Photo's From Jon Vanderheyden

This first one (starts w/ 01) is of the Ranger’s house. I was told it was one of the first building built so they could get the ranger up there. The house didn’t have the nice wood paneling because of this – wanted to get it done.  There is no fence yet around the house, which I always recall.

 

The second one is of the old army surplus 1951 Chevy pickup hauling a load under the Camp entrance gate.

 

The third (03) one is of the Trading post, the forth (04) is of the Dinning hall, with (05) showing the interior.  Note that the merit badge plagues are not up yet.

All of these are 1956 I believe.  We moved there in spring 1955 while construction was still under way – these look like things are finished, but not quite on some features. 

 

 

Picture starting with (06) also from 1956 showing the east beach on Wood Lake from the hill by the dinning hall.  This doesn’t appear to show the shed at the north end of the beach, but does show the raft pulled out and on the beach.

 

Next photo (07) shows one of the army surplus Willy’s Jeeps.  There were two of them but only one usually ran.  Johnny Nemath used to come up now and then and work on them and get the one going.  All the vehicles were army surplus until about 1965.  There was the two jeeps, a 4x4, a dump truck, a 1951 Chevy Pickup and a 1950? Ford Pickup.  There was also a tractor used for mowing hidden meadows, plowing snow and moving dirt and rock.  Not sure if it was army surplus in the beginning, but was one of the first things replaced.

 

Photo (08) shows the back end of the old 4x4, parked next to the garage (R) and Paint shed/fuel pump (L) at the rangers house.  That’s me in the photo.

 

Photo (09) shows the east side beach again about 1958.  Note the old life guard shed that was replaced around 1961-62.  I am on the pier with my mother, Mary Vanderheyden and my two brothers in the water, Mike and Joe.  When the scouts left on Sat. noon, we could use the beach until Sun about Noon, when the next group came in.  I eventually took swim and diving lessons and used to be able to swim with the staff about 4:00 pm before dinner each day.

 

Photo (10) shows the notorious burros.  I think there were 3 of them (at least), and this is the best close up of one I had.  You can see the other two behind.  Me again in the photo.  They didn’t get a lot of use, but thier care and feeding all year long was constant.  They got used sometimes for pack strings. I can recall going with Dad in the winter like this to break out the ice from water pails, and getting feed etc.  They were kept in a coral near what at that time was the archery range (across and up the road a bit).

 

 

Photo # that starts with (11) is of the camp entrance in the winter 1958.  This arch stood until around 1965 maybe? And the cross bean was replaced with a sign that said “Camp Tamarack” with a chain on each end to the uprights.  I believe that is Mary Vanderheyden and myself in the picture.

 

Photo (12) is a picture from around 1958 in the winter when the lake is frozen, as it always did.  Dad used to walk across the lake in the winter to check in scouts that arrived for the weekend at the lodge (1 of 4), and when I got older I used to go along.  Always carried an ice spud, and only after recon of the ice did he attempt, but once winter set in, that was the best way across on many weekends.

 

Photo (13) is of a post card of Wood Lake and the beach in summer – think the photo dates from about 1962.  It has the new life guard shack, but still has the big black rubber “hot dog” that was nearly impossible to stay on in the water.  It went away not too many years after this.

 

Photo (14) is of the new (1962) life guard house – taken in the winter.

 

Photo starting with 15 – 1965 cooks, - it’s possible this was from when the girl scouts rented the camp, but it is at the dinner hall on the back landing where the trash can sprayer etc. was at.  I don’t know the two women on the left are, but the woman on the right is my mother, Mary Vanderheyden, who did also work for the boy scouts a couple of years.

 

Photo #16 – this is from a Christmas party from the camp held at the office in South Bend (when it was on ?? Ironwood maybe – street right at the South Bend / Mishawaka divide)  I don’t know all the people, but do recognize my mother and father in the third row back – Rene Vanderheyden in the dark black coat sitting next to my mother Mary in the light blue dress.

 

Photo #17 – From the same Christmas Party Dec 1965, - I recognize all the woman but only know my mother in the light blue dress.  Someone will recognize them all I am sure.

 

Photo #18 – about 1966, snow drifts of about 5-6 feet depth, completely blocking the road into the camp. I can remember many a winter storm were we became stranded.  The local farmers and my dad on the tractor would slowly work away at this and eventually get a route out to the highway.  The county and state wouldn’t typically get to these roads, since there was no dairy or large business on the road.  One year the route to the east was closed most of the winter.

 

(Photo's coming soon)

Photo starting with #19 – about 1966 – this is the, at the time, new jeep  - a 1965 Chrysler I believe, they bought out Willy’s just a few years before.

 

#20 – about 1968, spring picture of the dogwoods in bloom.  Note the split rail fence which used to be around out house, the ranger’s cabin. Note also the entrance gate in the background.

 

#21 – again about 1968 – this time a fall picture on Big Wood Lake with fall colors.  The north beach with life guard tower is visible in the background.

 

#22 – about 1970 – this is a spring photo I believe, with a late heavy snow – the photo is of the road into camp just past the Ranger’s house, with all the trees bent over into the road.