The Camping Trip - 1924
An account of a camping trip to New England by Simon and Fannie Garber and their children Helen and Monroe in 1924. Transcribed by Helen's son Enos Groff from Fannie's journal of the trip.

July 28, 1924

Papa, Monroe, Helen and I left home at 10 AM on our trip, went to Lancaster, where we waited about 1 hour for Papa, who had business with Isaac Herr, then we went to State Police headquarters to have them examine Helen for her auto license. Left Lancaster at 12:30, went by way of Norristown to Horsham where we are waiting for our potatoes to get soft for some ____ potato soup, our first supper of camp life. Tent and cots are ready for the night.

July 29

Went to bed but trolley in front and steam car back of us also highway with autos going all the time seemed as though there might be perpetual motion when we tried to sleep. But after supper of ____ potato soup, grapes and molasses cakes we went for our cots, 4 in number in a tent 7 X 7 with real close quarters. Was very warm when we went to bed but by midnight it became cool which prompted us to look for more covers. Papa and Helen got in a good nights sleep. But Monroe and I could not sleep so much, got up at 5AM , made breakfast of grape-nuts, eggs and cocoa, and molasses cakes. Till tent and cots were all packed up, at 7:45 we started for Trenton. From Trenton to New Brunswick we stopped to make a call at Charley Nissley's. Charley not being home, but Mrs. Nissley and the children are very pleasant. Staid about 30 minutes when we left for Newark, NJ.

July 30

Had a long time finding a place to put up for the night, finally about 5 PM E.D.L.S. (?) time we were told that about 20 or 25 miles away at Engle Wood on the Palisades is a very good public grounds right opposite N.Y.City and away we went to find a very desirable place under police protection for 1.00 per day. Very many campers there, one party from Austria, and about every state in the union. A nice quiet place just above the Palisades of the Hudson River. Had a good nights rest in our tent, ate breakfast. Left for N. York on boat at Dykman St Ferry, about 9 AM. Took Broad St. Trolley for Ocean Front Aquarium, ______ all through aquarium, very interesting and beautiful. Took boat Queens for trip to Staten Island for 10 cents round trip.

At 2:30 we took Tourist Boat around Manhattan Island, a trip of 34 miles, for 50 cents per person, worth all it cost. Went back and got supper at Hanover eating house. Took 2 story auto trip around city in evening and at 9 PM took ferry to come back to Engle Wood where we left our car and all belongings.

Put cots up and went to bed as soon as possible. Only 2 cars there that were there the night before. One lady who is tenting there since June 1 said they had only 4 rain showers of any account since June 1. The yards looked to be parched and dry, not near like the yards at home.

Slept well all night and at 5:30 we got up, made breakfast and pull out around 8AM for Hudson River drive to West Point.

July 31 Poughkeepsie

Started out for West Point in Hudson River Drive which is the most wonderful scenery I ever saw. A road of 7 miles called ____King Highway, took 7 years to build at a cost of $1000000. Dollars winds around and around till we get to the top. Road has a wall all along about 3 ½ feet high, some places higher yet and a wonderful scenery of the Hudson River. Came up on west side of Hudson crossed river at New Berg on Ferry boat to Beacon, when we came in a very heavy rain storm, the third rain we came through today. Are stopping in a small park along a very nice stream of water for tonight. 5:10. No charges to bunk up over night, just now another machine pulled in but is going out again. In a short time 3 other machines came in to take their supper. After a while we discovered it is a secluded pleasure place, but we were about staked up for the night. 2 croakers kept us company all night. Foreigners came there to take a swim. No mosquitoes to bother us. Slept real well but not quite as warm as comfortable. At 8 AM, ready to leave for North Adams, Mass.

Aug 1, '24 Mohawk Trail, Mass.

Yesterday morning we started for North Adams where we received a telegram from home saying everything is O.K. everywhere. Had a wonderful drive to this place. The Mohawk Trail is 6 miles long ascending to a very high peak where you can see New York, Conn. Vt. And Mass, 7 lakes 6 cities. Must be seen to realize. The weather is very very cool was not warm all night. Seems rather amusing to be cool and no place to get warm. Our gas stove is doing fine, but not much heat for open air. Breakfast is about ready of oatmeal, beef steak and eggs, bread and tea and cakes. Always lunch for dinner. (?)

