2014 Otter Reunion – Saturday Photos: Back to the Camp Otter Site

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September 16, 2014 by Doug Webster

Everyone had a wonderful time throughout the reunion weekend, but the clear opinion was that the Saturday afternoon visit to the north shore of Lake Otter was one of the highlights of the program. Just standing on the shores where the camp once stood evoked a flood of wonderful memories – rainy day gatherings in the Lodge, meals in the meal hall, Sunday services on the Porch, the start and end of canoe trips, story telling, trips to Pine Tree Lane, swimming, canoeing, sailing, sleeping in cabins…..all of it.

Tremendous thanks go out to Malcolm Thornton, wife Joanna and their daughters for serving as willing and gracious hosts when we asked if we could bring over 60 people to tramp across their lawn. And to the Otter Cottagers Association for their help in inviting area cottagers, and helping us with planning. And also to Larry Cassie, former Association President who brought a raft of canoes to the site to allow us to take paddles on the lake and even painted up an old canoe just for our reunion.

For alumni who could only join us in spirit, we hope these pictures will bring back wonderful memories for you as well:

: South side of Lake Otter looking across towards the original site of the camp – generally between the right and center posts on the far side of the lake.

: Dave Chestnut near Chimney on shore

: Otter Cottage owner Malcolm Thornton (back to the camera) whose property encompasses the site of the Otter Main Lodge, waterfront, craft cabin, ice house and Timberwolf Lodge cabin

: Bob Cownie, Craig Billings and Chuck Amo chat with cottage owner Malcolm Thornton.

: The Otter Totem Pole. Property owner Malcolm Thornton found it laying on the bank, cleaned and restored it

: Totem Pole detail

: Snakes now live on the banks of the lake near the shore.

: Snake food

: The Thorntons brought out their hand-carved otter.

: The Thornton’s carved otter

: Cottager Larry Cassie with the canoe he painted especially for the gathering at the Lake

: The specially prepared Otter 2014 Reunion canoe

: Lake Panorama first photo towards Sandy Beach

: Photo two in a L-R panorama of the Lake….looking towards Rocky Point

: Panorama three towards the far end of the lake

: Panorama looking towards Girls Camp along shore

: Rocky Island

: Rocky Island

: Rocky Island

: Looking down from her green and leafy shores on the waters of Lake Otter

: Girls cabin now a lake cottage

: John Young paddles offshore

: John Young on the waters of Lake Otter

: John Young

: Dave Duchscherer

: Dave Duchscherer

: Rick Rider and George Baker out for a paddle

: The Main Lodge chimney….all that remains of the structure that was the heart of the camp.

: Emy Young Boag at the Chimney

: Barb Hills Walker and George Walker at the Lodge Chimney seat

: Ann and Paul Rising at the Chimney

: Bill and Susan Dustin on the outdoor side of the Main Lodge chimney.

: John Young, Jane Wardwell Roberts and Emy Young Boag

: Alice and Peter Dustin

: George Baker and Keith Clarke reminisce

: The Camp Otter Ice House

: Looking through the Ice House door….notice the loose batting insulation under the boards. It helped keep ice, taken from the lake in winter, to stay frozen and kept food refrigerated all summer