News Updates (Jan '08) 

Rufus Tale #5 

Jan 12, 2008

 School

“I went to school, as did my Sister, to Franklin School in Muskogee, about a mile from our home at 216 North 15^th Street. Franklin School was a brick building, two stories high and with grades one through six .. It was surrounded on three sides by playgrounds (grassy spaces) where we kids played at recess, before school, and some children played (there) after school, and during lunch hour. Many of us went home from school (for lunch). It was staying at school I disliked. We had a whole hour for lunch, so if we hurried we had 15 minutes or 20 minutes to play during lunch hour. We studied Reading, Writing and Arithmetic and Spelling, and some history and Geography. We had recess once in the morning and again once in the afternoon. Kids got out for lunch at 12 o’clock noon, and they ran, skipped, walked and rode bikes home for lunch. Some skated and even played ‘shinney’ to and from school. We had great fun, and discipline was exacted by teachers, by shortening the time for recess or for lunch, even sometimes lengthening the school day, called ‘staying after school.”

sorry I’ve been so tardy.  We had a snow here right around Christmas, and I remembered when Mr. Butts took the trouble to get up on the (probably the porch) roof and put sleigh (most likely sled) tracs so us kids thought for sure Santa had been up there.  And somewhere along in that long-ago time, on the MOST frigid day, in the deep snow, he hooked Silver (I think) to an honest to goodness sleigh, complete with sleigh bells, and we drove out the Waredaca gate onto Grovesnor Lane,  turned right to Old Georgetown Road, turned right again, and went back in the other Waredaca entrance. There was not a single car!! It was so quiet!!  (And my feet were freezing.)

Rufus Tale #4 

Nov 25, 2007

In ‘Grandpa Remembers”  with a subtitle “My Parents”   typers contributions in parens

Both of my parents went to the Indian Territory before it became OKLAHOMA, the 46^th state. (I was always proud of the fact that my grandpa was a “Sooner”) Dad was a lawyer. Mother worked for her father, “Grandpa”, W. W. Cook, who had a construction company that specialized in building water works for towns and small cities like Muskogee. (W.W. Cook was a descendant of Captain Cook, something that his daughter Nettie was never proud of. She felt the good captain treated some ‘natives’ shabbily.) It was while they were both working in Muskogee that they met and began their romance. I believe they were married the same year, but shortly after Oklahoma became a state in 1907.

Their parents, my grandparents, were residents of Kansas. The Butts family farmed near Mound Valley, Kansas. The W. W. Cook family lived in Junction City, Kansas. My mother’s oldest brother Charles was near Junction City. Mother was the second oldest child of Clara Dearborn and William Wallace Cook. She had three brothers: Uncle Charles, the oldest, Frank next to Mother, and Uncle Chauncey the youngest. She also had three sisters: Bertha, Mary Bell and Clara, who we called Aunt Pet. As I remember, Aunt Bertha lived in  Junction City with Grandmother in a very spacious house. It was a pleasant place to visit, and cousin Frank lived with them. Maybelle (ok…I do not know which name is correct) I do not remember very well because she lived in a hospital, an invalid. Aunt Pet was Mrs. Orton. They lived in Pawnee, Oklahoma with cousins Clarice and Emory. We visited them quite often as Emory and Clarice were close to our ages. So Sis and I have good memories of good times at Grandma’s and Aunt Pet’s. (I think it was Aunt Pet’s house we, the R. Beecher Butts family, visited one time. Downstairs I remember a fantastic painting of Indians [native Americans] sitting around a campfire. The way the artist presented the ‘light’ was very striking. We didn’t have Thomas Kincaid yet, and I was truly impressed. David had a totally different experience: I think it was at this same relative’s house where, in their downstairs, there was a life size, taxidermied bob cat. Just as  David reached out to touch the thing, Uncle Orton pressed some switch he had rigged up, and the thing roared. David nearly jumped out of his skin. I remember being so surprised that they would do that kind of trick on a little kid.)

(R. Beecher’s next bit of writing is called School, and I’ll get it done next time. till then – cheers!)

