staff. The counselors continued to consist of many professional educators who had begun at Wonposet when Herman Anderson was director. Men such as Cliff Wilken, baseball counselor, George Walsh, archery counselor, John McKenna, athletic director, and Carl Hostnik, head counselor, stayed on at camp and added to the continuity and quality of camp life during this time.
Other new counselors, who were in charge of activities and spent many years at the camp, included Peter Fein, wood shop director, Terry Martinson, tennis director, Ed Cutler and Bill Walker, waterfront directors, and Tony Wright, riflery director.
The high rate of returning counselors was also due to the great number of campers who advanced each year from camper to waiter, to dishwasher, to junior counselor, and finally to counselor. It was a good training program for young men and the experience benefited both them and the camp. The names of these counselors are far too many to note, but most were at the camp for over 10 summers including their camper years.
Wonposet's counselors, nurses, chefs, and assistants all contributed to a happy, relaxed, and caring atmosphere, and helped make Wonposet unique among camps.
Since its beginning Wonposet drew campers mostly from New York City, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In the 1970's and 80's a large contingent of boys from Baltimore attended the camp. Also in the 70's, Wonposet began to attract an international clientele of campers from Europe and South America. In addition, Japanese businessmen working in New York City sent their sons to become acquainted with American life and customs.
In the Early 1980's it became more difficult for camps in the United States to find counselors, and many became dependent upon international staffing organizations to supply them with counselors and nurses. Wonposet was still fortunate to have many of its staff return each summer, but in 1980, three counselors were hired from England and each year, thereafter, the camp employed a number of English staff members. In the latter part of the 1980's, counselors and nurses were hired from many countries around the world. The international staff members fit in well at the camp and were extremely friendly, caring, and understanding. They were well liked by everyone and added a new dimension to camp life.
At the close of the 1986 season, Dave Anderson, who had spent 40 years at Wonposet, retired from the camp with his wife Marylyn. Wonposet was purchased by Mark Davis, who had many years of camping experience, and wished to continue the same programs and traditions of the camp.
On July 10. 1989, at 5:10 p.m., a natural disaster took place at the camp when a tornado roared across Bantam Lake. The tornado originated in Massachusetts and had already caused great damage to parts of Cornwall and Bantam. Late summer afternoon thunderstorms were not unusual to the lake area. As part of the normal storm warning procedures, the campers and counselors returned to their cabins. This storm, they soon knew, was to be different, and many hid under their beds and mattresses while the side flaps on the cabins stood out straight in the violent winds.
After the storm passed, it was visible that the damage was immense. Most of the destruction was caused by the great number of old, uprooted oak trees that came down on the camp's buildings, including seven cabins, and Wau Winet cottage. The dock sections and boats scattered around the lake. The dining hall, infirmary, and recreation hall were spared from damage.
Miraculously, no one was killed during the storm, and only one injury occurred to a counselor whose ankle was broken. Parents were contacted and the campers were sent home for three weeks while and enormous cleanup job was accomplished by Mark Davis, his staff, and contractor, Towne and Aurell. The destroyed cabins were replaced and the August session began on time.
Looking back, it must be said that the real history of Wonposet is the story of thousands of boys who attended the camp during its 85 summers. The campers were the ones who gave Wonposet its purpose and vitality, and their anecdotes of summer days and nights at camp could fill countless pages with exciting adventures and humorous exploits.
Boys came to Wonposet and returned for many years because they and their parents were attracted to the camp's secure environment and simple philosophy, which stressed learning important living skills and developing positive values. With few exceptions, the boys were unpretentious and not spoiled. Most demonstrated enormous enthusiasm for camp life and showed kindness and concern for each other. Many friendships were formed at Wonposet that endured for years.
In August of 1990, Camp Wonposet was featured on the CBS television program Sunday Morning as an example of a camp that has resisted change and trends, and has stayed true to the spirit and goals of early camping in America.
This program was a tribute to everyone who has been part of the camp's history. Charles Kuralt, host of Sunday Morning, summarized the camp best when he introduced the segment with these words...
"The country seems to be in a nostalgic mood. All sorts of decades are being revived. They're never the real thing, of course. The real thing -- well you know it when you see it because it's never changed. Bill Geist has seen the real thing. It's called Camp Wonposet."