Hamilton Chase attended Camp Choconut in Susquehanna County, PA in the summers of 1915 and 1916. Here are a collection of letters back and forth with his parents, Harold and Annie, in 1916.
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Letter to Harold T. Chase at 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, his son (age 14)
July 13, 1916 from Friendsville, PA
Dear Family,
I am manager of the Camp team. It is quite a responsible position. We have a fine team this year, although I am not on it. We had a game yesterday with our great rival Camp Red Cloud. This score was seven to eight in favor of Red Cloud at the first of the seventh inning, when it began to rain, and such rain I never saw, it just poured. That was sure hard luck for their pitcher was about ready to blow up. It was a great game and our team played very well. Camp Red Cloud is some Camp believe me. They have two Packard twin-sixes, a Ford touring care, and a Ford truck. They have hard-wood floors, and tables with linen table cloths. It is owned by a Mr. Russell, a millionaire.
When I was pulling some boards out of the lake, Friday, I stepped on a rusty nail. But the trained nurse put some iodine in it and some chlodium around it, and not it is well.
I got a postal-card from Aunt Fan saying that she had talked over the phone with Aunt Mary, while she was in Chicago. She was in Saint-Paul at the time she sent the card. I did not get my regular letter today and we don’t have mail on Monday, I suppose that I will not get it until Tuesday. I do hope that you are all well at home.
Your Loving Son,
Hamilton Chase
P.S. The Manager of the team can’t play on it. So you see why I am not a player.
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Letter to Harold T. Chase at 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, his son (age 14)
July 16, 1916 from Friendsville, PA
Dear Family,
I was so glad to get those two letters this morning. I went out in a canoe and read them. That certainly is too bad about Bob Ward. I did not know him at all. I think that I can take rides on horses at 25 cents per ride after all. But I don’t think that I will spend much. For I want a Buick “6”. I don’t need any money. I am making a practice of reading one chapter in my bible each day. I find it does me much good. I am glad to hear that the hens are doing well. Uncle Sam and Aunt Fan sure are going to have some fine trip.
Glad to hear that Grandma is getting along well. I hope that the farm will have a good year.
I expect that I will have a brother-in-law, named J. R. Barton, by the time I reach home.
I took one ride on a horse Friday. I was a swell horse. We went to Camp Wyalusing. It is a girls camp and we had a swell time with the Janes.
I hope you are feeling well.
Love from Hamilton
P.S. Please postpone the wedding till I get home, Sis.
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| Hamilton Chase's letters to his family from Camp Choconut, 1916 |
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Letter to Master Hamilton Chase, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, PA
From Annie T. Chase, Topeka, Kansas
July 16, 1916
My dearest Boy,
Oh, but this has been a hot day, 99 degrees yesterday and well over a hundred today, so glad you are out of it. Did your trunk reach you safely and when? How many boys are in your camp this year ?
We have been out riding with Mr. and Mrs. Hammatt and Abe and Ethel was in with Dick. He is just taking his departure now. I will send you the Sunday paper, in it you will see a picture of the car Dick drove from Flint Mich. to Buffalo.
The Hammatts mobilized to K.C. yesterday and finalized Abe’s engine, etc. for his car. He will probably write you about it later.
Father and I sent you a box of nuts (as you don’t eat candy). I hope they will reach you safely and in good condition.
What a fine trip Uncle Sam and Aunt Fan will have. Uncle Henry promises to keep a Fatherly eye on you in their absence. Do tell me how you are and if you are gaining flesh ? Frances Hammatt is thoroughly enjoying her camp but her mother is worried because there are sixty girls there instead of forty as they expected. We are looking for Aunt Lizzie and (...) tomorrow. I hope they will not be overcome with the heat. Mrs. Hammatt said they just suffered with it and the dust on Saturday.
All join in love and kisses to our boy.
Write often to Mother.
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Letter to Mrs. Harold T. Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son
July 20, 1916 from Friendsville, PA
Dear Family,
So sorry to hear that it is so hot at home. My trunk came two days after camp opened. There are about thirty boys in camp. That box of nuts came yesterday. I can’t thank you enough for them. I have gained two pounds since I have been at camp. I don’t need any money, father, until time to go home. You need it more than I do, as I don’t need to take riding lessons, because the boys say that next to the teacher that I am the best rider in camp.
