Comments for A Writer In The Wry

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by wes

wes — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:31:57 +0000

I don’t know about “good looking!” More like young and skinny. I was one of the younger boys at camp which made it all the more interesting. Who is your son-in-law? I was born and raised in Quitman, and judging be his age, I may know his parents. I left in 1974, but my Mom still lives there, and I go home as often as possible.
Wes

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Jo Beth Bird

Jo Beth Bird — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:28:29 +0000

My sister, Sandy and I attended one summer at Camp Jocassee. We were a few days late arriving and that was a difficult transition for me. All the girls my age already had decided on their friends, so I had to “earn” their approval. My memories are very good. My husband and I are traveling to Salem tomorrow and when I today, while talking to my son (age 31) he asked what we were doing tomorrow. I told him we were going to Salem to Lake Jocassee and he broke out in one of the songs about “The chicken at Jocassee”. Proof that Camp Jocassee will live on forever!

Wes, were you the “good looking” boy that would have met us with luggage. I believe we still have pictures of everyone. My son-in-law grew up in Quitman. My e-mail address is jobethbird@msn.com

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein

Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:26:19 +0000

Wes, it was so interesting to hear from one of the “boys.” (I was there in the 50’s, so you’re after my time.)

I recently found a site on Facebook for Jocassee campers, and back in February, there was a long discussion with about 12 former campers. In fact, there were three discussions, they’re still online, and one of the main chatters was Brenda Foy! It made for interesting reading…you should check it out.

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by wes

wes — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:54:38 +0000

It was about 1975 or ‘76. The first gasoline hikes pretty much put the camp out of business, from what I understand. I appreciate your comment, but believe me, the experience and lessons I learned from those summers with the Foys, and being one of about eight boys in a population of a hundred or so females, of all ages, were unforgetable.

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Laura

Laura — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:13:00 +0000

I really enjoyed your post. I guess, as one of the campers, I never thought about all the behind the scenes stuff that you and the other people did to make the camp nice and fun for us girls. Do you, by any chance, know what the last year was that the camp was opened?

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Wes Warmack

Wes Warmack — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:22:17 +0000

I just came across this site by accident. I was one of the “boys” from about 1964-69. I remember Miss Ludy and Miss Sarah, the house on the cliff. We would go and help with maintenance when she came to visit. I was one of the boys that took care of those clay tennis courts, cleaned toilets, set up beds, hauled the bags when you girls showed up on the bus and in the cars with your parents. Hauled the trash, saddled the horses and cleaned the stalls. And yep, probably kissed my first girl at Jocassee. And yes, the leeches where real. I used to “drag” the lake with salt blocks, with the other boys, to keep the leeches away while you girls were taking swimming instruction. I grew up in Quitman, GA with the Foys as second parents to me. Regretably, I have long lost contact with the Foys, but Coach Foy lives in Dublin, GA. I understand that Mrs. Foy, Barbara, passed away some time ago. It may sound silly, but I sing the Jocassee songs to my grandaughters and they think I’m silly. That was a great time of my life. I live in Greenville, SC, not far from Jocassee, and to be honest, have no interest in going to Lake Jocassee. It’s just not the same. Most people around here don’t remember the valley, Whitewater, Keowee, Tugaloo Rivers.

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein

Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:46:11 +0000

I just googled Ludy and found a ton of stuff on her, including a youtube 8 minute video of an interview done with her about the Olympics.

We used to say, “Knit one, purl two, Ludy, yoo hoo!” I don’t think any of us had any idea of her earlier history. Wow!

Gena

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein

Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:20:42 +0000

Not that song. But I do remember ones about putting your napkin in your lap, prunes, watermelons, etc. A song for every occasion! And all the other songs we sang at meals…one for each table…Cherokee, Toxaway, Keeowee, Oconee, Seminole, Catawba…We used to put on skits about each table.

And what about the boys and the doctor that worked there? Someone was always having a fling with each of them.

And writing letters to ourselves that were delivered six months later?

Why would the Godbold sisters take everything out of the house during the winter and leave the door wide open? That sounds so strange. Wouldn’t wild animals and birds come in?

A reunion would be fun…too bad the camp no longer exists (above water, anyway).

Gena

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Laura

Laura — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:53:59 +0000

Maybe we should plan a Camp Jocassee reunion. Does anyone know anything about Mr. and Mrs. Foy? Maybe there’s an old camp roster floating around out there somewhere.

I remember a story about the Goldbold sisters’ house. Seems they told my dad that in winter time they took everything out, including the toilet, then left w/the door wide opened.

Do y’all remember kitchen duty and that funny song everybody sang if you put your elbows on the table??

Comment on Underneath The Lake’s Tranquil Waters Lie Jocassee Memories by Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein

Gena (Fishbein) Goldstein — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:32:34 +0000

Laura & Ruth, it’s great to hear your experiences. I was there during the summers of ‘53-’57. Ludy was in charge of tennis then, I think, along with a counselor named Dawn.

Miss Sarah was building her house across that little bridge during my last years then. Girls who got in trouble had to carry big rocks to help build it! When I think back, it sounds unbelievable. And we loved it!

I have googled both Godbold sisters but never found either of them, although I saw lots of other Godbolds. I’ll give it another try.

Gena