The Really Really Great Outdoors

Train cars were loaded with camping gear, provisions, an orchestra of musical instruments, flags, a full kitchen, and enough booze to swim in.

They weren’t cooking over a measly campfire. A full stove was needed to make the requisite bacon and eggs, chicken and waffles, fish fry, or whatever was on the menu. Sometimes the camp mess was catered by local Lancaster restaurants, complete with china and glassware.

Music was an important part of the trip. Every instrument from the largest of upright pianos to the smallest banjo mandolin was trucked out to the woods. Campers gathered around as the brassiest of horns, fancy guitars, and loudest of drums played till the wee hours.

Of course, along with the music came the booze. Whether in bottles or barrels, it flowed. Heavily.

They certainly brought enough barrels and bottles to get them through their weekend.

Beer, a guitar, a couple of mandolins, a tuckered out dog and some guy in a funny costume – what more do you need on your camping trip?

While hanging out and having a good time was the main attraction of the weekend, campers actually did go fishing or hunting.

Fish, eels, small game – all were great prizes of the day, and most likely caught, killed and eaten in camp. Of course, they’d stop and pose for a picture with their fresh catch before heading to the mess tent.

These weren’t just random groups of men heading to the woods for a weekend. These were, for the most part, chartered organizations or official neighborhood clubs.

Many of the groups had interesting names – the Dead Gamers, the Blue Jays, Alerts, Actives, the Clover Camping Association, Hill Sides, Green Tree Sports, Park Hill Club and the Fin and Feather Club.

They’d traipse out to the woods and set up camp with their name on a club banner or bass drum and raise a toast in their own honor. And a good time was had by all.