History

The tract of land in section 27: Tp. 35 N., Rie. M.D.M consisting of approximately 146 acres and owned by Moose Recreational Camp, LTD., a corporation. Shall be known as Moose Camp.

The Story of Moose Camp

(From the October, 1952, Moose News, Pages five through eight)

To the Editor of Moose News

Redding Lodge No. 1006, L. O. O. M.

Redding, Calif

Dear Brother Editor.

Having read your article in the September issue of Redding Moose News, entitled "Editor's Comment" and referring to Moose Camp, it gave me an idea, "Why couldn't I use your columns and give the members a "Story of Moose Camp?" I therefore called Bob Liddell, our good secretary, and asked about the insertion of a story I have wanted to get to all members of the Lodge for several years- and he informed me that such a story would be most welcome; that the "News" is sent to every member, and that the story of Moose Camp would thereby reach every member of 1006 in the October issue. Availing myself of this wonderful opportunity to tell the thousand members about Moose Camp, I herewith submit the following:

The 'Story of Moose Camp," if one went into all the details of the heartaches, headaches and disappointments in our planning, investigations of proposed sites, negotiations, correspondence with the Supreme Lodge and Red River Lumber Company, and of all the activities since its beginning, it would completely fill two or more issues of the "Moose News," so I must, of necessity, condense the story as much as possible. It will, necessarily, be long anyhow, condensed as much as possible to tell the most important details.

I believe it was early in 1926 that mention was first made in Lodge about acquiring a tract of land in the mountains, not too far from Redding, where Lodge picinics could be held, and where summer homes could be built. Two of the original enthusiastic promoters of the idea were Leslie Engram and Jeff Elliott, both deceased. Nothing more was said or done until June 1928, when Leslie Engram, Lodge Secretary, directed a long letter to all members, stating that a committee had been appointed to select a site for a summer camp, and asking questions as to their ideas and if they would take a lot, build a cabin, etc.

Leslie Engram, Lodge Secretary from 1914 until his untimely death in 1934, was a "born optimist." He believed that "any worthy thing attempted could be accomplished." I would like to give you the 'contents of his long letter verbatum, but must confine myself to a few quotations. Quoting from his letter, his suggested location "must be in the heart of the timber area, the very center of the best hunting and fishing in Northern California, an area cool by day and night, all year." His development plan would be, "to include leaving all natural trees and shrubs, build rustic bridges and seats, build a 'log club house' and open air amphitheatre, develop programs of home talent, build a lake, have a baseball diamond, tennis court, croquet grounds, golf course, and an ‘aviation field.’”

He added, "of course it will take SOME MONEY, but we can do most of the work ourselves, donated." Aren't those the ideas of an "optimist?"

That was the beginning. The committee investigated sites suggested by one Red River employee, only to be told by another, or superior, that the place was not for sale, or the price would be at least $50.00 an acre. Finally, the Cap Sanders ranch, our present Moose Camp, was inspected and decided to be suitable, but price was unsettled, water and timber restrictions, first suggested by the company, were unsatisfactory, but, believing that these "could be ironed out later, "the committee, absorbing Leslie's optimism that "anything attempted could be accomplished," planned on taking it, and settle the various problems with the company later, having encouragement through suggestions and assertions of some of its officials. This might have been poor business, but it did work out satisfactorily eventually.

Plans were immediately made for surveying the lots, locating future streets, developing springs and for the sale of lots. The project was then thought of as strictly a Lodge enterprise, six months after we had started negotiations, and Secretary Engram, therefore, proceeded to contact the Director General and General Dictator of the Supreme Lodge for permission for Redding Lodge, No. 1006, to acquire and develop a "summer camp." This privilege, for the Lodge to establish a summer camp, was DEFINITELY DENIED, and the General Dictator proceeded to say, under date of Oct. 29, 1929: "I base my conclusions upon the following premises, that, first, it is not the function of a unit of the Loyal Order of Moose to extend its operations beyond the ordinary confines of Fraternal operation and I know that fathering a summer camp, or winter camp, or enterprise of this manner is not the function of our units. And I might further say that there are many questions that might enter into that kind of a proposition that might be too numerous to refer to in a letter, and I think that the purpose of this Fraternity is to operate a unit within a given community, to care for the sick, bury the dead, and do such things in its community as are within the ordinary reasonable and operative possibilities and activities of a Lodge."

