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Pomperaug Page |
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694 Buckley Highway
by 1922 Camp Pomperaug was established for its first season of
summer camping. 1936 Bridgeport Council #65 changed its name to
Pomperaug Council #65. In 1938 Troop 64 began an annual tradition of going
to Camp Pomperaug every summer. In the winter of 1948, the dining
hall roof caved in. The council used Camp Mauwehu until 1951.
1952 Pomperaug Council #65 moved the camp to Wells Pond, Union, Connecticut.
In 1972 Pomperaug Council #65 merged with two other concils to form
Fairfield County Council #68. The were then operating three summer camps
under the new merger. It became very difficult for the new council to run three
simultaneous camps for the next two years. Only one of the three camps can remain.
The summer of 1974 was the last season of summer camp at Camp Pomperaug.
Troop 64 attended the last week of the last season. The week endeed, we loaded up
our backpacks and traveled back home. A few weeks later, found out the news that
the council was undergoing consolidation. Pomperaug was then closed. All
campers were then routed to Camp Mauwehu.
The cost of Pomperaug was a hundred bucks per week.
Camp Pomperaug was located at Lake Zoar.
Rich Luba and Mike Carpenter swamped a canoe in the Camp Pomperaug Lake.
The dining hall roof caved in one winter.
The cost of Pomperaug was $20 per week including the roundtrip bus ride.
Chuck MacMath develops a "new" canoe stroke with the assistance of Roger Adzima.
Wayne Medoff and Pete Canevari swamped a canoe in the Camp Pomperaug Lake.
Staff and Troop 64 joined forces for a Mess Hall dinner boycott.
Camp Pomperaug was moved to Camp Mauwehu.
You discovered that you can stand up while in the center of the lake.
The cost of Pomperaug was $7.50 per week.
We stood on the dinner tables to sing the final verse of "Daddie's Whiskers"
The Camp Pomperaug Patch was yellow.
The entire troop lost their buddy tags before a crucial water polo game.
Before meals we would chant a cheer, then the Camp Director would address the troops followed by grace.
After eating, we would enjoy a camp song followed by dismissal.
to the unofficial Camp Pomperaug Page or the Official Troop 64 Pomperaug Page.
Every summer Troop 64 had a tradition of spending a week in upstate Connecticut.
A week of summer camp at the legendary Camp Pomperaug.
Young and old, large and small, those of low or high estate would venture into this land from 1938 to 1974.
Location:
175 wooded acres near Union, Connecticut, USA
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076 USA
Website:
At present there is no Offical or Unoffical Camp Pomperaug Website.
History
Very little is chronicled of Camp Pomperaug history.
For the time being, this is the optimum we can predicate.
The Rotary Club of Bridgeport obtained a parcel of land on Lake Zoar,
Southbury, Connecticut. This lake was produced by the construction of
the Stevenson Dam. The Connecticut Light and Power Company completed
a barrier across the Housatonic River between 1917-1919.
To the north, the flooded area was called Lake Zoar. The lake
was neighboring on four towns, Monroe, Shelton, Newton and Southbury.
The Bridgeport Rotary Club gave this northeastern tract of land to
the Bridgeport Council #65, BSA in 1919 for the establishment of
Camp Pomperaug. Several camps surged along the shores of Lake Zoar. Camp Sherman, Camp Rippowam,
Camp Irving.
A Day at Camp Pomperaug
Camp Song
"Back to Pomperaug"
I use to be a *Tenderfoot, and a happy Tenderfoot too, but now I've done
my Tenderfooting, and I don't know what to do, Im getting old and feable,
I cannot work no more so I'm going to buy my ticket if I can, Where to?
Back to Pomperaug, Happy Land...
Whet! Whet!
Back to Pomperaug, Happy Land...
Whet! Whet!
Oh! I'm going to buy my ticket if I can.
* Tenderfoot is replaced by 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life then Eagle,
as the song continues.
Remember When...
Staff and Troop 64 were allowed to play each other in water polo.
We had "nightie" mornings.What Did Camp Pomperaug Have?
Parking Lot
The first feature of Camp Pomperaug was the Parking Lot.
Located at the main gate next to a large barn with a Camp Pomperaug Logo painted on it.
This is were your Camp Pomperaug adventure begins. You are dropped off with your backpack to start the long hike to your campsite.
If you drove, you parked your car here. This area was also used as a baseball field on Wednesday evening.
Remember to move your car on Wednesday night. If you forget, no problem, it will make an excellent backstop.
Archery Range
This area was not visited often unless you were working on the Archery Merit Badge.
Had three to five targes, with an array of fiberglass bows and wooden arrows.Located near the 1st Aid Center.
Athletic Field
Located at the base of the hill in front of the messhall. Had a volleyball net and flagpole.
On the shore of the Pomperaug Lake which casued a problem when the volleyball went out of bounds.
Rifle Range
Located in the backwoods of Pomperaug. Fifty foot outdoor target range.
Site where many of us fired a gun for the first time. Supplied with .22-caliber rim-fire rifles.
Site where you can earn Rigle and Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge.
Health Lodge (First Aid Center)
This is the where you go when you are injured, sick or just want to go home.
Staffed by a RN. You can also have the nurse pass you on First-Aid Merit Badge.
Headquarters
This is the command post. Communicaitons center. Camp Director's Office. Even had a phone to the outside world.
Nature Center
Main meeting place for Nature Merit Badge classes. When not in use for class, contains
displays of animals and trees of the area.
Waterfront
This is the command center for all Camp Pomperaug Aquatics.
It had a sandy beach with a 25-foot lookout tower.
A steel dock swim area, a raft floating in water over your head to swim out to.
Complete with a rowboat and sailboat dock along with a fleet of canoes.
This was also the site of the famous "Troop 64 Water Polo" games with staff.
Once a week an "aquathon" would be held for all the troops to compete in friendly competition.
The following can be earned at this location:
Canoeing, Rowing, Swimming, Lifesaving, Small Boat Sailing Merit Badges
along with the Mile Swim Award.
Messhall (Dining Hall)
Three meals a day are served here; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Some memorable items on the menu included: Otto's Oatmeal (What ever is not eaten, may be used for mortar).
Bug Juice, Powered Sugar Cakes, Frozen Orange Juice served still frozen.
Trading Post
Fully functioning mercantile center of commerce.
With a garrison of Official Camp Pomperaug: Patches, Mugs, T-shirts,
night-tees and stationery. Merit Badge Books, wood carving kits and basket making kits.
Soda, candy, chips and the ultimate gourmet delight;
A frozen "Milky-Way" bar or a frozen "Three-Musketeer's" bar.
Obstacle Course
An area to try your skill at hurdles, rope climbs all made with lashings.
Even had a "monkey bridge".
Camp Pomperaug Lake
Amenities of this property included a ten acre pond.
To us, this was known as the "Camp Pomperaug Lake".
It's root beer color water boasted a day of endless canoeing, boating and swimming.
Nine laps of the lake qualified for the Mile Swim Award.
Council Ownership of Camp Pomperaug
(1998-present) Connecticut Yankee Council #72
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© 2003 by Troop 64 --- Revised --- 2/15/2003 --- Ver 2.01
URL: http://home.att.net/~sakal/pages/pomp.htm
