Evening star., 1933-01-15
HOOVER TRAIT SEEN
IN RAP|DAN CAMP
Human Side of President Re-
vealed in Shenandoah
Park Site.
by DIR. w. J. SHOWALTER.

The circumstances under which
President Hoover built his camp on the
Rapidan River, in the heart of the
Shenandoah National Park area, and
under which he has decided to dedicate
that property, which cost him nearly a
quarter of a million dollars, to the
Shenandoah National Park for the use
Of future occupants of the Office he
holds, constitute romantic sidelight
Upon the qualities of the head and heart
OF the mas who retires from the presi-
dency March 4.
1t was President Coolidge who first
broached the idea of Summer camp
for the President of the United States,
before his term expired Only he pro-
posed it should be built by the Govern
ment When Mr.. Hoover came into Of
ice the idea seemed to him good one.
Virginia Offers Site.
The Virginia State Commission on
Conservation and Development at that
particular time was in the midst of its
great task of acquiring the lands for
presentation to the Federal Government
to constitute the Shenandoah National
Park. So its chairman went to Wash
1ngton to tell Mr.. Hoover about this
wonderland less than three hours from
the White House, sequestered, high and
cool, and to offer his personal services
as well as those of his commission to
the President in obtaining a site there
Tor such camp as he desired to build
and toward getting the roads built
which would make it accessible.
The idea struck the President early
In 1929. He and number of the mem
bers of his staff drove up to the Rapi-
dan country to look over proposed sites.
but the President was not satisfied with
these and on the following day sent
Maj. Long of the United States Marine
Corps back to do a little more exploring
in the area of the upper limits of the
Rapldan. His report resulted in hay-
ing the temporary camp started. and
then the President himself visited the
area. selecting the exact location for his
buildings somewhat differently than had
peen conceived by any one else. 1t was
ms own decision to have the camp built
IN the triangle between Laurel and Mill
Prongs, with his own cabin residence
built at the point of the triangle at the
gins.
Ideal Isolation.
There, in the seuuestered little hano-
ing valley, nesting at the base Of the
main Blue Ridge, beautifully tinbered
with only the narrow canyon of the
upper Rapfuan as the single break in
tne mountain fence that walls it in he
nad found the last word in isolation.
Great and towering spruces and hem
lcckS lifted their heads to tie sky.
Giant oaks and graceful naples kept
company with them, and mountain
laurel, rhododendron and dogwood
cheered the Springtime, while the Au-
tunn foliage brought the rainbow down
TO the mountain sides. Dashing noun
tain streams, lettering here and there.
as their water turned from snow-white
TO crystal-clear, made natural trout
pools. 1t was the Presidents dream
that his camp site should be at an ele-
yation of $500 feet or thereabouts.
When Col. Glenn Smith of the United
States Geological Survey, who also was
member of the Appalachian National
Park Commission, measured the eleva-
tion to place bench-mark there. he
found the ledge of rocks directly in
front Of the front door Of the PreSi-
dents cabin stood at an elevation of
exactly $500 feet.
Planned by Hoover.
The entire camp was laid out by
President Hoover himself Thereafter
the State of Virginia, through its Con-
servation and Development Commission,
did everything within its power to pro-
vide good road from Washington to
the Presidents camp, so that gradually
there came to be a safe, comfortable
road right into the heart of the noun
tain district. travelable at all seasons.
But to the President his camp on the
Rapidan was more than a retreat for
rest and recreation. He we'll knew the
quickening touch of good fellowship
mutual understanding and philosophical
attitude that trout pools, roaring fires,
forest walks, murmuring brooks and
singing conifers bring to associations of
men. So here he staged many of his
conferences. Here came Ramsay Mac
Donald and his daughter Ishbel, the
former to consider with Mr.. Hoover the
whole outlook of civilization toward the
future and the ways and means of
averting worldwide economic disaster.
Mr.. Hoover also used his retreat as
far as he could to brighten the lives OF
the mountain folk of the neighborhood.
The true story Of how Ray Bruracker
came to his camp with his 'possum and
became the forerunner Of the Presi-
dents helpfulneSs to the community,
has never been told just as it happened.
But it so well illustrates the qualities
of the Hoover heart that I am sure
neither the President nor Capt. Joel T.
Boone, his physician, who told it to me,
will object if it is related here.
Lawrence Richey and Capt. Boone
had strolled up the Bruracker hollow
one day and had run across Ray and
his folks. They provided Ray with
money for a pair of shoes and got a
good insight into the lives of the people
OF the mountains.
When they came back to camp they
talked a good deal about their adven-
lures and the conditions they found.
At last the President told them he
thought they might let him in on what
they were doing. He asked them to tell
Ray that if he would bring him a
'possum he would give him five dol
lars. Presently, Ray succeeded in
catching the 'possum, which he
promptly carried to the camp.
rs Regular Students.
1t was this contact that aroused the
Presidents interest in school for the
mountain children. The school was
built and has been maintained by the
President since with many little noun
taineers benefiting from the Presidents
foresight and generosity. I think there
are about 25 students most Of the time.
Miss Christine Vest is the teacher. She
is most competent young woman, who
came herself from the mountains in
Kentucky, having been educated, in
latter years, for teaching. The Rapi-
dan School House has served as a
church on Sunday and q community
center for the adults as well as for the
youths Of the mountains in that neigh
horhood, the President having provided
radio and motion pictures. He had