1932-1935 – Three years of letters from a young boy written while at the first nautical summer camp on Cape Cod.
South Dennis, Massachusetts. Unbound. This correspondence includes seven letters written over three summers (1932-1934) by Ben Perkins from Bonnie Dune Nautical Camp in South Dennis, Massachusetts, for boys to his parents at either Gramby or Holyoke, Massachusetts. Six of the letters are in their original mailing envelopes, two of which have had their stamps torn from the right corner in accordance with Ben’s instructions to “Save the Stamps.” Also, included is a two-page memo “To Parents of Bonnie Dune Campers, Season 1932”.
The memo includes instructions regarding transportation to camp, baggage, equipment, homesickness, food and candy, spending money, physical history, and visitors.
From Ben’s writing, it appears that he was probably between the ages of eight to twelve when he attended this camp. The letters include affection for his parents, excitement about camp events, and his daily routine.
The letters read in part:
“Mother and Daddy I will send you a present in a few days and Daddy I will make a Billfold. I just came back from the trip to Avalon. . .. Supper will be . . . peanut and jam and milk, and cracker. . ...
“Last night we have topsy turvy night we play game then we went to the Jetty for supper. . .. You may come to camp in August we got a new motor boat. . .
“I came back from the back shore last night it. . . the coast guard man came down and helped us. . .. Some of the girls came from Chaqueaset. . ..
“Yesterday we went over the Eastham to see the whales on the beach. There were about 80 of them. There was a sailboat race, and one of them tip over. . .. This afternoon we are going over the flax pond for a bath. I am going to make a puzzle tonight. . ..
“On Thursday there was a [cruise] to Martha’s Vineyard, and stayed that night. The Next day we went over to Wood’s Hoel. We came home Friday night. Saturday the camp went down river to the Bass River Water-meet. . .. When I come home I am going to make the sailboat [I drew at the bottom of this letter.]
“Camp is over on the 26. . .. On Friday night they are going to have the banquet. . .."
. Very good. Item #010665Camp Bonnie Dune was the first boys’ summer camp to open on Camp Cod. It was founded in 1917 by Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Rogers and staffed by the son and daughter. The main camp building was located in a refurbished old sea captain’s home. The couple also ran a nautical girls’ camp, Camp Chequesett, in a full-rigged ship anchored in Wellfleet Bay.
William F. Buckley attended Bonnie Dune where he developed a life-long taste for peanut butter. (The Renaissance (July 1938). “The discovery at Camp Bonnie Dune, on the Bass River, Cape Cod, of peanut butter and raspberry jam on a cracker.”
(For more information about the camp, see contemporary news articles and advertisements available online.)
A charming record of a well-to-do boy’s life at an early New England summer camp.
.Price: $250.00