Two boys from Cincinnati are camping in same ground. They made over 200 miles per day. Do their own cooking they got up at 6 AM, 1 boy made breakfast while the other took down the tent. And they were ready to start when we were.

At 7 AM we started out for Winnepesaque Lake and had a wonderful ride. The birch and pine make a beautiful combination. Some pine forests are so dense that not a bit of grass grows. This country is mostly woodland and the best of roads all along. I don't see how the people in the country live with a little garden and not much else. But about every ¼ mile "Tourist Accommodations". We stopped one place this eve, they said 1.00 a piece and 1.00 to park automobile or put up tent. We went on. We came to this place in an open place woods all around and away from noise. We could have slept in house for .50 per bed but I thought I can stand it out again.

Aug. 2, Ashland, N.H. near Plymouth

We started from end of Mohawk Trail this morning, made 152 miles, some drive. Went by way of Greenfield, Keen - Newport, to Ashland. Such a mountainous country good roads and so many beautiful lakes. The Winnepesaque is third largest lake in USA very beautiful. Passed thru Northfield where Moody was born, also Salisbury where Daniel Webster was born. Saw tablet put up to his memory. Towns are very beautiful. Many have two rows of trees between residences and driveway.

6:45 Aug. 3, 1924

Foot of Mt. Webster near Crawford Notch, N.H. Last night we stopped about 4 miles north of Ashland we asked for tenting ground they said .50 took us in a wood land clearing about 300 feet from the main highway. Ate our supper of baked beans, cocoa and bread and cakes when it became so very cool and the mosquitoes so very numerous. Papa said Helen and I shall ask for a room. I got a room for 1.00 for 2 of us, an old tumble down house that had seen better days. Very good pictures on the wall, good piano but the ceiling all but coming down. The wife of the owner died several years ago and since the man does no repairing. Our bed was comfortable enough, but in morning we were a bit surprised the way the covers looked. But we had a good warm sleep which we did not have the few last nights as the residents of N.H. say is very unusual.

We did not get off before we passed through Thornton, Woodstock, North Woodstock to Lost River 6 miles off main highway, no farming land anywhere, government reservation. The most beautiful birch, hemlock and pine trees.

The Lost River, (ad. 25), cannot be described must be seen. You must steep ladders up and down and heare a strong stream of water falling with much force against rocks and cliffs. We walked about 2 miles up and down on and under cliffs hanging over our head. Never thought I would see anything like it. Monroe said in his trip he never saw the like. From there we went towards the Flume. Very many tourists everywhere. Admission to the Flume .25. We walked about 2 miles 1 way, first a covered bridge then water coming over a flat spot of solid rock about 100 ft. wide with an incline. The canyon 700 ft long, 70 ft deep, someplaces only 10 ft wide and water flowing very rapidly, good cold water. A tiresome trip but worth all it cost. Very often we heard "She is a Quaker". Came to this place very tired and weather very cool to sleep in tent so we let a log cabin with beds in for four for the night for 4.00. Cooked our supper and have a little more time to write this eve, have electric light.

PS: Also saw "Old Man of the Mountain", is 1200 ft. above the lakes. The profile is 40 from chin to crown. Also came through Franconia Notch cutting through the heart of the Franconia mountains at an altitude of 1974 ft above sea level. Where we stay mountains very high, I imagine 1200 all around us. Very many beautiful lakes in between mountains. Rented a log cabin for 1. Per person, beds furnished, made our meals inside and had a good nights rest. Met 2 Pa. Parties one from Sunbury another from Reading, seemed neighbors. Was so very cool I did not trust to sleep in tent.