That settled the ownership problem permanently as far as Lodge ownership was concerned, and those of us, who were its promoters then realized that to establish a summer camp at all, it must be an independent organization, hence the incorporation, with membership in the Camp by certificate, with its own directors elected by Camp members with the full and complete handling of its own financial and other affairs, entirely separate from the Lodge. Membership, however, has been restricted to members, in good standing, of the local Moose Lodges. The first Board of Directors consisted of L. C. Smith, Leslie Engram, and S. C. Baker, for one year and H. H. Shuffleton; Jr., Ed Jones, C. A. Rowlee and Elmer Larkin, for two years. Leslie Engram was appointed secretary-treasurer, and I was named the President, which position I held until Leslie's death in July 1934. As no other director would accept the job as secretary, I told them, "Someone has to do the work, and as no one else will take it, it looks like it's up to me." I was appointed secretary and still hold "this gratis job," not having found anyone who wants it at the "present rate of pay."' When I gave up the presidency to become secretary, Elmer Larkin was appointed president, and held the office until he moved to Weaverville, when Doc Houston was appointed and held it until his death last year, Vern Ferguson is now president of the Board. The present directors are Ferguson, Shuffleton, Frank Calkins, Foss Opdyke,who was appointed when Jim Holt died, Geo. Frickinger, Don Calkins and Tony Nachreiner, appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of Doc Houston.

The Committee had already decided on a name for the camp, as "Moose Recreational Camp," but remembered the admonition, "I will not become a member of any organization using the word "Moose" as part of its name, unless such organization is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Lodge of the World, Loyal Order of Moose," therefore, Brother Engram had also requested, from Supreme Lodge Officials, the use of the word "Moose" in connection with the Camp name, and this request was, at first, definitely denied, in the following language: "If any of the members of your Lodge (not the Lodge itself) want to buy a camp in the mountains and call it the Midnight Camp or Black Hawk Camp, or some other name, all right, but don't use the word "Moose" as applied to it."

After a barrage of letters from Secretary Engram, all written in his persuasive, but gentlemanly, manner, the General Dictator finally capitulated and granted permission to use the word "MOOSE," and the camp was formally instituted as "Moose Recreational Camp, Ltd.," incorporated May 27, 1930.

Dozens of letters were exchanged between Secretary Engram and the Red River Lumber Company, attempting to settle the matter of the use of water (which was soon agreed upon), and the disposition of the timber, which was not finally agreed upon until late in 1930. it must be remembered that the timber of this land had been cut many years before, according to the standards of worth while timber at the time, and the land was used as a small mountain ranch. A few years prior to 1928, when we started to negotiate for it, it also had been burned over by forest fire. After the Red River people obtained it, together with most other land in the vicinity, every scrub tree, especially pine, that was not considered suitable for lumber at the time of the early cuttings, became extremely valuable, and every drop of water from springs and in small streams, was guarded and reserved. This exchange of correspondence, and personal interviews with company officials, both here and in their San Francisco office, continued from early in 1928 until September 1930, nearly three years before the timber matter was agreed to satisfactorily. Through the combined efforts of Leslie Engram and myself, we brought about an agreement between Ed Martin, operator of Martin's saw mill, which was about ready to close down and the Red River Lumber Company, whereby Martin was to cut specified pine timber. Certain trees were designated to be cut while others were to remain, and we would pay additional stumpage for those remaining. Through, a misunderstanding, Martin's crew cut all the pine, which proved later, “a blessing in disguise” much to our benefit, as the pines originally planned to be reserved, were practically useless for shade or decoration, and it did pay big dividends by their being cut, reducing the financial demands of the company to within our reach, and this error on Martin's part made our further negotiations with the company considerably easier. For the time being, it really was a mixed up affair, and one of the company's cruisers, after a visit to the property, wrote officials, "The Moose deal is in a hell of a mess."

Things were soon straightened out and our long fight over technicalities was now ended. We could feel that what we had done and the expense we had been to earlier, had not been in vain, and that by going ahead we had really gained two years in the advancement of the Camp. The Camp site, 123 acres, was now really ours. We have since acquired an additional 20 acres, containing our East side spring, and suitable for an additional 25 or 30 very nice lots in the future, when necessity warrants their being surveyed and platted.

After reading the foregoing, a few may say, and with some justification, "The promoters, and later the Board of Directors, must have been 'teched in the head' to proceed with plans for the Camp, lay out a subdivision and sell lots, and do all the work they did, with negotiations so unsettled, but I'll tell you this now; "We were not as crazy as it at first appears. We had an "ace up the sleeve" all the time. There was a deed lying in escrow at the bank, from the very beginning, to sell us the property, lock, stock and barrel, in other words, all the timber and land, but at a price which would have "bent us financially" for many years, but the promoters had decided to establish a Camp, and if "worse had come to worse," we planned to "mortgage our souls" to see it, through and accept the deed.