We are having lovely weather at camp. It could not be better. I will tell you a little about the counsellors. The army man’s name is Griffith and he is a very fine fellow. The swimming teacher’s name is Catlin, he has spent most of his life in Germany. He is in Boston “Tech”, and is a very good swimmer. The preacher’s name is Wallace. He is a graduate of Trinity College. The bird specialist’s name is Ames and he is a junior in Harvard. The baseball mans’ name is Heriman and he goes to Williams. He is a dandy fellow. The Counsellors as a whole are much better than last year. I enjoy them all, and they mix with the boys more than the counsellors last year did. I am glad to hear that Abe is ready to start on his car. I hope that he makes a success of it. I had a postal-card from Auntie Lang yesterday, she says that Mr. Moore is home from the hospital. I am glad to hear that. She also said that she would send me a box of cookies. Last Monday it rained. And while we were playing around in the shack, Mr. Catlin gave me a few suggestions in boxing. After that I boxed George Jones and nocked the stuffings out of him. Mr. Catlin taught me how to guard myself and to strike straight from the shoulder. I do hope that you are all well, I am feeling great.
With love from Hampie.
Hamilton Chase
(some monogram, eh!)
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| Photograph from Camp Choconut, 1916 |
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Letter to Mrs. Harold T. Chase (Annie Thompson Chase) at 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas (refers to the Border War with USA and Mexico (Pancho Villa).
From Hamilton Chase, his son (age 14)
July 26, 1916 from Friendsville, PA
Dear Family,
I hope you are all well.
I have not had a letter from you for a week. It has been raining sheets and pillow cases all yesterday and today. Everything is soaked. George Jones was awfuly sick last night and is feeling very bad to-day.
I am improving in my swimming. Mr. Catlin told me that I had a good chance to get on the relay team in the watersports with Red Cloud. The life of the soldiers on the border certainly is fierce. There is a boy in Camp whose brother is in one of the Connecticut companies. He wrote that on the day that they arrived at the border, that there was no shade at all, and that the thermometer read 136 degrees. One man in his company went down frothing at the mouth and five other men suffered from sun stroke.
I am to get a white pocket with a Camp Choconut baseball monogram on it, on my blue shirt. I haven’t had any mail since last Friday. Some of the boys have gone on a camping trip to Forrest Lake. I sure do pity them as they have to sleep in tents in all this rain.
Give my love to Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Joe. Write soon.
Love, Hamilton Chase
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| Photograph from Camp Choconut 1916 |
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Letter to Mr Hamilton Chase, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, Susquehanna, County, PA
From Annie T. Chase, Topeka, Kansas
July 23, 1916
Dear Hampie,
This has been another hot Sunday. I am so thankful you are not in this awful heat.
Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Joe took dinner with us and are coming to take us to the farm very soon.
We had one cool day last week and since then our evenings and nights have been comfortable. We usually ride with some of our friends and so cool off before going to bed. I do hope the worst of it is over. Aunty and Uncle Jo go back to Los Angeles next week. We will certainly miss them, but I will be glad to have them near Grandma. She is getting along about as usual. I know she would love to hear from you. Her address is Las Encinas, Pasadina, Cal.
Poor Abram broke his wrist cranking his new engine for his car. It happened last Tuesday and he wanted me to tell you he received your letter, but would be unable to answer it and would love to hear again from you. Father wishes me to send you this check for twelve ($12.00) dollars to use for riding lessons if you wish to take them. If not, take good care of it and don’t cash it till you want to use your money.
Do you know where your return ticket from Chicago to Topeka is ? Did you leave it with Aunt Fan?
Ethel took her finals in (...) yesterday and we feel quite sure she passed.
All send love to our boy. So glad you can have such a nice Summer.
Write dearest Love from Mother
(Do be careful in the water …)
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Letter to Mrs. Harold T. Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
July 30, 1916 from Binghamton, NY
Dear Family,
I received the money last Thursday; that will help pay my way to Chicago. I now have about $23.00. My ticket from Chicago to Topeka I left with Aunt Fan. Now that I have finished my financial statement, I will tell something of what we have been doing. Last Friday evening we had a game of football, in which everybody was more or less bunged up. After that we played a game of Indian hunt. The swimming teacher, another boy and myself were the Indians. We went out in the fastest boat on the lake. The game is this: First the Indians start out (on a very dark night) and they are given three minutes to hide. After that the other canoes start out and try to catch them before they get back to the starting place. It has to be played with much silence. The first game we won. And believe me I never went so fast in a canoe before. In the second game, we were just leaving two other canoes in the dust, and paddling for all our might to reach the goal, when all of a sudden another canoe loomed out of the darkness and we hit it with an awful bang! Of course, we were caught. That is the best water game that I have ever played. I do hope that you are all well, and that I am not too much of a drain on father’s pocket book.
