Kitchen
Photo taken in spring 1989. Kitchen with arrows painted on the ground to show path into kitchen from A-Frames.
Kitchen Design:
Kitchen Floorplan:
Patio
Outdoor patio with shingles ready to be replaced. Trivia: At one time the “Outdoor” Patio was enclosed as shown in this photo from around 1965. It is unclear when the side walls were removed.
Sinks
The sinks for washing up before lunch:
In the mid-60’s, Bert collected on a debt by accepting a pony carousel and a stagecoach. For a time, horses pulled the stagecoach on rides for campers.
In the PeeWee unit, early 1970s:
In a parade, 1971:
After several years, it was determined to be unfit for use and it sat beside the road in front of Sr. A&C.
Campers played in it for several seasons until it fell into disrepair and was removed around 1978.
The Terrace
Newly constructed auditorium and office in 1964. The office window would be replaced by a door and a full kitchen installed to prepare food for the Swim/Weekend Club. The building was out-of-bounds during camp and was largely unused from the 80’s onward.
Arts & crafts in front of the “The Terrace”. Notice door instead of window.
All of the kitchen supplies were moved into two storage closets built on either side of the stage in the auditorium and remained there until camp closed.
Wendy, the nurse. Promotional photo ca. 1980
Interior:
Health Centre description from 1990’s brochure:
The mini-golf course was located south of A-Frame 1.
The site of the mini golf course prior to construction in 1960 (similar angle):
The photo below is taken from the opposite direction to the one above – after the course was built:
Below, campers and staff prepare for work on the mini-golf course by digging sample trenches. It will be built on the other side of the fence to the left. ca. 1961
“Bug Juice”
A sugary drink mixed in vast quantities from a mysterious powder commonly served on US Navy vessels in the enlisted men’s mess. Can also be used to clean brass.
Source: Urban Dictionary
Muppet “Trains”. 1990
Topless Tetherball. 1961
King Dons
The most popular lunchtime desert!
Garages at the bottom of the parking lot. Always open and full of sharp tools & dangerous chemicals. ca. 1987
Early views – 1959:
The shelter shown below was later moved to the Patio (outside the kitchen) View is looking north west with garages visible in the background:
During construction of the T-Pool in 1964:
Barbeque Pit
Clockwise L-R:
Barbecuing behind the A-Frame. Lower Field in the background. ca 1965
A permanent barbecue was built in the same location. This photo taken in 1969. Tent in the background is on the upper field beside the Nature Hut.
Same barbecue ca. 1989.
Camp Calendar – 1992
Daily Forms
Incident Form
Nurse Form
Cookout Requisition Form
Maintenance Form
Requisition Form
Central Supply List (Items available to be requisitioned using form above)
TO-RE Form
General purpose memo form used to by the office to share instructions for staff – usually regarding campers. These would be pinned to a notice board in the office for Unit Heads to pick up during their regular check-ins.
Still not Tire-D of Summer, Lana, left, and Jenna, take advantage of a spot of good eather in an otherwise chilly summer to scale a wall of tires at Forest Valley Day Camp in North York. Toronto Star. July 17, 1992
Built in 1964, the design was based on another pool:
The photo below was taken in 1961:
Dimensions:
Filtration:
(From David Morrison) The T-Pool water was kept clear by a diatomaceous earth filter housed underground, below the T-Pool Locker Room. The filter had to be backwashed, generally twice daily, and a new application of diatomaceous earth applied each time. During my tenure at the camp, it was mostly me or Dominic who performed this function.
Unfortunately, no one at the time fully understood the dangers of inhalation associated with crystalline diatomaceous earth (which, while not asbestos, is an asbestos-like substance), so we didn’t wear masks to prevent it. In today’s environment, doing that kind of work without a mask would be unheard of. I shudder to think of how much of that stuff we inhaled. Fortunately, the summer was only 60-some-odd days long, so I doubt that any permanent harm was done to either of us, although the damaging effects are cumulative, since the fibres never really leave one’s system. In any event, whaddaya gonna do?
TRIVIA: The first people to swim in the T-Pool were Ellen (Eli) Sobel, Jeff Levy, Jackie Sugarman, Janice Langer and Myrna Mosoff.
See also:
The Photography Hut was built in 1965 for the purpose of housing the motor and mechanicals for the ski lift as seen in these screen captures from the ski video:
When the ski program ended in the late 60’s, the equipment was removed and the building was re-purposed. Many of the large electrical switches remained; the reason for them was a mystery until the history was learned. A porch was added in the 70’s.
Here are some photos of the building during its use as the Photography Hut:
I have all of these items!
Pocket Knife
Gift to bus drivers – 1988
Fridge Magnet
Fridge Magnet. ca. 1990
Used exclusively for mailings to parents.
Watch
1985
Binders
Regular and Anniversary (1990). Larger versions were given to Supervisors.
Pen
25th Anniversary Pen – 1980
Name Button
Colour-coded for each unit.
Painter Cap
Provided to campers in spring mailing – 1988.
Key Ring
Gift to Bus Drivers – 1990
Forest Valley Day Camp 1956 - 1993 