Big River Part II

Jane Long, Ron Long, Jaclyn Long

My cousin, Barbara's memories of the Big River Clubhouse:
I have very fond memories of the club house (better than a tent!). I loved sleeping in the upstairs in the club house where grandma and grandpa stayed and waking up in the morning smelling breakfast cooking on the stove (I think it was a wood burning stove). I know the club house was heated by a wood stove. I remember having to walk up the hill to well and pumping it until the water cleared for consumption. I had no problems with the outhouse since I was a girl scout and we camped all the time!!

Bill Wassmund

I remember my dad, grandpa and any other male around putting trout lines out to catch cat fish. If we (girls) were lucky we could go out in the john boat with the man folk to check the lines. When I went it was always grandpa who pulled up the lines; unfortunately if a snapping turtle got on the line grandpa would take his knife out and decapitate the turtle. Sometimes he would keep the turtle but most the time the body of the turtle just fell into the river because they didn't have time to make turtle soup.

Me and Jane

As a small child I thought the Big River was huge until we returned to the club houses many years later and it wasn't more than a small creek that you could walk from one side to the other and the water really didn't go past your waist if you were lucky. We (Wassmund's) continued to go down the club house long after everyone else quit going. It was so sad to see the property in such disarray and the quite empty club houses. The river was so quiet since it was only the five of us on the river.

June 12, 1971

We were married 38 years ago. While I still wear my wedding rings, they no longer have the cross-hatching, but are smooth from wear. But, at least I still have them. . .Dave's ring was stolen 8 years ago and we've never replaced it.
We were married in the church we had both attended for 15 years---since we were 9 and 13 respectively.
My bridesmaids were my sister Jane, my "cousin" Susan and my aunt Rose. Susan's mother Bitsy made all of the dresses. Our nod to the hippy culture, was natural greenery in our hair---the brides maids and I had ivy, but I had gardenias, also, to match my bouquet.
Dave's groomsmen were his two brothers Harry and Tom with his friend Elliott. We had planned an outdoor reception in our church courtyard, but it rained. We were married the same day as Tricia Nixon, the daughter of President Nixon.
Our ushers were Harry Provost (above), my sister's husband who escorted my step-grandmother Lena followed by my grandfather, Roy Long.
Here, Harry is escorting my mother, Louise---notice she and Lena are both wearing gloves although it was June. I'm not sure why Jim didn't escort Mom---he was one of the ushers, but maybe he didn't want to do it---he was just 15 years old.Dave's friend Jack is escorting Dave's mother Eloise with Grover following.
Finally, my dad and I---we had no ring bearer nor flower girl---I wanted a simple wedding and would have been happy in a park as some of my friends had done. But, we did have a very traditional wedding for the 1970's.
I wish I could say the ceremony was lovely---I wish I could say we taped the wedding, but neither is true. The minister said, "We come here for the marriage of Linda and Grover." Giggles rippled through the sanctuary---some wondered if they were in the right place. Rev. Johnston had called me my sister's name and Dave by his seldom used first name. After the ceremony was over he announced, "I now present Mr. and Mrs. Long" (my maiden name) Again, there was laughter. People teased us for years that we weren't really married.

Of all of the wedding photos, the one above is my favorite!

The Receiving Line: starting with Aunt Maxine (in short dress and white heels), Uncle Bob, Karen Delaney, Michael Delaney, Lucy Morgan, Lowell Morgan, George Morgan(the little guy in blue jacket)