Give my love to Auntie and Uncle Joe.
From your loving son,
Hamilton
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Letter to Mrs. Harold T. Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
July 31,, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Family,
The far famed riding horses have come. I can not use them with out taking lessons. I do wish that I could take lessons. I am quite a financial success. I sold that clarinette of mine for $1.50. Pretty good, eh! I also am going to sell my flashlight at the end of camp for $1.00.
I have $12.00 now. And that is the price of lessons for the month. Can I take them?
Well to change the subject, I am just back from a two days camping trip. We had a fine time. It was just like an army camp. I was the commissary Sargeant and had to arrange for the meals. We slept in regular army tents. Six of us boys started a shack out in the woods yesterday. It is going to be fine. There is going to be room for four to sleep in, and we are going to have an observation tower near it, for the war games which are to come off soon.
The doctor just examined me. And he said that I was in very good condition. That sounds pretty good. I have about the straightest figure for anyone in camp. I really believe that at last I am doing things that are useful. I was quite surprised at the work I could do.
I hope that you are all feeling well at home and I do wish that you could come to Camp. But I suppose it is impossible. Give my love to all the family.
Love from
Hamilton
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Letter to Mr. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
August 3, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Family,
I am so sorry that you are having such hot weather. I hope that the crops won’t be spoiled. We are having wonderful weather at camp. I hope that you will take that lake trip. I think that would be a wonderful trip. I would love to meet you in Buffalo, and hope that you can fix it that way. Our Counsellors don’t tell us anything about the stars. But they do nearly everything else. We are having such good weather that I supposed Uncle Henry might come over, but he hasn’t yet. The barber was here yesterday. He is from Montrose and lived on Uncle Henry’s place for four years. He said that Uncle Henry has been there for three weeks.
I was sick Sunday with a fever of 101 degrees, but am all right now. I certainly enjoy Auntie Lang’s cookies. They were great.
We have nearly finished our shack. About four kids will be able to sleep in it at once. On the roof we are going to make a sort of roof garden. It certainly will be fine. We have just one more side to make the floor, and the bunks and it will be done.
There is a case of Typhoid fever in Friendsville, and Mrs. Winlock won’t let us go there any more. As a consequence my money is going up instead of down, as my allowances come in. I now have $ 23.92.
The West Point man will have to leave August 16; as he has been ordered by General Wood to go to Plumb Island.
Hoping to see you soon
I remain your loving son
Hamilton Chase
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| More letters from Hamilton Chase to his family from Camp Choconut, 1916 |
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Letter to Mrs. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
August 6, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Family,
We will probably start on the canoe trip next Friday. We walk 14 miles to a place called Appalachian, there we get in the canoes and paddle 185 miles down the Susquehanna river to Tunghanock. We stay over night at the hotel in Tunghanock and early in the morning we take the train for Montrose. From Montrose we ride in a wagon to Camp. I have learned to sew. Last Thursday I sewed up a blanket bag.
Last Thursday afternoon we started on a hare and hound hunt. We caught the hares after a ten mile hike. We cooked our own meals and slept out on the ground. I never had such a good time in my life. I cooked pan-cakes and bacon. That lake trip certainly does sound wonderful. I’d love to meet you in Buffalo. Sorry to hear that Sister has been sick. I hope that you are all well.
I enjoyed Auntie Lang’s cookies very much.
Love from
Hampie
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Letter to Master Hamilton Chase, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, Susquehanna, County, PA
From Annie T. Chase, Topeka, Kansas
August 6, 1916
My dearest Hamilton,
Another hot Sunday, a little better (.....) than some of the days last week. Two days it was 102 degrees and no rain for over 40 days. So you see what you have to be thankful for. Aunty and Uncle Jo got off Thursday night. We dreaded to see Aunty go except for the fact that Grandma is out there. She let Walter out entirely this time, he became so worthless.
The Hammatts are all going to Colorado for two weeks as soon as Frances comes from camp. She is still enjoying it all very much. Dick was here to dinner and took us down to the farm afterward. Abram is getting along fine with his arm, he was so pleased to get your second letter. Aunty Lang says if she gets a letter from you soon she may send you another box of snacks. Ethel is almost (....) with her summer’s work, the terrible heat has made it so hard, she was sick two days last week.