As time went on, as timber was removed successive concessions were made, each to our advantage. It is an old saying "That everything comes out in the wash" and that held good in our long and complicated negotiations for Moose Camp, first as a Lodge enterprise, until that was vetoed by the Supreme Lodge, then as an independent incorporated organization.

We held our first affair at the Camp, July 4, 1929, having built a small platform in the playground area for a Fourth of July speaker. I have forgotten who the speaker was, but believed it was General Tillotson. We held a picnic with about 400 in attendance, and Leslie Engram, and others of us, had an opportunity to explain our future plans.

In 1930, a fine dance platform, 50 feet by 80 feet, was built, with good quality T&G flooring, with the idea from the start, of its being the foundation and floor for a club house. It cost the Camp close to $1,000.00, with most of the labor donated, and was used for dances July 4, 1930 and 1931. Being uncovered, the floor was covered with two inches of sawdust in summer, and coated each winter with a very heavy coating of Paraffin for protection. Five or six feet of snow in winter, hardly dampened the floor.

In April, 1932, the Lodge proposed to put up $1500.00, permission having been granted by the Supreme Lodge, for the construction of side walls, trusses, frame, and sheeting for the roof. This was the Lodge's contribution to the Camp. The Camp furnished, the shakes for the roof, which they had made from down timber, the stumpage purchased from the Red River Lumber Company. With the walls up, the Camp then put in partitions, septic tanks and rest rooms and had the building painted, and also had two fine fireplaces and chimneys constructed. This was the first club house. Therefore, about half the cost of the original club house only, exclusive of the kitchen and dining room, was paid with the Lodge's $1500.00 and the balance by the Camp.

The Camp, immediately after the construction of the walls of the club house, added the kitchen, dining room (which seated one hundred), and an ice house at the rear of and attached to the club house. We equipped the kitchen with a restaurant size gas range, and additional gas plates, installed "bottled gas" for the range and lighting, supplied dishes and silverware for one hundred place settings, pots, pans, frying pans, oven pans, coffee pots and serving pitchers, knives and other kitchen equipment comparable to any well equipped small restaurant. During the period of inactivity, beginning in 1942 at the beginning of the war, a great deal of this equipment has disappeared, the kitchen having been broken into several times. Very fine gas lighting fixtures, costing about $40.00 apiece, were installed in the club house, dining room and kitchen. All those in the club house, probably eight or ten in number, were totally destroyed with the club house early in 1935, as was also our piano. We bought a new piano in 1935, for the new club house, costing about $400.00.

In February, 1935, this first club house was totally destroyed when it collapsed from heavy snow. The kitchen and fireplaces were not damaged and are still in use. The Camp rebuilt the club house, without any financial assistance from the Lodge, or otherwise, with heavy concrete pier foundation, stronger and steeper trusses and a corrugated iron roof, at a cost of about $4000.00. We paid $100.00 for the idea of snow country bracing, to a San Francisco architect, a specialist in heavy snow country construction. That accounts for the 6 by 16 inch braces on each side of the building, tied to the heavy frame and trusses with half inch thick steel plats. It was done at Joe Brennan, the contractor's suggestion, and I believe it is a wonderful idea. We placed logs against the kitchen in the same manner, but they have rotted out on the east side. Most of the money for the construction of the new club house was borrowed from Camp members on loan certificates issued by the Camp. This indebtedness was paid off from the proceeds of 4th of July celebrations and from wrestling conducted by the Camp, in cooperation with Cal Herman, a wrestling promoter, at the old city pavilion in Redding. Wrestling netted the Camp about $100.00 a month, and held out just long enough (before the pavilion was torn down for the Veteran's building) to payoff the loan certificates issued to finance the building of the present club house. We had the city pavilion "rent free" for wrestling, by maintaining the building and looking after the few rentals for the City.

Early in 1932 we purchased 880 feet of second hand three inch water pipe, with fittings, valves, etc. for $400.00. (Can someone find a bargain like this today? We could use it). Not having $400.00, we immediately sold (much to our regret later), several hundred feet at ten cents a foot to help pay for the pipe. We have laid over a mile of three inch water mains at Camp, all by donated labor of early Camp members, having built two fine large springs, from which the mains lead.