Rufus Tale #3

November 6, 2007

Hallowe'en

Hallowe'en having just passed reminded me of this Waredaca/Mr Butts episode.
There is no one now who remembers it, except for David Butts. It will be fun to see what he remembers of the event: Hallowe'en, down on Old Georgetown Road (first Waredaca).I can't recall whether there was a hayride ahead of time, but some city group was out for fun. Mr. Butts decided they should go to the fire circle - in the dark woods - and hear a ghost story.  He got David and Jimmy Butts in on the fun. At a certain point in his telling, they were to ride in (0n a black horse), appearing like the headless horseman.  On the horse I think David sat in front,  and Jimmy behind him.  Jimmy was to put his head through the crook of David's elbow, and a sheet covered them both. (David must have had some eye holes). I'm sure there was to be ghostly screaming as they rode, full gallop, toward the fire circle. It all went off as planned - up until the time some lady fainted and fell backward off the log on which she'd been sitting.  How old were we? and what happened next....? Good question. Let's see if we can get David's version.   Till later, susie

Rufus Tale #2

November 5, 2007

Grandpa Remembers: (that’s his title)

“I was born in Muskogee Oklahoma on June 25, 1912. I was named after my father, Rutherford Beecher Butts, who used the initials of his name as his favorite name to be called. Most of his friends called him simply: “RB”. I remember when he answered the phone he would say, “this is Butts RB”. My sister, born about two years before me, on June 30, 1910, was named by our Mother, Ruth Bernice. (he means his mother named his sister Ruth Bernice). I believe  Mother liked the family initials so much, R.B.B., that she named me  R. Beecher Butts, for she did not like the name Rutherford. I believe my father did not like that name either, for his relatives, cousins and aunts and uncles, called him Ruth, short for Rutherford. You can bet he did not like being called Ruth by his school mates. I believe all of his nephews and nieces, called him Uncle Rufus, which pleased him. Therefore both Mom and Dad were happy because we were all R. B. Bs.  Mother, to be certain of this insisted that Sis be called Ruth Bernice and I should be called R. Beecher. Ruth or Bernice would not do for friends or teachers to speak of HER. Mother insisted that her name was “Ruth Bernice”. Like wise my name was not Beecher, but R. Beecher. This caused me much unwanted trouble a few years later when I was old enough to go to school, - and many years afterward.” submitted by ss

Rufus Tale #1
October 16, 2007

There exists a great photo of Mr Butts on a tractor, with a bunch of camp boys. It was taken in 1940. During WWII, you could not buy a tractor, so the story of how Mr Butts had one is interesting.
Someone in Britain had invented a 3-point, hydraulic hitch. It was a pretty big deal back then. The US government was interested in it, but they wantyed it tested first. Someboy knw Mr Butts, and knew he had a farm/camp, so he was asked to test the hitch and give a report on it. The Ferguson Tractor company supplied him a tractor, and he spent a summer using the hitch. Afterward, he was able to pay to keep the tractor. ( I have no idea what happened about the hitch deal.....)    ss

Mr. Butts' Passing
October 1, 2007

It is with much sadness that I share the passing of Robert's Dad this morning.  As you may recall, he had been in an assisted living environment for two years, doing quite well until just recently.  His decline over the past two months had been notable and much more so over the past week. Thankfully he was quite comfortable all along. Services are set for Sunday, October 7th at 1:00 with a gathering afterward thru the balance of the afternoon; Location St. Bartholomews Episcopalian Church in Laytonsville.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be forwarded to one of the following: 

or

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Light The Night Walk 2007
TO CW Alumni:

For several years Waredaca has sponsored a TEAM WAREDACA in the Light the Night Walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  We have walked in honor of my mother Marian (Mrs. Butts).

 The last few years we have been a small team of just family members.  This year TEAM WAREDACA will walk in Memory of Marian Butts and in honor of Bob Boyle who is now battling multiple myeloma.

 Please join us—in person or with a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The Light the Night Walks are held nationwide.  There are eight walks in Maryland alone.  We will be walking in the Frederick walk October 13, 2007.  But please consider joining a walk wherever you live or support the team here.

Help us in the fight against the many blood related cancers.  Visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s website www.lightthenight.org.  or contact them at 877-LTN-WALK or contact me to pledge your support for TEAM WAREDACA.

Sincerely,

 Janey (Butts) Staehle
301-774-2384

Footnote from Susie: The Waredaca team walked last Saturday night: for Bobby (Boyle) and in memory of Mrs. Butts. We had a fine turn-out!  Many thanks to all of you!!!  Bobby was there and looked pretty good!  He said he was doing OK at the moment. He didn't walk with us, as his daughter Amy was on crutches after a bad fall. Bob was being gentlemanly and staying behind with her. I don't know how long they stayed after we all walked off into the beautiful night air. They weren't still there by the time we got back.