There is really no news to write. Mr. Merriman came home Friday and brought Chester with him. They had a delightful time at Cape Cod, though much rain and fog. Isn’t it a pity we can’t have some of the rain they don’t want in the East. How is George Jones now? I hope he is well again. Remember me to him also to Mrs. Winlock
With love and kisses from Mother
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| Letters from Annie Thompson Chase to her son at Camp Choconut, 1916 |
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Letter to Mr. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, his son (age 14)
August 11, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Family,
As I can find no ink I guess that I will have to write this letter with a pencil. Please excuse me for not writing yesterday but I was so busy that I could not get one in. Probably you will be glad to hear that we cannot go on the canoe trip. Infantile paralysis is simply terrible. There are about 300 cases in New York City. The state of Pennsylvania has been quarantined, so Mrs. Winlock says, and nobody can go in or out of the state without a permit from some well known doctor. And as we have to go into New York state on the canoe trip, we cannot go. There also would be a great danger from the sewage which empties into the river.
Yesterday was the preliminary water-sports day. Mariana came out with a friends of her’s.
She certainly does look well, she is taller than I am. I will try to tell you something of what we did. At eleven o’clock we had watersports. I entered into the diving but only could do four dives, so of course had no chance to win. I did one plain standing dive off of the low spring board, a running dive off the low spring board, a sailor’s diver off the low board, and a plain dive off the ten foot board.
I also entered into the other event which was the fifty yard dash. Out of a bunch of five I managed by some kind of an accident to get second place. After that we had a swell dinner. After that some of the boys did some riding for a prize. After that we had a dandy play. It was called “The worries of an opera-writer”, or something on that order. I appeared in the third act only and I was the keeper of the jail. By that time it was about 5:30, and our visitors had to leave. It was certainly a great day, and I tried my best to give Mariana a good time. She said that her little sister, now two months old, weighed 13 lbs. and was very healthy.
We have planned a great event to replace the canoe trip. We are going to walk to a place called Elk mountain about 30 or 40 miles from here. We will certainly have a great time.
Tell Auntie Lang that I have written her a letter and a postal-card.
I hope that you will soon have some good weather.
With lots of love from Hamilton
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Letter to Mrs. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
August 12, 1916 from Friendsville, PA
Dear Family,
As I am going on a week’s hike tomorrow I will write you another letter. We are going to have a wonderful trip. We are going to make a sort of circuit of the country. We go through Montrose and get a good soda-water there. I was a little sick yesterday but am feeling fine now. We plan to walk about 10 miles a day. At the end of each day we stop at a lake for a swim.
I hope that you are having better weather at home and that you will soon start on your trip East.
I am afraid that I can think of nothing else to write about, so I will close.
With Love from
Hamilton Chase
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Letter to Master Hamilton Chase, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, Susquehanna, County, PA
From Annie T. Chase, Topeka, Kansas
August 17, 1916
My dear Hampy Boy,
I hope your hike is a great success as long as you had to give up the canoe trip. We were all so interested in your account of the water sports and so glad to hear Mariana was there.
They will probably invite you over to see the new baby while you are East. I could not write yesterday, as it being Mr. Hammatt’s birthday we had them all here for dinner last evening, so was busy all day. I still have my sixteen year old girl (just Sister’s age). She is doing very well but requires considerable help from your Mother. I am so glad we will have you home soon. I have missed you all summer. You ought to see how badly the walks look. I swept them them myself the other day. Did Father tell you Ethel and I will not take the Lake trip (we get too sea-sick) but will meet your (...) in Chicago where you and Dad will stay a few days and I will stay with Ethel till she starts for Wells, which opens the 20th.
Washburn opens the 12th this year.
How much have you gained this summer? Frances has gained 12 lbs.
I hate to hear that you have not been feeling well as you wrote twice.
You must come home in good condition for your winter’s work.
All send hugs and love with a kiss from Mother.
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Letter to Mrs. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
August 24, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Mother and Sister,
Why for the love of Pat did you send me more money. I now have $ 34.00 (thirty four dollars).
I never can use that much money.
Infantile Paralysis seems to be dying down a little. But it still is bad. There are about fifteen boys who will stay over. I received a dandy letter from Abe to-day. I also received a letter from “Louie” last week.
I will certainly be glad to see you again.
The hiking trip did me a great damage. During the hike, we could not dive, and when I got back, I found that try my best I could get two points on a plain dive. But I have learned to do a back dive, since then. The swimming teacher, who is a great bluffer, said that I could never make a good diver because I didn’t have enough nerve. But the doctor, who was sitting on the right, said that I did have enough nerve, and so the swimming teacher said Let’s see you do a back dive and I wanted to prove that I had plenty of nerve; I tried it. The first try I hit flat on my back, the second one I hit on the back of my neck, and the third time I went in head first.
