Farm Island Campaign Launched

Click here to read about the Farm Island Capital Campaign.

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Eugene R. Clark, Jr. (1926-2008)

  LITTLETON, NH – Eugene R. Clark, Jr., age 82, died peacefully in his sleep on November 30, 2008, in Littleton, NH, surrounded by his devoted wife and loving family. He was born in Waltham, MA on August 20, 1926, the son of Eugene R. Clark Sr. and Evelyn (Lane) Clark. Gene and his wife, Peg, have lived in Littleton since 1960.

Gene graduated from Waltham High School in 1944, having played on the Waltham High School State Championship football team. Immediately following high school, he served two years in the Navy, stationed in the Pacific Theater as a radar operator. After the service, he first attended Brown University and later graduated from Boston University with a Bachelors Degree, playing varsity football at both schools. After graduating from BU in 1950, he married his wife of 58 years and began a lifelong career in the YMCA. From 1950-1953, he served as Assistant Physical Director at the Newton Massachusetts YMCA. In 1953, he became the Head Physical Director for the Attleboro Massachusetts YMCA, where he coached the undefeated high school varsity championship swim team in 1959.

In 1960, Peg and Gene moved their family north to Littleton, NH, to become the Executive Director of the North Country YMCA and Director of YMCA Camp Belknap, where he served for 29 years retiring in 1988. During his tenure, Belknap experienced the greatest growth and expansion in its history. Most notably, Gene will be remembered for his vision, his land acquisition, and his leadership development, which is still the cornerstone of the Camp today.

His accomplishments throughout his life include Littleton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1977; Member of the Littleton Rotary Club for more than 40 years, serving as President and receiving the Paul Harris Fellow; running the Rotary Santa Program for more than 40 years; Chairman of the Littleton School Board; 25-year Littleton Hospital Volunteer; Member of All Saints’ Church and Choir, serving several terms as Warden of the church; 20-year volunteer of the Red Cross blood bank; a lifelong avid sportsman, golfer, skier, jogger, and volunteer coach.

Gene is survived by his adoring wife, Peg, his three loving children, Gene III and wife, Caryn of Wolfeboro, NH; Debi Valentine and husband, Mike of Lincoln, NH; and Pami King and husband, Rob of Bradenton, FL. He also leaves behind his three beloved grandchildren, Sean Clark, Christian Clark, and Morgan King.

Gene will be most remembered for his leadership by example and for living the YMCA Camp Belknap motto – “God First, The Other Person Second, Myself Last.”

SERVICES -- There will be a Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008. At All Saints Episcopal Church in Littleton, NH, with Rev. Carl Schaller and Rev. Noel Bailey officiating, followed by a family reception in the church parish house.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to YMCA Camp Belknap, P. O. Box 1546, Wolfeboro, NH 03894 or All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 30 School St., Littleton, NH 03561

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Inc. To view an online memorial or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.pillsburyfh.com.

 

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Conservation Easement Adopted

The Camp Belknap Board of Directors recently voted to grant a conservation easement to the New Hampshire Society for the Protection of Forests.

On April 8, 2000, the board, at its annual spring retreat held at the New England Center in Durham, NH on the campus of the University of New Hampshire, voted to grant a conservation easement to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Below, is a summary of the conservation easement and an analysis of its principal provisions as prepared by board chairman Peter W. Powell.

In summary, the conveyance by Belknap of this conservation easement will protect the land and facilities, for all time, from their loss to alternative development, but preserve for all time their availability for use as a camp for young people. All of the restrictions and prohibitions ordinarily applied to land which is conserved and protected by easement, will apply to the Belknap land should it ever be removed from its use for youth camping. However, these restrictions will not apply to youth camp operations, or to ancillary uses that compliment and support the youth camp operation. In other words, Belknap can do what it needs to do in order to operate a successful camp, including intense uses and the conversion of open space for its good purposes. This honors throughout the Easement the value of camping and the mission of Camp Belknap.