Several hundred dollars were expended, immediately after the ground was platted by Art Rohm and Henry Baker, to three experienced woodsmen to clear the location of streets of down logs, snags and dangerous dead trees, this costing, as I recall, about $500.00. Labor rates at that time were $2.00 to $3.00 a day, so a lot of work could be done for a little money. Practically no street work has been done at Moose Camp's expense. Moose Avenue, the main road through Camp, was the old county road. (I traveled this county road on my bicycle while teaching school at Pittsville, 1898 to 1900). Present roads used, other than the old county roads, together with bridges, where bridges are necessary (as at my shack, and to the McRae and Leathers' cabins, and also the concrete crossing at the north end to Holt's, Webb's, Thatcher's, Ferguson and Saeltzer's and Herseys's cabins) were all built by the lessees themselves, on their own time and at their own expense.

The country around Camp, being a stock country, at that time used by both cattle and sheep, the entire tract was fenced in 1932. We bought the cedar posts and material, and the labor was contracted to C. U. Blay. Too light wire was used for a heavy snow country. It has been, and is now, necessary to do extensive repair work each spring, the fence is now almost beyond repair and must be rebuilt new in a very few years.

We built a combination store building and living rooms for the caretaker in 1933. This building burned and the present store buildings was built with living rooms, bath room, septic tank, etc., and was operated by Vic Lammers and family for several years.

We improved the playground, in a small way, with swings and other playground equipment and built rest rooms. The rest rooms were destroyed by a falling tree three years ago and have not as yet been rebuilt.

The Camp members brushed out a road from the highway to the Hatchet Creek bridge, by permission of the Red River Lumber Company, and the county, through Supervisor George Darrah, graded it for us. This right of way has since been deeded to the county, by our paying for the survey and $25.00 for the deed, and county maintenance was promised,

In 1932 we built a large, substantially built, woodshed and garage for our old truck, and in 1935 bought and installed a 1500 watt Kohler lighting plant for the new club house.

Slightly over 100 lots, of the 427 laid out, have been leased, and 37 homes built, nearly all before 1935. Most cabin owners have more than one lot. There are very few lot leases without cabins.

In 1940 or 41 we purchased a very fine public address system, with phonograph, costing about $600.00, to play dance and other music from the finest bands and orchestras, for Moose Campers' and their friends' entertainment. Only two members, Al Grigarick and Jim Holt, knew how to operate it from the power of our Kohler lighting plant, but with electricity now in the Camp, its operation is simplified. It has been used but very little, as the war came on In 1942, and with but two members who understood its operation, little use has been made of it. Dancers, now, among the Camp population are not too many. The only one who deserves special mention is Frank Calkins, 82, who would dance every night. And, by the way, Frank, who goes to Camp in the Spring before the snow is off, and stays until it again covers the ground in the Fall, is and has been for many years, the "guardian" of the Camp. He is assisted now by Foss Opdyke, retired forester, who spends most of the summer in Camp, and George Frickinger, retired, who also spends considerable time at Camp, off and on, during the Summer.

We went through a depression from our beginning in 1930 until 1941, and a war from 1942 to 1946. No money raising enterprises have been attempted since July 4, 1941, except three dances in 1948. We had three very fine, well attended dances in 1948, but because of the heavy expense for music, etc., we just broke even, after a lot of hard work. Schemes we used to make money from our Fourth of July affairs throughout the thirties (sometimes three days and three night) if used by us now, would probably result in a jail full of Moose. Our chucka luck wheel often took in $75 to $100 a day, at no expense. It operated on a ten cent per bet basis, but after our pockets began to bulge, and a "tin horn gambler" came along and wanted to play it "big" and get rich quick, we took his "dollar a throw" bets, and he lost his money just ten times as fast, and we made it accordingly. Glen South dispensed the "bull" that made the suckers bite. Bingo netted some cash, played on a 50•50 cash basis, at no expense. The money board and penny pitch cost nothing to operate, and brought in surprisingly good returns. Firecrackers were always "sold out' 'at 100% profit, but their use is now prohibited. Dances paid off well with a seven piece orchestra playing for $50.00 a night. The two refreshment stands-one inside the hall and one outside-(the outside one always operated by Clay Baker and Wayne Parsons, bartenders deluxe), netted well for people will drink "soda pop." We always had a legal beer stamp, however, and sold George Frickinger's product-Acme. The kitchen, serving two regular meals, breakfast and dinner, and a dance supper at night, netted good returns, at low prices, but with lots of hard work. Otto Sigl, the baker who knew his food, was in charge, with all the women of the Camp helping from early in the morning until after the midnight dance supper. Here's the menu for Sunday, July 2, 1933. Breakfast: ham and eggs or bacon and eggs (with all the coffee you could drink) 35 cents. Eggs, toast and coffee, 25 cents. Hot cakes and coffee, 20 cents. Oatmeal and coffee, 15 cents. Dinner menu: Roast pork, 35 cents, Veal stew, 25 cents; cold ham and potato salad, 30 cents. Sandwiches, 15 cents; pie, per cut or ice cream, large dish, 10 cents. July 3rd ran about the same with some variation in menu. July 4th, same breakfast menu, but look at this "Special Fourth of July Dinner," Fried chicken, peas and carrots, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, pie or ice cream and coffee for 50 cents. If you didn't care for the chicken, you had an alternative of Virginia baked ham and sweet potatoes, for 40 cents. Concessions ran all the time, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with a dance each night, .Saturday, Sunday and Monday. A free program for Sunday, started at 10:30 with a children's program conducted by Maude Engram, followed by a band concert in the park, ball game- Moose vs. Fall River Mills-card party in the club house, penny carnival in the club house, fireworks from the ball ground.