I surely do hope that Uncle Sam and Aunt Fan will be in Wilkes-Barre when I get there. For I have to stay there two days and I won’t know what to do with myself otherwise.
I am awfully glad to know that you passed in all your studies, Sister.
With Love from
Hampie
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Letter to Mrs. Harold Taylor Chase, 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
From Hamilton Chase, her son (age 14)
August 27,, 1916 from Saint Joseph, PA
Dear Mother and Sister,
I certainly am a happy boy. I will try to give a brief description of what happened yesterday.
We got up about seven o’clock. After that we had our picture taken. Then we had our breakfast. After breakfast we said good bye to Leiutenant Griffith, whose leave of absence ends next Thursday. After that we fooled around until about Eleven o’clock. Then we all piled into a hay-rack and started for Camp Red Cloud for the big baseball game of the season, for which we have practised two hours a day for the last week. When we had gotten about half way it began to rain and then it haled and such hale I never saw. The hale stones were this big around (drew a picture). Mrs. Winlock said that she had never seen such large ones.
It soon stopped raining and we arrived in Red Cloud about half-past two o’clock. The team began to practise and soon the game started. And believe me it was some game. For the first time in the history of Camp Choconut, the team beat Red Cloud. And they beat it 13 - 24, some score. Everybody played well and they simply outclassed Red Cloud. After the game we examined the Camp. The camp is situated back in the Woods and it is very swampy. They sleep in iron beds with mattresses, and have regular tables with chairs. Altogether it is very much like a Boarding school. They have a wonderful lake, but a poor raft. After that we piled into the hay-rack and drove back to Camp. It certainly was a wonderful day. Hoping to see you soon
I remain your loving son, Hamilton Chase
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Letter to Hamilton Chase, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, Susquehanna, County, PA
From Annie T. Chase, Topeka, Kansas
August 25, 1916
My dear Boy,
I feel that it will not be so long now till I see you again. Father left a five this PM. I hope you will be able to meet him in Buffalo as he plans. You will both enjoy the Lake trip together.
Ethel and I are pretty lonesome here but (...) we can stand it for ten days. My plan is to leave here Sept. 4th and reach Chicago the day after. Dick has promised to look after us during Father’s absence. He is here now on the porch with Ethel. I will be so thankful to get you further away from the eastern states where the awful Infantile paralysis is so bad. There have only been three or four cases in Kansas this entire summer.
Monday we had a few drops of rain and it turned quite cool. This afternoon we had another small shower just as Father left. It is quite (...) so perhaps it will rain tonight. The paper said today this was the 60th day of the drought. Frances Hammatt gets home the 2nd or 3rd of Sept. She has gained 14 lbs. according to last reports. I hope you have done well in lbs. too.
At any rate I know it has been a fine summer for you and I only hope you will come back feeling well set up for your winter’s work. Bill Drexel came home a few days ago. He looks splendid after his long visit. Father said to be sure to tell you to put your warm sweater in your bag. You had better wear your rain-coat. Also have warm underwear as it will be very cold on the boat. Don’t forget. Be sure to put things in your suit-case you will need on your trip. Love and hugs to my boy from Mother.
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Post Card from Saint Joseph, PA, while at Camp Choconut, in Susquehanna County, PA
August 31, 1916
To Mrs. Harold T. Chase (his mother) at 1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas
Dear Mother and Sister,
The naturalist came last Saturday; and he took us out in canoes this morning to look for birds. We saw a Louisianna water thrush, a Pewee, a red-eyed Veriole, a King Fisher and several chimney swifts. He teaches us about flowers, trees and birds. We leave day after to-morrow.
Love from Hamilton
(almost 15 years old)
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Letter to Harold T. Chase, Esq, Topeka, Kansas
From Sara Mulford Winlock, Camp Choconut, Friendsville, PA
August 25, 1916
My dear Mr. Chase,
I have a health permit for Hamilton and a letter from Mr. Saures so he’ll travel over to (...) on August 31 - and he can reach you on Sept. 2nd --
Hamilton is very well and has grown a great deal older this summer I think. He is certainly a very manly boy and he has been a real pleasure to have this year.
I am only sorry it is his last year in camp. He leaves so much stronger this year than last -- I am so glad for him.
With kind regards for Mrs. Chase
I am yours Sincerely,
Sara Mulford Winlock
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| August 1916 letter from Camp Choconut |
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| Sara Mulford Winlock' signature, 1916 |
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Enclosed in a letter written by Frances Brooks Chase
in April 1950
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