Belknap Factoids
originally compiled by Hank Adams in 1964
A-Kee-Sto-Mac - Name for the Belknap infirmary. Coined by Pa Conlon who always said it was the Indian word for infirmary. Can be pronounced “achy stomach.” Assistant Directors -
Frank “Ma” Seabury 1915 - 1926 George “Jake” Hodges 1926 - 1938 Henry “Hank” Adams 1938 - 1965 Thomas “Tom” Giggi 1984 - present
Ballfields - Main ballfield is named Messer Field in honor of the woman who gave the money for clearing it. Midget Ballfield (now Cadets, 1964), cleared and improved by Midget leaders over the years. Clark Field named for Gene and Peg Clark, Directors 1960-1988.
Belknap- The camp's name originated from Mount Belknap. The first site of Camp Belknap was on the east side of Lake Winnipesaukee on Timber Island at which point one could look up towards Mount Belknap. In 1907, three years after the camp was organized, it moved to its present site. “Can you tell me where the name Belknap comes from? We have Belknap County and other areas in the state named Belknap.” - N.P.W. Hampton Belknap County was named in 1940 after Dr. Jeremy Belknap, the famous minister and author of the History of New Hampshire. In 178, Dr. Belknap led a scientific expedition into the White Mountains, mapping and assigning place names. He was a Congregational minister from Boston who helped found the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1794, the first of its kind in the United States. - Encyclopedia of New England
Bells - There are four. One is located at the chapel and was donated by the father of Wayne, Jimmie, and Wilbur Smith. An the end of services, it is rung 11 times. The first 10 times are to honor the 10 boys who died in World War II and whose names are listed on a copper plate beneath the bell. The eleventh ring is for the unknown dead. The 10 known dead are:
George Thompson Philip Swain Donald Mann Carl Simpson Joe French Russell Britton Calvin Follansbee Robert Hale Richard Scott Joseph Sisto
The second bell is on Conlon Lodge and is used to call in the boats and was used to summon the hurricane waiters to the dining hall. This bell was given by the parents of Dalt Haynor who drowned at another camp in August after being at Belknap in July, 1924. The third is in the Senior Division to call the division to order at recall. The fourth is at Clark Field for special occasions and to announce the end of activity periods.
Boat Signal - For many years a boat signal hung on the wharf. When this was raised, the big steamer, Marshall Foch, came in and stopped. Up to about 1930, almost all camp trunks and other freight came by this boat from The Weirs. The boat signal which is circular in shape and three-dimensional is now hanging at the boathouse.
Boats - Camp has had several fleets of rowboats. The present one, made of aluminum, was instituted in 1987. Canoes and sailboats were introduced about 1939. Camp-owned power boats have included the NYMCAH, the BYMCA, the Timi-Hi, the Bam, and the Pipsissawa. Various parts of these former boats and a few parts of NYMCAHs past are scattered around the camp or just below the water along the shore. Boats that came into camp on regular runs were The Governor Endicott, the Marshall Foch, and the Blue Ghost. The first two were steamers that brought campers from The Weirs. The third is the mail boat that comes from Wolfeboro and Melvin Village.
Blake's Heights - A famous Belknap overnight camping spot in the early days. It was located where the Camp Northwoods swimming area is now.
Blake's Store - A store run by Mrs. Blake to which Belknappers used to go. It was situated in what is now the Hardie House, a bed and breakfast, the second house on the right on the way to Wolfeboro. One of the high spots of the week about 1925 was when Mrs. Blake came into camp on Sunday afternoon to sell ice cream on the ballfield from a freezer packed with salted ice.
Boat Parade - A parade of floats constructed on boats with prizes given for the best. This usually took place on the Fourth of July.
Cheers -
Timi Hi; Timi Ho; Timi Rum Dum Pum A-Nickel Nipi Cata Polli-Wicka Ki-Me O Belknap! Belknap! Woah! Baby in the high chair Who put him up there? Ma! Pa! Sis boom bah! Belknap, Belknap! Rah, rah, rah! Boomalacka, boomalacka Bow wow wow! Chickalacka, chickalacka Chow chow chow! Boomalacka, chickalacka Who are we? B-E-L-K-N-A-P!
