This is
"Nick."
Ray "Nick" Nicholson was the owner/operator of Camp
Manitou. During one of the camp's famous canoe trips, the law was waiting for "Nick" in Indian River, Michigan.
It seems as though someone alleged that "Nick" was much
more interested in the campers (young boys) than a camper director ought to be...in
August of 1962,
such allegations could result in federal charges.
They took "Nick" away. Stunned counselors were left with rounding up the campers, storing all the camp property, and closing the place up. Horrified parents broke world-land speed records driving to the Douglas Lake campsite to pick up their sons. Other campers were driven to Detroit by counselors to catch trains back to their hometowns.
No one I know knew for certain whatever happened to
"Nick" until Andy Balterman sent the obituary which is posted on the main page. Word has it Nick was successfully rehabilitated and opened another camp in NY
some-odd years after the closing of Manitou. Certainly from the obit we can tell Nick was able to work
at a school again, some years after whatever happened to Old Camp Manitou, happened.
During an excursion to the old campsite circa
1980, I took many of the photographs you see on the Camp Manitou
HomePage. The old campsite was still there, but in the process of
being parceled and sold as very expensive lots for summer homes.
The development is called "Manitou Shores." I spoke
with a couple who were in the process of building their vacation
home (about where the "Wonder Bar" stood). They had heard
bits and pieces of the Camp Manitou story, but seemed genuinely
interested in having me fill in the "gaps" for them. The original Camp Manitou caretaker was still living in a cabin
at the far end of the campsite. My wife and I talked with him at
length about old Camp Manitou.
Then we drove
around the area, and I managed to find the 1961 "Honor
Board" sitting in an antique shop in the area. I almost
flipped, and, of course, bought the thing immediately.
Also found
some original Camp Manitou T-Shirts and shorts, and bought those
too.
"Manitou Builds Men"
(well...sort of!)
Click HERE to return to the Camp Manitou HomePage!