Monday’s free programs included races and horseshoe contest, with prizes given, a card party in the club house, and a two hour program, from 7 to 9 p. m., put on by the Montgomery Creek Grange in the club house, under the direction of Eleanor Hill. Tuesday, July 4th, started at 10:00 a. m. with a two-hour patriotic program, with Goddess of Liberty and attendants, presentation of colors by Francis Moore, Eagle Scout, and an address by Captain Beatty, of the Green Burney CCC Camp. Program was arranged by Maude Engram. From 1:00 to 1:30 a free band concert in the park, followed by a ball game, Green Burney CCC vs. Inwood CCC, and a card party in the club house. With all the free entertainment, is it any wonder that our "homespun" affairs, attracted two or three thousand people? At 6 p.m. doors opened for boxing and wrestling matches (not free, however), followed by fireworks from the ball ground after dark, then the dance.

Maybe you think we "old timers" didn't work to put on these performances, with about two hours sleep out of each 24. With all the free entertainment we furnished, the dances, "chuck luck" and other games, and the refreshment stands, had to payoff. Oh yes, and Bill Morrison loaned us three "one arm bandits,"-slot machines, and they, too, paid off.

I mentioned that the Moose Camp area was burned over a few years before we got it, and that the young trees and brush were then comparatively small, but in over twenty years, it, like all other mountain areas, has grown dense brush. The brush, however, is easy to clear, and any lot can be cleared in a couple of days' work. Clearing a lot is not much more work now than it was in 1931 and 1932- there are practically no more bushes per lot, they are just larger, and the dead logs on lots haven't increased or diminished.

Due to the depression of the thirties and war of the forties, the price of lots, by lease, have never been changed. Comparing the 100 % dollar of the early thirties with the 30 cent dollar of 1952, and the great increase in all real estate values, prices should be increased so that a lot leasing for $35.00, for the 99 year. Or, in other words, a permanent lease, should be at least $100.00, with others in proportion. We planned on increasing prices as early as 1933 but have never done so. Lots comparable to our $35.00 lots, are selling in most summer camp areas for from $500 to $1000. Moose Camp offers opportunity for a summer home, at a very small fraction of the cost of any other like area in California, or in the world. Water is free, and there is plenty, if conserved. Assessments for expenses, such as fence repair, maintenance, taxes, insurance, etc. are very small. The Camp is open now, as when organized, only to members of the local Moose organizations -not even to Moose of other lodges. We hope to keep it so, but if no more interest is shown locally, in the future, than in the past, the by-laws will probably be changed to permit others to lease lots and build summer homes. When I was able to attend lodge regularly, it was my job to tell all initiates of the beauties and advantages of Moose Camp, and this was done at every initiation until the early forties.

Much improving could and should be done such as re-staking blocks and lots, especially block corners. (Stakes have rotted out in the 22 years since they were set, and the logging operations destroyed many soon after they were set). Some street clearing could also be done, but with the lack of interest that has prevailed except by those who have summer homes-there (and all of them are now 22 years older than they were in 1930), and with no sale of lots, and no funds except the small yearly assessments from lessees and cabin owners, any improvements, at present costs, if the labor is not donated, is almost out of the question. However, a lessee clears his own lot, and can brush out a road to it, as all of us have done in the past.

