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January 25, 2007

MESSAGES FROM PHIL EDWARDS!!('57-'60)

My name is Phil Edwards and I was a counselor at Chic-A-Lac from 1957-1960, which makes it 50 years since my first summer there. I always remember fondly my years there and often think back on those great summers. I worked with Rocky & Ronnie Ratner, Alex Frankel and many others. I discovered this web site my accident and it's been great looking back on those old photos, especially finding myself in the picture of Chick-A Woo lodge from 1960. I have a few old photos of my own, and if I can find it, I even appear in a camp postcard that was printed up and used at the time. I spent most of my working life in law enforcement, and retired in 2002 as a New York State Parole Officer. I currently live on Long Island, and can be reached at-- *********************************************** The 2 counselors, in rear, on either end, are Charley Dillahay and Leo_____? Year is unsure, but I was there from 1957-1960 and it brings back memories. Phil *********************************************** I have a few old photos if I can find them. I also still have the shirt I'm wearing in the 1960 photo-saved it as a souvenir.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember Phil Edwards. He had a habit of throwing salt over his shoulder when the salt shaker fell over. He always sat in the same seat in the dining room--near the wall. After a few summers there was an indentation in the wall where he had thrown the salt.
From Corinne

Corinne said...

Hey Phil--how about coming to our next reunion? You would have a great time and we'd all love to see you!
From Corinne Selinger Weisberg
Chic-a-lac 1959-1965

Phil said...

Hi Corinne: The salt-throwing brings back memories. Were you a counselor? Or a camper? Speaking of the dining room,I remember checking camper's hands to make sure they were clean, and sending back those who had red hands from pastachio nuts.

Corinne said...

Hi, Phil--I was a camper. In 1959 I was 9 years old. I have a pretty good memory of you and I do remember sitting at your table in the dining room which was a lot of fun. Do you remember Faith? She's a famous person now. And yes, you were right about the pistachio nuts leaving our hands red. Isn't it amazing how memories stay with us after so many years?
Corinne

Phil Edwards said...

Corinne: I remember Carl putting on large wooden shoes and dancing to "Wooden Shoes & Happy Hearts"-I remember weekly cook-outs near the parking lot on the cooks day off-I remember Color War, and being the Red Team Captain.I remember "dedications" in the dining room, which were usually intended to embarrass someone-i remember holding your index finger alongside your nose, and the last one to do it was called "PIG" by the rest of the table.

Bob Eber said...

A famous person from Chic-a-Lac? Who was Faith, and Corinne - do you know whether she was in camp after 1960?

Phil said...

Bob- Faith was Faith Plotkin, a counselor for one year in 1960, and my girlfriend from that summer, and into the following year. She changed her name to, of all things, Faith Popcorn and is now famous as a a writer and "futurist", predicting trends for major US companies. I've seen her on TV, mostly at New Years time, predicting trends for the coming year. She's in the photo, on the left in blue sweatshirt, of Chick-A-Saw, 1960 in Camp Oldies section.

Anonymous said...

Hi Phil
I'm sure you don't remember me as I was a mere CIT or junior counselor (whatever Uncle Carl was calling us that season) in 1959-60. However I remember you quite clearly, tall, dark, handsome and an "older" guy and part of a duo, Faith& Phil.
We're tickled to find you and hope to see you at our next get-together. How did you find us????
Carol Teitelbaum Galetz

PHIL said...

Carol:Thanks for the tall, dark etc. compliments. I found the site thru a Google search--I always felt that camp life had a positive effect on me in the ensuing years. Those were great summers and I can't believe 50 years have passed since Carl interviewed me in his Greenwich Village apt., and I started my summers there. It always seemed that the months from Sept-May were just a prelude to June-Aug., and I always eagerly awaited the next summer's experience. I still remember the walks into Youngsville at night, down that long, dark road-always with a bunch of other counselors, and singing "Green Grow the Rushes, Ho". What do you remember most? And are you in any of the pictures in the old album on-line?

Bob Eber said...

Phil - you don't have to look only in an "old" album - Carol looks just the same and just as good today as she did then!

Corinne said...

Hi Phil--just wanted to show you who I was in 1960--in the oldies album--in the first photo-- we're standing in front of Chic-a-saw Lodge--it's the last night right before we went into dinner for the "Banquet". I'm the 3rd girl from the left in the front row with the dark dress with the white collar and a sweater. My best friend that summer was Jane Herbst (Herb's older girl). She is standing on the right of me.
Corinne

Neil L said...

Amazing. Hi Phil. I was in Cherokee in 1960, my first year at Chicalac. I had a younger brother, Scott....you were his counselor in Chicawoo in 1960. In the 1960 Chicawoo photo, he's sitting in the front row between Vaughn Mason and Dennis Singer.


Great that you caught up with us. Lots more old photos will be posted in the next few weeks.

Neil L said...

Corinne....the photo you refer to is probably mislabled.....if the photo with Faith in it is Chicasaw 1960, then the one you are talking about prior to the banquet is probably 1961. What do you think?

Corinne said...

Neil--I still think it's 1960 because Helena Winter is not in the photo. She was there in 1961--not 1960. But your guess is as good as mine.
Corinne
PS--I'm so glad we're now in touch with Phil!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Phil
If you scan through Neil's amazing phot album (the one with the old pictures) you'll find me on the right in the Chicadee 1961 shot.
carol

bob-
you make my day! thank you!

jerry said...

Hi Everyone......this is jerry kopf, the photography counselor @ Camp 1957-1959 and I exhumed volumes of pictures and negatives which, when I have time, will post here. Can anyone tell me Ronnie & Rocky Rattner's e.mail or phone number. I have super shots of Morris Rattner in front of his office in Liberty, NY and a photo of Main Street or Broadway in Liberty circa 1957...

I'm on a RETRO KICK and its a gas!
Carl Meltzer where are you now that we've all grown up, assumed leadership positions in life and pine for the good old days of Camp Chic-a-lac? Nu?
my best to all...

jerrykopf@gmail.com