William Lynch “Porky” Curwen, 86, died on Feb 12, 2012 at home in Westwood, MA.
A memorial sevice will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Deerfield Avenue, Westwood, MA, Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, 5 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 177 North Main Street, Concord.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the NH Veterans Home Benefit Fund, 139 Winter St, Tilton, NH 03276; Society for the Protection of NH Forests Portsmouth St., Concord, NH 03301; AMC Huts & Trails, 5 Joy St, Boston MA 02018 or the organization of one’s choice.
The Friends of the Jackson (NH) Public Library have two upcoming presentations that happen to be given by O.H. and might be of interest to this group. On Wednesday February 8th at 7:00 pm, Brian Fowler will talk about the “Presidential Range, before and after the ice-age”. On Wednesday March 28th at 7:00 pm Allen Koop will present “Camp Stark: New Hampshire’s World War II German Prisoner of War Camp”. Both presentations are free and open to the public. The library is located at 52 Main Street in Jackson, NH.
“I left for Boston on Labor Day weekend, in 1941. I took only fall and winter clothes, and Boston was very hot for several weeks, while I was job-hunting. Very uncomfortable! I lived at the old YWCA, and the weekly room rent was $3.50 if you had a roommate and $4.00 if you did not. I had a roommate. The meal ticket for the week was $12.00, which covered two meals a day for 6 days (lunch was eaten at work) and generally we went somewhere else on Sunday. Since my salary was $30.00 a week, I didn’t have much left over …
In the spring of 1942 my cousin Arthur Martell convinced his sister Ida and I that we would enjoy climbing in the White Mountains, which he did a great deal, and somehow we undertook to do it although we were strictly “city slickers” who walked a lot but always on sidewalks. My roommate Ada Krevoruck also agreed to go, which was not her style, either, because she was short and somewhat chunky. Ida and I were at least tall and thin.
It was a strange mixture, a Catholic, a Protestant, and a Jewish girl, but I guess we had something in common – we were all stubborn. Art mapped out the route for a week, I bought a White Mountain guidebook, we bought knapsacks and set off for a week – in ordinary walking shoes, not boots as many people had. We stayed each night at a different Appalachian Mt. Club hut staffed by college students. Each place had a bunkroom for men and one for women, and provided bunks and blankets – no sheets, no inside plumbing. You washed your face and cleaned your teeth in the nearest brook – nothing else got washed until you returned to Boston! The good old days!
The charge for a night at the hut was $3.50 [equal to the cost of a room at the ‘Y’ for a week], for which you received supper, breakfast, and a packed lunch for the trail (sandwich, fruit and a candy bar). We all pitched in and helped with the dishes. All the food had to be packed up the mountain in huge backpacks by the young men, so it wasn’t gourmet style, but we were hungry enough to enjoy it. The only time I ever ate oatmeal for breakfast was in the mountains.
I was the only one of the three of us who ever went to the mountains again, but I found two other girls through the Y, Bea Lord and Helen Rust, who were really good climbers, and I went with them for a week every year until Dad and I married in 1948. There were also many other girls in the Y who liked to go for weekend or Sunday hikes, and we did a lot of that in the Blue Hills and other areas near Boston, including Concord.
It was in 1943 that I met my future husband on Mt. Washington, when we stayed overnight at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut. He was there with a friend, Bob King, and we were all part of a group that went out to watch the sunset. There wasn’t any electricity except a little by generator, so everybody just went to bed early …
Living at the Y in Boston was a real bargain, for the $3.50 a week. There was a gym where we liked to play badminton, and could do it any time we wanted to. There were tubs where we could do our wash, lines to hang it on, and irons and ironing boards to use, all for no extra charge. I had a wonderful time there, and as I said, I made many friends who liked to hike. We also went to the Boston Symphony’s Pops concerts for 25¢, to their concerts on the Esplanade of the Charles River which were free (but the mosquitoes were awful), and to movies …
After I returned to New York from Boston I kept on hiking. First I checked the Friday paper for hiking groups that went out on Sundays. There were many listed and anyone could go. You met at a ferry terminal or bus station and usually spent the day in northern New Jersey.”