Till next time, love without bounds, ss

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Update On Bob Boyle
Bob was diagnosed with multiple myeloma*, a cancer of the plasma cell, an incurable but treatable disease.  He entered the hospital on June 1, 2007 for the first of his bone marrow treatments.  He's recovered well enough to have gone sailing with Robert Butts this August so that's certainly a very good sign - especially since we know how Robert works his "guests" on that boat!  In September Bob will undergo another treatment.  If you can send encouragement to him now and then, we know he would love to hear from you.   His email is boyle@hood.edu.  Better yet, drop him a note 25120 Frederick Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871.

Update 8/30/07 - Susie reports seeing Bobby recently at Hood College's convocation and that he looked very good.  Great news!

Update 9/4/07 - Bobbie writes: Thanks for setting up the Waredaca site and honoring me in the Light the Night Walk.  As an update - the docs decided not to do another transplant at this time so I am back at Hood this semester teaching a limited load.  I do feel good now and they will start me on new medication this month.  Everything seems to be "wait and see".  Robert and I plan to do some more sailing this fall...........I can't wait. 

 
*[NOTE: Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma) is a progressive hematologic (blood) disease. It is a cancer of the plasma cell, an important part of the immune system that produces antibodies to help fight infection and disease. Multiple myeloma is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and overproduction of intact monoclonal immunoglobulin or Bence-Jones protein.  Hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma.  It is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis, usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull.]

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Mr. Butts Keeps Things Straight!
A message from Susie.........Mr. B is black and blue, with stitches up over his left eye. Seems one morning after breakfast he tried to put his walker up over the dishwasher at Our Family, lost his balance, fell and got several cuts. Why? You ask - would he do such a thing? Well...you have to know his old engineering training has him, in his dementia, still trying to fit things exactly straight, or exactly diagonally, and always in whatever space looks as if it would be a perfect fit. And, one has to agree that the empty area up over the dishwasher looks to be the perfect size......

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Waredaca Makes It To China
Gretchen Poist (was riding program director at camp) Butts has been asked to go to China next year to be a judge at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Congrats!  I wonder if the U.S. Equestrian Team's beds will be short sheeted?

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Three's Company
Jessica and her (Texan) hubby, Brett, are expecting their 3rd  in November.  A few more and rumor has it they'll be moving into Cabin 1 in the orchard :-).  Actually, the couple have begun construction of their new house to be located between Janie and John's house and Susie's place (Butts house).

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Is The A Doctor In The Camp?
Dr. Aaron Prussin and his wife Laura paid a visit to Camp in August.  Aaron was a camper during the 70s.

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                                     "The Gang" June 24, 2006

     
1965-  Robert & Andy before Barn Dance   2006 - Beth Feinman & Robert at Reunion Barn Dance      2006-  Drew (Andy) Holland & Margaret Redfern

  July, 2006

 

The Waredaca Alumni Reunion was on all accounts a success.  Mother Nature was kind in allowing us to squeeze in the festivities in-between her raging downpours.  Attendance was excellent with over 100 alumni joining together.  The "typical day at camp" included a mimeographed schedule (sans the lovely odor), flag raising, a scavenger hunt, skit planning, fishing, free swim and of course trail rides. We also enjoyed three spectacular meals, ghost stories and camp songs at chapel, lowering the flag, the ice cream truck!, store and the big barn dance to top off the evening.  The "Waredaca Attic" was a room full of pictures and Camp treasures from the past.  Alas, it all happened so quickly that everyone seemed to think it was over before it began.  But a good time was had by all and appropriate tributes were paid to the Mr. Butts and the entire Butts family who created this magical place we call Waredaca and who have given so much to help fill our minds and hearts with fond memories and joy.  

 

Thanks Waredaca for existing and thanks to all of you that helped in so many manys to make this dream a reality.

 

The full compliment of pictures are posted to Shutterfly.  Click here to go see them. As more come in from alumni we will post them there.  Alumni bios are here.  It's fun to see and read about the "then" and "now".  We'll keep this site up and running so no worries - take your time and enjoy.

 

The Waredaca Alumni Reunion Planning Committee