As long as YMCA Camp Belknap exists, it will be able to operate without interference or intervention.  Under Easement, certain uses will be prohibited unless they are performed in connection with the accomplishment of youth camp operations, or uses ancillary to those operations.  The uses prohibited, subject to the rights of Camp Belknap, are commercial and industrial uses, uses of the land which make it undesirable for forestry and agriculture, the subdivision and sale of separate parcels (subject to limits described below), the physical development of the property, the placement of structures, the removal of soil, changes of topography, disturbance of water systems, of natural habitat and of wetlands, the use of outdoor advertising, mining, quarrying, excavation, removal of rocks, minerals and gravel, etc.  Because of the discretion and rights assured for Belknap, there is for every restriction an exception for activities related to the camp and its mission, but with limits imposed for subdivision as follows:

Camp Belknap, but no successor in ownership, will have the right to withdraw from the Easement up to ten parcels of not more than two acres each, for conveyance to abutters if Belknap determines it is in its best interest to do so. In addition,  Belknap will have the right to subdivide and sell not more than three parcels of any size to abutters, with such parcels not withdrawn from the Easement, but sold subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Easement.  These options are available at the discretion of Belknap, giving Belknap the flexibility the Board desired to raise money, or to do business with abutting landowners for any reason.

Inherent in the Easement is the ability, should Belknap ever become dormant as a Camp, for any party whether public, private or nonprofit - to again utilize the land and facilities for the renewal of youth camping, regardless of the number of years of dormancy or interim uses for agriculture, forestry or non-commercial recreation. Also, if it were the desire and ability of Belknap to do so during any period of dormancy, structures and improvements deemed important to the Camp could be maintained and kept in place if not used for any non-permitted purpose, in the event the Board wished to preserve them for the restoration of camping, or for historic or other reasons.

In essence then, if Camp Belknap ceased to operate, the property could not be sold for alternative development inconsistent with the permitted use of a youth camp. Instead, it could be used for forestry, agriculture or non-commercial recreation, and it would remain available for all time for restoration as a youth camp should it again become feasible to do so. This effectively allows the unrestricted, perpetual operation of Camp in the manner in which it has been operated for the last 100 years, and in ways not now anticipated, but at the same time assures it will not be lost to other development or to irreversible change that could sacrifice its legacy or its importance to the future.
 
 
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Manuel DelValle

We have learned from Jeff Bradley that Manuel DelValle, a Belknapper from 1982 to 1985 and a New York City firefighter, was tragically lost in the rescue efforts of September 11th at the World Trade Center.

The following is an except from Jeff's e-mail with more information on Manuel -
 

". . . [I] went right to the FDNY web site, www.fdny.org, and there I found the sad confirmation that this is indeed our Manny DelValle, Firefighter, Engine 5.  See his photo and page at http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/fdny/html/memorial/wtc/delvalle_manuel_ff_eng005.html.  In the photo, Manny looks about the same as he did when he was a senior in my cabin in 1984, my last of 11 summers at camp . . .

The memorial service is Saturday, October 13 in the Bronx, probably not far from where Manny grew up.  If I were not an ocean away, I think I would be there to tell Manny's family what a cool kid Manny was, how courageous he was to make the trek northward each summer, how very much he brought to us isolated NH boys (do you remember his moonwalking and breakdancing at Woodcraft?), and how he helped me develop as a leader and a person.  I vividly recall taking a walk with Manny the last day of camp, after the disappointment of his not getting rec.  I don't remember his exact words, but he said something like, "Don't worry about it man, I'll get OVER it!!!", and then he thanked me.

Manny was a class act.  I only wish I had gotten to know him as a NYC firefighter.  I would have loved introducing my four-year old son Timothy to Manny, showing him Fire Engine No. 5.  I'm sure I would have had to talk Manny out of hauling Timothy up the ladder or cruising him around the block, sirens blaring:  "Yo, Posey, check this OUT!