Chefs -
| Ralph Bennett | 1910 - 1925 |
| Jack Gordan | 1924 - 1948 |
| Bill Shaw | 1949 - 1951 |
| Jake Quinney | 1952 - 1957 |
| Jim Jewett | 1958 -1981 |
| Warren Gould | 1982-1984 |
| Maxine Smirles | 1985-present |
Cups - In early years, the greatest honor a camper could earn was to win the Efficiency Cup. This cup and a similar one for younger boys called the Intermediate Cup are in the Conlon Lodge with the winners' names engraved thereon. More recently, a cup given by Dr. Watson in honor of the Conlons has been awarded to outstanding campers. This cup is also in Conlon Lodge. The Adams Cup is awarded each session to the winning Adams Cup team. It was carved by Bob Cole and cracked soon after being carved because the wood was not fully dried prior to carving.
Directors -
| N.H. YMCA Executive Director | 1903 - 1909 |
| Pa Watson | 1910 - 1920 |
| Pa and Ma Conlon | 1920 - 1938 |
| Reid and Peg Besserer | 1938 - 1959 |
| Gene and Peg Clark | 1960 - 1988 |
| Gene and Caryn Clark | 1989 - present |
Fish - Japanese kite fish are hung from the roof of Conlon Lodge. They were presented by Russell Durgin, a famous missionary to Japan. By vote of the campers, they were left up during the World War II period when we were fighting the Japanese. Over the last 50 years or so, the fish have eaten thousands of ping-pong balls.
Fish Records - Records of the largest fish caught were on the window frame outside the office near the bulletin board on the south side of Conlon Lodge. A mounting of one of the fish is on the wall the Camp Director's office at Hall Lodge.
Biggest bass 18.5 inches, 4.5 pounds (Reid Besserer)
Biggest pickerel 20.75 inches, 2.75 pounds (Rob Shea)
Biggest shiner 17.25 inches, 2.25 pounds (Dave Brown)
Biggest lake trout 19 inches, 4.5 pounds (Dave Besserer)
Fogg, Bob - He delivered mail to Camp Belknap by airplane for several seasons between 1927 and 1932. His plane was based at The Weirs.
Freddy - A famous legend about a porcupine who was captured on Mt. Shaw by Toby Besserer and Don Jones. Freddy died from eating chocolate coated peanuts and the campers paid to have him stuffed and mounted. He is now in the Nature House.
Gene's House - The year-round home of the camp directors located at Clark Field and dedicated to Gene Blood, beloved wife of long-term Board Chairman, Dr. Horace Blood.
Governor's Wall - This is located on the southeast wall of the main hall of Conlon Lodge. Here are autographed pictures of the various governors of New Hampshire. Governors Blood, Adams, Hugh Gregg, Powell, Gallen, and Judd Gregg have had sons at Camp Belknap.
Handymen -
| Bob Lougee | 1924-1927 |
| Jean LaPeirre | 1928-1930 |
| Norman Houghkirk | 1931-1957 |
| Ernest Scott | 1958-1968 |
| Jim Jewett | 1968-1978 |
| Del McIntire | 1979-1997 |
| Chip Bierweiler | 1997-present |
Hikes - The most common hikes up to 1930 or so were to Abnaki Tower, Libby's Museum, Bald Peak, Mt. Shaw, Mt. Chocorua, and Mt. Washington. Before 1920, except for Mt. Washington, these hikes started and ended at camp. More recently, Red Hill, Mt. Belknap, Gunstock, Mt. Percival, and Mt. Major have, at various times, been common hikes. Overnight hikes to these mountains and to several camping areas such as Little Huck Island, Long Island Bridge Beach, Cow Island, Hersey's Point, and Blake's Heights were habitual. Many of these were canoe or sailboat
trips.
Horn - The NYMCAH horn, also once used on the TIMI HI rescue boat and the BAM, is a mustard gas warning horn from World War I.
Hurricane Lodge - This name did apply to the cabin occupied by the camper leaders located on a hill in the woods to the south of Hall Lodge. Originally, this building was the “Hurricane Lodge,” so called because it was constructed during the summer of 1939, out of logs hewn on the spot out of trees felled by the great hurricane of September, 1938, which cut several big holes in Belknap groves. Two woodsmen, Horace and Bud, were brought from Maine to do this. This building was the nature house for several years after the camper leader group moved out. Hurricane Lodge has recently been reconditioned and is now used as the Campcraft hut.
Huggins Hospital - The hospital in Wolfeboro to which Belknap boys are taken. Also the sponsor of a 2-day fair in July.
Huggins, Hotchkiss - The mythical author of the “advice to lovelorn leaders” column in MASQUA. In earlier years, she was called Dot Dash.