Look Moose Camp over, fellows and gals of the Moose, take a lease to a lot, build a shack and enjoy the hot summer nights of the valley under two or three blankets at Moose Camp. There are very few restrictions, other than "please don't waste the spring water by letting it run day and night,"-there is plenty for all, if conserved- and, of course, septic tanks at homes are a MUST -that's state sanitary regulations. No building inspector looks down your neck.

That "Time wheels his endless course" is painfully evident at Moose Camp. Since the Camp's beginning in 1929, these "promoters and boosters,"-cabin owners- have gone to their reward. They are, Charles Hill, Art Rohm and wife. Henry Baker, C. W. Smith, Leslie and Maude Engram, George Koppen, Lydia Schallock Sublett, Doe Houston and wife. H. F. Webb, Jim Holt, Pete Burr and wife, Abbie Sigl, Elizabeth Skene, Bill Rester, George Elderton, Jeff Elliott, Mrs. Frank Calkins, and Dick Minear, and lot owners, Rudolph Poll, Charles Garrett and J. W. Heyler. There may be others whose names I do not recall.

Let's keep Moose Camp-the summer home site that has done most to offer at smallest cost-going forward. I have left some data showing ownership and locations of cabins, together with a supply of maps of the Camp, with Bob Liddell, Moose Lodge Secretary, who will gladly give you such information that he can and I am always. ready to "drop everything" to give information or sell a lease to a lot at Camp. Here's hoping that next Spring will show new life and that several new cabins will be built. You don't know what pleasure you are missing by not being a "Moose Camper." Enjoy the weekends and vacations where the weather is delightful by day, and cool at night; where the sweet scent of the beautiful azalea and purple and white wild lilac fill the air, and the dogwood's waxy blossoms cheer the eye. Roam among (but don't pick or dig) the beautiful ferns, tiger lilies and white and yellow violets in the swamps. Enjoy (but again don't pick) the wild daisies, indian paint brush, bleeding heart, wild rose, columbine, lupine, the purple aster, trillium, white iris, "the red and purple thistle," and the numerous other wild flowers. Breathe the fine pure mountain air enriched with the aroma of the fir, pine and yew trees, and even the sweetness of the despised white thorn, when in blossom. Admire the Quaking Aspen, whose leaves are never still, seeming to offer a welcome, and a friendly hand shake. Do a little fishing on the-side, and, during hunting season, make your home at Moose Camp your headquarters, almost within "shooting distance" of fine hunting areas.

Remember, too, that winter sports in the snow, skiing in from the highway, can be great fun. Throughout the thirties, Mom and I, then both considerably over fifty, sometimes alone and sometimes with the family, often left our car at the highway, skied into Camp, and stayed overnight, many times over Christmas and New Years. Kids have the time of their lives at Moose Camp, but you don't have to be kids to enjoy it. Even at fifty, or more, just play you are kids and enjoy the snow, as we did. But you'll have to remember this, that no water is in the mains from about the middle of October or first of November, depending on freezing weather, and water for Camp use in winter, must be carried from springs or streams. A few years ago, someone turned water back into the west side mains. and it stayed all winter, resulting in badly bursted mains. Don Calkins put in two days welding the mains. A year or so later, someone closed the valve ahead of the outlet on the east side line, and left it that way all winter, resulting in the bursting of the valve. A used valve would have cost $25, but we brought it into our shop and welded it and it is still in use.

Your morning slumber in Camp may be disturbed at daybreak by the chirp of the chipmunk, or the gray squirrel from his perch high in a fir or pine tree, the whistle of the mountain quail, or the noisy squak of the bluejay, and the wailful howl of the coyote may be your midnight lullaby. Only once has a bear invaded Camp when no one was around, of course, but he tore into Mrs. Webb's summer kitchen, turned over the stove and refrigerator in search of bacon she had left there. These, except the bear, all add to your Camp pleasure, and makes one realize that he is "part of the forest primeval" -in Nature's Wonderland.

Pick out your lot and get it cleared this fall, and prepare to build your little shack or a more elaborate home, "by the side of the road," (where there is no road) and let the world go by. Since electricity is in the Camp, a shallow well and pressure system makes lots not adjacent to water lines, now usable and desirable.

Hoping to see many of you at your own "summer homes" in Moose Camp next year, I am.

Sincerely and fraternally,

H. H. SHUFFLETON, Jr.

Secy. Moose Recreational Camp, Ltd