Jo Dodd was my mother. In 1956 my family moved from Long Island to Wisconsin and never went back to the East Coast; but my mother loved New England and in particular the White Mountains until the end of her life. As an old woman in West Allis, Wisconsin, she typed out her youthful memories and placed them in a plain blue canvas 3-ring binder. She never told us she was doing this; we found the notebook when we cleared out her apartment after she died.
In September of 2011, at the age of 60, I hiked in the White Mountains for the first time. I brought some of my mother’s ashes with me, and left them near the Lakes of the Clouds hut, where she and my father met in 1943.
Kathy Dodd Miner, Madison, Wisconsin
Kathy Miner sent us this great gorming last month. Of the other hikers mentioned in the post, Bea Lord is a 97 years old AMC member and living in Lebanon, Maine. Helen Rust was related to the 1920′s AMC President, George Rust.
Tom Kelleher
MINUTES FOR
OH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING,
NOV. 1, 2011
Members present: Bill Barrett, Jim Hamilton, Doug Hotchkiss, Tom Kelleher, Chuck Kellogg, Moose Meserve, Doug Shaffer, John Thompson, Stroker Rogovin
1) Treasurer’s Report (Moose)
Both income and expenses are about where we expected. Cost to complete woodshed came in higher than expected, and Hurricane Irene will necessitate some road repairs in the very near future, but these costs are partially offset by our postponing chimney repairs until next summer. Fundraising for the Madison Hut Croo Photo Project was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of Dick Low. Dues collection will go out in a month or so in the form of a simple one-pager, plus a letter from the Chair noting highlights of the year just past and the one to come.
2) Cabin (Stroker, Moose)
As noted above, the new woodshed was completed this fall by Cabin Caretaker Mike Waddell, to add tool and wood storage capacity. Mike and son Ben also performed some emergency road repairs following Hurricane Irene. Mike will be contacting our neighbors up the road, the Gervais, to apprise them of the road condition and attendant costs. Josh Alper to report on neighbor’s legal obligation re sharing cost of road repairs. Chimney repairs to occur next summer, in advance of new roof (4 – 5 years off).
3) Fallfest (Doug H. Stroker)
Current headcount is 79, including many younger OH. Tom Kelleher to post notice on the website to encourage stragglers to make resis now (recent years have sold out). Dick Low volunteered to read the Treasurer’s Report and take the vote for the 2012 Steering Committee in light of Treasurer Meserve’s inability to attend. Chuck Kellogg will induct James Draper as Special Member (Jim Hamilton to supply Chuck with text). Chuck also to speak about the 50th anniversary of the article about the huts that appeared in National Geographic. Stroker to contact Chris Thayer and Eric Pedersen to determine who might best introduce featured speaker Mike Jones. Sheldon Perry, who has been handling most of the planning for this event, will contact Highland Center management to review expectations for timely and efficient dinner service. Sally Dinsmore Baldwin will make available all 14 frames of recently restored Madison croo photos, including some shots of recent renovations (collection will be installed next spring).
4) Latchstring (Doug H.)
Josh Alper was to present this year’s award but suffered a minor fall that will preclude his attendance at Fallfest. Doug Hotchkiss to present instead?
5) Oktoberfest Report (Dick Low and Doug H.)
About a dozen or so OH attended Oktoberfest this year over Columbus Day weekend to help clean up the cabin for winter. Food was amazing, as always, courtesy mostly of Brigette Stetson, and the weather was unseasonably mild. In addition to general cabin clean up, other odd jobs were accomplished, including some painting. Cabin guests don’t seem to be doing as good a job lately of picking up after themselves; Stroker to contact Eric Pedersen to help spread the word among current croo, particularly about picking up after End of Summer Party. Dick Low and Doug Hotchkiss also reported that Richard and Brigette Stetson are concerned about cabin maintenance going forward: do we need new blood to help with the winterizing ritual? The Steering Comm. noted that the paucity of new and younger OH is a challenge that affects many other aspects of our operations and is something we’ve been working hard to improve for many years. Stroker to contact the Stetson’s to determine if they think more help is needed for this event, and what form that help might take.
