This “Merck Memory” was written by James Dickey. He returned to MFFC from Colorado this November for his 50th birthday, and he later sent in an account of his experiences up here. Thank you, Jim, for sharing this:
In summer of 1973, I was nine years old. I had just returned from my first summer camp experience at large YMCA camp down south, and it hadn’t gone too well. BB guns, bullies, and bad food. I wanted nothing more of any camp. But my family had spent a weekend in the grand old Colburn House hotel in downtown Manchester (now Northshire Books); in the foyer my mom found a flier for a local camp. Small, outdoor living, $70 a week.
I protested.
I was dragged reluctantly up a road from a tiny parking lot. I saw a small group gathered under a maple tree near a barn and nothing else in sight. A burly, long haired man with a scraggly beard smiled and introduced himself: “I’m Sugar Bear…”. His T – shirt just said “LOVE”.
I had to be dragged away from Merck Forest at the end of each summer for the next decade…
This November, I spent my 50th hiking Antone and poking around The Glen. It was good to be back.
For the next few blog posts, we will highlight some of the photos that Jim shared. Just think of it as a Merck throw-back:
Love these photos! I was a a Merck caretaker in the early 80’s so maybe I will see some familiar faces!