Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-01-07
Elmer A. Benson Takes Up
Reins of State Government
Duxbury Camp
Life is Enjoyed

Mdy L uIltll DcCSiuUcI OIL, 1SSO, do
seen by one of the workers there:
Miles and miles of roads were made
through this park area, mostly all
hand work and surely good roads were
made. Each man had his job and
everything went like clockwork. On
May Is the first forms for the cabins
were set up. On about the Goth sew
eral carloads of lumber arrived and
from morning until night one could
hear the saws and hammers here and
there as several cabins were under
construction at the same time. Sew
ers were dug. pipes laid, well drilled
and water system installed.
On July 10 the form was set for
TIE mess hall and real work started
with a crew of somewhere between
40 and so men trying to get the mess
hall and kitchen finished for the first
group of nearly 100 girls who arrived
the last of July. staying 10 days. Then
another group of nearly 100 for 10
days. There were three groups of
girls in all and they surely enjoyed
themselves. They were we'll taken
care of while on this outing with many
to look after them, who were very
capable and efficient in every way.
Work Progresses.
On August 81. the foundation for
the infirmary was set and work S arted
on building same. A crew of men
cti hni
lodges of which there are four: an
administration building, water tank
and pump house. A crew of men was
also busy clearing up all dead wood
and logs for fire wood which was
sawed up with buzz saw in the fall
and hauled to camp. These buildings.
about 40 all told, are very substan-
TALLY built and on the rustic order,
all stained with creosote on the out
side and interior of rough material.
The kitchen and hospital are finished
in white on the interior. The mess
hall will seat about $50 About No
vember 1, the steel fire tower was
started and was soon finished. The
tower is 107 feet high and one of
the best of its kind in this part of
the state. In and during this time,
crew of men was busy making
roads to the new site for the boys
camp and sewers dug, foundations set,
ETC.
Now for word on location of the
Girl Scouts camp. 1t is on the banks
of the st. CroiX river on what is
called st. Johns landing, and it is
very beautiful location. From lodge
1 in group 1 you can see the wind
ing river as it winds southeastward.
These cabins are all scattered under
the pines so when one follows the
trails and roads one wonders what is
next. Is it a cabin, lodge or mess
hall? A bathing beach wall was also
put in and playground. This is
surely one of the beauty spots in
Minnesota especially in the summer
time.
The site for the boys camp is not
nearly as pretty as it is located in
poplar and scattered scrub oak tim
Der. Three bridges are also under
construction over Bear creek, Hay
creek and Crooked creek Anott err
fire tower was made and was called,
if | remember right, temporary fire
tower, about a half mile south of
Dewey avenue road.
The Duxbury Camp.
Now | will mention how we go and
come from work. We ride the trucks
and from one to 30 men go on each
truck morning and evening, taking
about an hour each way. Now l am
taking you to the Dux5ury camp
where nearly 200 men eat and sleep.
At about 5 o'clock all are in camp
washing up for supper and after sup
per you may read, listen to the radio
or play cards. On each Monday eve
ming there is a moving picture show.
Each morning breakfast was served
at $3.50 o'clock. At o'clock trucks
left for the work and at noon a hot
lunch was served with soups of diff
ferent kinds each day with bot coffee
and sandwiches. The board as a
whole has been very good. Most of
us cannot put on our tables the kind
of meals we got there. For Thanks
giving we had a real turkey supper,
cranberry sauce, dressing, mashed
potatoes and gravy and pumpkin pie
For Christmas we had an oyster stew,
etc.
Now word for our office force,
foremen, cooks, canteen man and all.
They meet you with smile and
"how -you-do." The writer spent
many days with this group of men
and never heard quarrel or a harsh
word spoken by the foremen or others.
They are always jolly good fellows.
|. for one, give these men credit for
what they tried to do for the men
in their charge. They had their
orders and all they could do was pass