Manny made the ultimate sacrifice, and perhaps embodies as much as anyone ever can, the Belknap motto and spirit.  God Bless You, Manny."

Jeff Posey Bradley  [email]
Via Della Mazzetta, 19
01100 Viterbo (VT)
ITALY
011-39-348-712-7292
 
   
 

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Karen Adams Ludwig  1942-2002

We sadly announce the passing of our fellow Board member, Karen Adams Ludwig.  Her obituary follows:

Karen Adams Ludwig, 59, of Waverly Place, Schenectady, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, at her home.  She had ALS. She was born Dec. 21, 1942, in South Orange, N.J., and grew up in East Windsor Hill, Conn., daughter of Henry J. and Ruth S. Adams.  She obtained her AB degree from Pembroke College at Brown University, where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She also earned a master of arts in teaching in English education from Johns Hopkins University and a master of arts in American studies from Union College.  A resident of Schenectady since 1969, she taught English at Niskayuna High School for 27 years, retiring in 1998.  After retiring, she joined Literacy Volunteers and the Octavo Singers. She also volunteered at Lincoln School and Brown School. When her husband also retired two years ago, they became partners in Waverly & Rugby Books, selling secondhand scholarly books over the Internet.  She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the National Council of Teachers of English and the New York State United Teachers.  She served on the board of directors of YMCA Camp Belknap in Tuftonboro, where her parents, who predeceased her, had been longtime staff members.  Her family has owned a cottage adjacent to the camp since 1938 and she spent part of every summer there. Family members include her husband, Jan K. Ludwig, and two children, Miles Ludwig of New York City and Melissa Adams Ludwig of Rochester, N.Y.; two sisters, Marcia Hittle of Appleton, Wis., and Cynthia White of Silver Spring, Md.; an aunt, Mary Claire Adams of Mansfield, Mass; and one niece and two nephews. Memorial contributions may be sent to The ALS Regional Center at St. Peters Hospital, 315 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208, or to YMCA Camp Belknap, Box 1546, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-1546.
 
   

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Gene Pierce Blood

Gene Pierce Blood, 76, of Concord and Venice, Fla., died Tuesday at Venice Hospital in Florida. She was born in Boston, Mass., the daughter of Rev. Eugene McKinley Pierce of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City and Harriet Gulick Pierce of Aloha Manor, Fairlee, Vt.  She attended Scranton (Pa.) Country Day School and Pitman (N.J.) High School and graduated from Salem (N.J.) High School.  She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1946 and from Teachers' College, Columbia University, in New York City in 1949.  She taught at Tenacre School in Wellesley, Mass., and at Bentley School in New York City. She was a Red Cross Grey Lady at the 382nd General Hospital in Kanaoka, Japan, for two years during the Korean War.  She was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International through the Rotary Club of Concord.  She was also a member and officer of South Congregational Church; the Madisses Circle of South Congregational Church; the Junior Service League; Concord Hospital Associates; Women's College Club; the East Concord Garden Club; Alpha Gamma Delta sorority; Kappa Delta Pi (Educational Honorary Society); Concord Family YMCA; Board of Lady Visitors of the Centennial Home; and Concord chapter of Save the Children Federation.  She was a trustee of Kimball Union Academy in Meriden Survivors include her husband, Dr. Horace Shepard Blood; a son, Robert Shepard Blood and daughter-in-law Jeannine Bryant-Blood of Concord; a daughter, Deborah Neuhoff and son-in-law Stephen Neuhoff of Henniker; a sister, Helen Pierce Swetland of Fairlee, Vt.; and three granddaughters. She was the granddaughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Edward Leeds Gulick, founders of the Aloha Camps, Fairlee, Vt., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Henry Pierce of McConnelsville, Ohio. Memorial services will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Concord Hospital Cancer Center, 250 Pleasant St., Concord 03301 or to YMCA Camp Belknap, Wolfeboro 03894.