Murrey Waterfront, 1960s

The crafts and map-work that we saw last week was only part of what happened at Murrey.  Another important aspect of the camp was, not surprisingly, the waterfront!  The location was the same as the modern day “Pirate’s Cove,” but it looked a bit different.

Given that a large portion of the residents of the camp, particularly in the 1960s, were children, it makes sense that swimming skills would be part of the program.  As shown in the first image, some of adult women at Murrey took on this role.  Indeed, wives or daughters of camp staff were often involved here.  Elizabeth Jackson, wife of Parnell Program Director Jimmy Joe Jackson, and Christy Willhite, daughter of Reservation Director Tom Willhite, were just two of the women who ran Murrey.

The second photo shows the other purpose of Murrey’s waterfront–leisure.  The waterfront was a great place to swim, to get some sun, or to just hang out.  After “work hours” and on the weekends, the staff members who lived at Murrey would come visit the waterfront as well!

Two unknown women–at least one assumed to be Murrey staff–teaching swimming to one of the summer’s residents.

Just a lazy afternoon, hanging out on the Camp Murrey Waterfront.