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TIMELESS
TREASURES
In 2002, Tamarack Camps will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
In preparation, the Fresh Air Society has published A Timeless Treasure:
100 Years of Fresh Air Society Camp, a 246-page, hardcover book written by
Wendy Rose Bice. The book is available through the Fresh Air Society office,
248-647-1100, and Borders bookstores locally. The following is an excerpt:
The Boom Begins
With the end of World War II and the
beginning of the baby boom, camp direc-
tor, Irwin Shaw, made it his mission to find
Fresh Air a larger home. In 1950, the pur-
chase of a 600-acre tree farm in Ortonville
fulfilled that dream. At first, senior Brighton
boys used Ortonville as an outpost. In 1951,
a small group of senior girls spent a few
weeks in one of the property's existing cot-
tages and, in 1953, 42 female campers and
their counselors occupied the newly built
cabins of the Helen L. DeRoy Village.
At the time, most campers lived in the
Dexter-Davison area. Ten years later, North-
west Detroit, the area that spanned 6 Mile
Road to 8 Mile Road and Livernois west to
Evergreen, had become the-new center of
Jewish life. In 1958, 62 percent of Detroit's
Jewish families lived in Northwest Detroit,
and a few had discovered Oak Park.
Less than half of those who came to camp
paid the full fee of $25 per week, easily quali-
fying for reduced rates or scholarships.
Campers didn't have to pack much, bath-
ing suits, shorts and slacks, and rain
boots. Luxuries were few, long under-
wear, a 5 cent box of Luden's Cough
Drops or, the most coveted possession,
comic books.
"Comic books were a huge, huge
thing," reminisced Barbara Steinmetz
(Bandler). Steinmetz arrived in America
in 1945 from Hungary. Like many im-
migrants, she learned the English lan-
guage courtesy of 'Archie and The Gang"
Pre-Holiday Mixer
For 30 And Up
Call the
Fresh Air
Office
248 647 1100
Limited Quantities Available
Register Now
for Summer 2002
Camper
Thursday, November 22, 2001
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
In-Line Hockey Center
JCC, west Bloomfield
"Captain Marvel" and "WonderWoman."
In 1951, Steinmetz was one of the se-
nior campers to live in the Ortonville
cottage. "At rest time everyone would
pull out their comics. There was no
scheduling because there were no orga-
nized activities. We were 14. At that
age, there was nothing we liked better
than j ust hangin' out...reading, talking,
taking hikes_ and swims."
. Speed Dating is hosting a "Mixer
and Mingle" party for singles age 30
and older, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov.
21.
The event will feature music and
dancing and a cash bar in the Main
Bar and Lounge at Drakeshire Lanes,
Grand River and Drake roads,
Farmington Hills.
There is a cover charge of $10. The
event is sponsored by Speed Dating,
and the organization's matchmakers
will attend.
For information, contact Eric or
Rachel Kornbleuth, (248) 626-4756
or logix4u@aol.com
Scene Happenings
For college age through
30-something.
Nov. 16 Friday, 7 p.m. Hillel of Metro
Detroit Shabbat dinner. Cost: $3 in
advance. RSVP to Ezra Drissman,
ezrathejew@yahoo.com or call Hillel,
(313) 577-3459, by Nov. 13. •
In 1951, a group of teenage female
campers came and lived in one of
Ortonvilas existing cottages. Pictured
here is an elegant Lenore Altman.
Nov. 19 Monday, 7:30 p.m. Hillel of
Metro Detroit planning meeting at
Caribou Coffee, 401 S. Main, Royal
Oak.
adP7 -3:-
Nov. 25 Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Community-wide blood drive spon-
sored by Jewish Federation Young
Adult Division at Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit, Farmington
Hills.
. : •
•
-.. •
•
Nov. 25 Sunday, 5 p.m. Hillel of
Metro Detroit and Eastern Michigan
University Hillel attend Red Wings
game. Meet at Hockeytown Cafe at 5
p.m. for pre-game sodas. Tickets are
$20. Reservations only by sending a
check to Hillel of Metro Detroit. For
information, contact Ben Doppelt,
ben0377@ameritech.net, or Jason
Cooperman, jcoop76@hotmalcom,
or Hillel, (313) 577-3459.
Nov. 28 Wednesdsay, 8:30 p.m. YAD
roaming Bar Nite at Mr. B's, 215 S.
Main Street, Royal Oak.
woonstar ,
M.B. JEWELRY DESIGN & MFG
11/16
2001
114
Applegate Square • 29847 Northwestj
Nov. 29 Thursday, 8 p.m. Hillel of
Metro Detroit will see The Good
Doctor at Oakland Community
College, Orchard Ridge. Cost: $5.
Contact Rachel Klein, (313) 577-
3459 or hilleljcsc@wayne.edu
.