6) Trails (Bill Barrett)
No trail work over Oktoberfest weekend. Hall’s Ledge still needs some minor attention. Bill Barrett may get to this later this fall.
7) Hut Croo Photo Project (Jim Hamilton)
Restored Greenleaf croo photos are now 10 years old and were done with older technology that hasn’t worn as well as newer technology used in other huts. Jim Hamilton to raise the approx. $1K required to bring collection back to full bloom. In addition, we need to add croo photos from more recent years to the 6 existing hut collections, at a rough cost of $350 per hut. Solicitations for help with this to go out with 2012 dues notice.
Bill Barrett to contact Mike Bridgewater and get him started with the next phase of the Hut Croo Photo Project: Carter. We’ll need missing photos and funds.
8) Sharing OH Photos w/ AMC Archives
With a recent request by the AMC to use OH photos for the Madison re-dedication this past summer for a Facebook event page, the issue arose of how and when such content is to be shared. After some discussion with the AMC (who generally don’t allow the OHA to use their materials) it was agreed that to avoid concerns about ownership, use, and privacy, sharing of such materials would be generally avoided and handled on an ad hoc basis.
9) Resuscitator (Jim Hamilton)
Next issue to be published this spring. Bethany Taylor to join Emily Muldoon Kathan as second Co-Editor. Other writers are on deck and will be contributing great material to coming issues.
10) Website (Tom Kelleher)
Croo database now has approximately 275 links to personal FB pages. Tom Kelleher suggested we take photos of Steering Committee meetings to accompany the minutes when posting to the website. Paypal link on website will now have a dedicated box for Hut Croo Photo Project donations. Providing links on the OH website to other websites was discussed (including the Ski Museum, Mt. Washington Obs., and Museum of the White Mountains). Consensus was that links should be offered, but not on our home page, which is already crammed with content. Also: OH should request reciprocal links from organizations we provide links to.
11) Renaming “End-of-Summer Party”?
In an earlier email exchange, Stroker discussed with Eric Pedersen the possibility of renaming EoSP “Vinnie Night.” Some Steering Committee members felt this would be a fitting way to honor the event’s founder, Vinnie Lamanna, recently deceased. Eric felt that changing the name would have little relevance for current croo, and as it was their party, the Steering Committee should respect the way current croo see their world and use their own language. The Steering Committee agreed to support this approach.
12) Other Bidness
None.
13) Date for Next Steering Committee Meeting: 1/10/12.
Stroker, 11/2/11
MINUTES FOR
OH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING,
SEPT. 6, 2011
Present: Josh Alper, Bill Barrett, Jim Hamilton, Doug Hotchkiss, Chuck Kellog, Stroker Rogovin, Doug Shaffer, John Thompson.
1) Treasurer’s Report (Stroker for Moose)
No report. Funds are available for addressing recent storm damage to road to Cabin (see below).
2) Cabin (Stroker & Moose)
The Wad will be completing woodshed and chimney work this fall. Access road suffered significant damage in late August from hurricane Irene, with repairs expected to cost approx. $5K. Josh Alper to research property information to determine extent of neighbor’s responsibility, if any, to share cost of road maintenance. Wad to contact neighbors (Gervais) to see if and how they are willing to help with needed repairs.
Authority to approve White Mountain Oil and Propane to provide fuel and service to the cabin has been expanded to include Stroker (Chair), Mike Waddell (Caretaker), John Meserve (Treasurer), and Dick Stetson (a concerned party).
3) Fallfest (Stroker)
This year’s fall reunion will be Nov. 12, at the Highland Center, Crawford Notch, NH. Cost of dinner is $28.75; $16.88 for 17 and under. Rooms are $54.91; $31.59 for 17 and under, and include room, Sat. dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Thanks to Sheldon Perry for working out the details. Deadline for resis is 10/13. WALK-INS MAY NOT BE ACCOMMODATED. MAKE YOUR RESI NOW. Call reservations at 603-466-2727 and use group #163112.