Aug 4, Crawford Notch, Webster Mountain, NH

Started out for East Parson field Sanitorium where we found Dr. John G Kukus stationed for 2 months. He is head Dr there, has 38 patients, mostly T.B. A very nice place up in the mountains 9 miles of very hilly roads off the main highway. He seemed very glad to see us, "his home folks" as he called us, and said we must take dinner with him. Had lamb, potatoes, tomato sauce and pie custard on cake. Left there at 1 PM for Portland Maine over a very nice country arrived at York Harbor along the Atlantic coast, ocean in sight from our tent. We put up in public camping ground for 1.00 for car and 1.00 for a large tent with one bed in, could put other 3 cots in nicely. It was raining so we were well protected. Campground is along Atlantic Beach very beautiful. Want to go to Boston to see Mr. Upham, Clarences friend 9AM.

Had a good nights rest, at 8 AM we were ready to start out for Boston Mass to find Mr Uppham 314 Columbia St, B. We found the place without any trouble but Kelton Upham was not home, we met his mother who thanked us very much for the call, she remembered Vera very well as the "slender little girl" and "nice little wife". We did not go in the house, she came to the car as our time was very limited on way to Plymouth. Along the beach Papa and Monroe put on bathing suits and took a bath. Helen and I waded in. Came to Plymouth Mass right on the beach again, very many tourists there, no charges. 3 PA licenses. Had a good nights rest and at 8 AM were ready for our trip to Buzzards Bay, New Bedford, Fall River, Providence, New London, where we had to wait at a draw bridge over the Thames River for a boat to pass through. 40 autos on our side to pass over, 45 in the opposite direction. About 20 miles south of New London we are putting up for the night in a jewish settlement school yard and church.over across the road. Pretty weather beaten. Hard for people to talk english. An old lady came over and said "You goot times". Supper is over and soon _____. After supper the town came out to see these strange looking campers. One young girl all fixed up, asked me "if we know we can stay here". We told them at once "we asked permission before we put up stakes", found out after ward she was a boarder in the village. Had our dishes on table overnight and old lady came and asked me "wot de dishes for wot de matter wid de dishes". A younger person told her they are our supper dishes. She answered "Oh well den". Had a good nights sleep, got up at 5AM, 7AM were ready to start.

Aug.7, New London, Conn

At 8 AM we left for our ___from this place to Tarrytown across Hudson to Nyack ___ to New Foundland when a gust was brewing in the west we looked for a Hotel in New Foundland for 1.50 apiece for a bed. We crossed over a very hilly detour from ____ to New Foundland and weather very warm. Had a good nights rest at 5:30 AM we were ready to start again. Eat our breakfast about 20 miles from the hotel along the ____, had corn flakes and good cold milk and bread. Are on our way to Stillwater to see Theodore Hoover and Miss Anna Mae Hoover. Over very hilly narrow road, missing our way for 2 miles over hills very steep and rough, had to come back again same way, finally at 9:30 we found Hoovers place in the mountains. Have a beautiful house all modern improvements. Have over 38 acres in apple orchard, about 2000 chickens, water running in all chicken houses and a beautiful lake in front of building. Do not farm any of the land more than small garden, have 2 horses and 2 cows. We were very glad to see someone we knew and they seemed just as glad. Mr and Mrs Norman Heckleroth also live there. Farm is owned by Dr. Jack Heckleroth.

They would have us stay for dinner. Monroe, Jay, Grace Hoover and Helen went to lake to bathe. Saw first News Journal for nearly 2 weeks. Saw the sad news of Ira Martins death by drowning in Susquehanna at Bainbridge, Wed eve, Aug ?.We enjoyed a very very good dinner of ham, potatoes, corn, pickles, peas and peaches. At 2 PM we left for Delaware Water Gap, drove around it and at 4:30 turned towards home. Came through ____, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Allentown, Kutztown, Temple, Reading, Adamstown, Ephrata, Petersburg, Mt. Joy and to Clarences at 11PM where we had our key.

Everything OK and a happy tenting ground awaiting us in our home with slate roof for cover and bed ready to rest on.

Enjoyed our trip very much and Buick worked faithfully. Traveled over 1400 miles.

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updated May 28, 2001