Inspection - A cleanup of the cabins which comes right before camp duties. The central idea is moving out the trunks, sweeping, straightening bunks, towels and back lines, picking up the exterior, and cleaning hands, face, and nails. Doubles on ice cream or candy bars has been the prize to the cabin in each division that won inspection for a given two-week session. One main problem of the early years was the cleaning of the kerosine lanterns and the tightening of tent flaps.
Indian Head - This is over the fireplace in Conlon Lodge. This was carved out of mahogany by Chef Jake Quinney and presented to the camp when he left. It took over 1000 hours to complete the entire project.
Junior Lodge - The original camp lodge which stood beside the wharf from 1910 to 1959. Its original floor plan and other construction details were the same as the Wolfe Cottage (where the directors summer, named for a Reverend Wolfe), the Adams Cottage (Minona), and the next two cottages on the Mixer Beach front.
Little Huck - The island, owned by the camp, about one mile to the northwest, where the cabins go regularly for overnight trips. It had on it a cabin donated by the father of Phil Swain, who was killed in World War II. Little Huck is also known as Little Hucklebury, Three Pines, and Melvin Island.
Lodges - Conlon Lodge, 1932, named for Ma and Pa Conlon, who were the second resident directors of Camp Belknap. Cadet Lodge, 1937, called Seyon, which is Noyes spelled backwards. Mrs. Noyes gave much of the money for its construction. She was a person who lived for several summers in the present Adams Cottage. She was then Miss Dickerman. Junior Lodge, 1952, called Rowe Lodge, is named after Dr. Clarence Rowe, a dentist in Laconia who served as Chairman of the Camp Committee for many years. Hall Lodge, 1958, is named after Willard Hall, who was state secretary of the New Hampshire YMCA for many years. Besserer Lodge is named after the former director, Reid Besserer. Middler Lodge, on Messer Field, is dedicated to the parents of former leader Leigh Webb, for the parents of all Belknappers. Senior Lodge, called Wardell, is named after Harry Wardell, State YMCA Director for many years. Booth Dining Hall is named after a former Board Chairman, Robert P. Booth.
Masqua's Grave - The big rock in the grove (any of several, actually). Chief Masqua, the Indian Chief who lived on the camp site, propped up the rock with a stick, crawled under, kicked the stick out, and went to the Happy Hunting Ground.
NYMCAH - Name of the present camp launch, the core of which was built in 1946 at Goodhue's boat yard in Wolfeboro. It has since been rebuilt several times, most recently in 1992. The name stands for New Hampshire YMCA.
Scolleges - The Belknap name for the bathrooms. Originally, the scolleges were three kaustine toilets named Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth. Instead of flushing them, one plunged an “agitator” up and down. So, for many years, the word “agitator” had special significance at Belknap.
Songs- The camp song, Timi-Hi, was written by Frank Seabury and Arthur Dows. Many, other songs, too numerous to name here, have been favorites over the years. The song “Alouette” is particularly associated with Pa Conlon. The pseudo-Russian version, “Alouetteski” was popularized by Gene Clark Jr. Today, Tell Me Why and Timi-Hi remain the most popularcamp songs. They are traditionally sung at closing ceremonies.
Totem Game - A game in which the camp was divided into two teams. A painted baseball bat was the totem. One side had it and had to show it at least once a day without being caught. If caught, it went to the other side to hide. All kinds of wild and elaborate schemes for hiding it and showing it were developed.
Totem Poles - One of the oldest is at the Woodcraft Circle. It was carved by Ed Laporte around 1920. One was at the entrance to the camp for many years. This was carved by Bill Wilson aound1927. One was at the Junior Lodge cookout spot. It was carved by Jake Quinney. Several others have been added to the Woodcraft Circle over the years by Leader Corps members as part of their Woodcraft test.
Wolfe - The Camp Directors' summer cottage along the waterfront. Named for Reverend Wolfe. It is the oldest building in camp.
Woodcraft Circle - The main circle was built around 1916 under the direction of the founder of Woodcraft, Earnest Thompson Seton. Other circles are at the Senior Division and in back of the archery range. At the latter, the Midget Division had a separate Woodcraft for many summers.
Wantonoit - A Wantonoit certificate is given for one hundred or more natural objects identified. The idea started at Camp Belknap around 1916 with Professor Brown of Bowdoin College. The plan is still used, although the last of Professor Brown's original certificates was awarded in the early 1990s and a new type had to be substituted.