Publicity will consist of a notice on the website and an e-mail blast (c/o our webmaster, Tom Kelleher), plus direct-mailed postcards (c/o Jim Hamilton).
The evening promises a diverse and entertaining agenda, including slide shows of recent OH treks to Nepal and down the Colorado River, a slide show featuring the 50th anniversary of the National Geographic article that put the huts in the minds of millions on Americans, a 1 PM trip up Mt. Avalon, the Latchstring Award, and featured speaker 90s OH Mike Jones presenting his work mapping the alpine zones of eastern North America.
This year’s slate of nominees to the Steering Committee includes Stroker (chair), Moose Meserve (Treasurer), Tom Kelleher (Webmaster and Secretary), Jim Hamilton (Resuscitator Editor), and the following At Large Members: Lindsay Bourgoine, Beth Weick, Kim “Schroeder” Steward, and Eric Pedersen.
As if the above weren’t enough, members of the Steering Committee will be meeting at the Highland Center, 3 PM, with recent OH alum (YOH), to brainstorm outreach to younger members. If you are YOH and have ideas, please join us!!
4) Latchstring (Doug H)
Greenleaf won this year’s award, after another difficult round of deliberation by the Latchstring Committee (Doug Hotchkiss, Josh Alper, Bill Barrett, John Thompson). (Two legacies on this year’s croo.) Doug Hotchkiss will be stepping down as chair of this committee, after introducing the award many years ago and ably administering it over the years since. Josh Alper has agreed to assume the duties of chair and welcomes any and all who wish to help evaluate future croos for an award that is obviously well-received by AMC management and croos alike, and helps to put the OH before current croo in a direct and very meaningful way. The Award was granted at the hut system’s End-of-Summer party at the Cabin in a ceremony that was well received by all.
5) Oktoberfest, 10/7 – 10 (Dick Low)
No major construction projects planned for this fall. Just the usual putting the cabin in order for the winter, and a superlative feed of kraut, wurst, strudel, and other German delicacies lovingly served up by the Stetsons. Come one, come all, and enjoy a relaxing work weekend that’s usually accompanied by golden fall afternoons and crisp nights.
6) Trails (Bill Barrett)
New blowdowns reported on the Hutman’s Trail by Bill Barrett and Chuck “The Human Lopper” Kellog. Hall’s Ledge Trail will be the next area of focus. Bill Barrett hopes to improve blazes along Hutman’s Trail this fall.
7) Hut Croo Photo Project (Dick Low)
Jim Hamilton has asked Sally Dinsmore to provide an estimate of cost to restore Greenleaf photos showing signs of wear. Jim to follow up with fundraising. Old photos will be removed from the hut this fall and available for improvements this winter.
Steve Bridgewater to kick off the Carter photo project this fall with solicitations for donations and photos.
Also discussed was the need to update photos at huts with recently improved photos. Eric Pedersen to provide Sally with recent croo photos to be added to existing collections, as time permits.
Refurbished Madhouse croo photos to be installed next spring. Kudos to Dick Low for spearheading a very successful campaign to locate missing photos and raise the funds to make this project happen. Thanks as well to the many OH who gave generously to this worthy project.
Lastly, the need for off-site backup of digitized photos will be addressed by Sally periodically sending data to Josh Alper, who has generously agreed to store it at his place of work.
8) Resuscitator (Jim Hamilton)
Spring issue will be big, featuring a spread on the history of the hut naturalist program.
9) Other Bidness
OH sponsorship of Madfest (August hut party at Madison) was proposed by Brian Fowler, but the Steering Committee felt that contributions towards End-of-Summer and YOH attendance at Fallfest were a better investment of limited resources.
The Steering Committee would like to see End-of-Summer party renamed “Vinnie Night,” in honor of Vinnie Lamana, who started the event. Stroker to ask Eric Pedersen.
2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Nat. Geographic article about the huts. Chuck Kellog, Jim Hamilton, and others enthusiastically endorsed the idea of installing copies of this article at each hut. Eric Pedersen and Sally Dinsmore to discuss best format, location, and feasibility of such a suggestion.
10) Date for Next Steering Committee Meeting: Nov. 1
Stroker 9/9/11
