It occurred to me that some visitors might not understand what I'm referring to when I say we're going up to The Camp (aka the Fortress of Solitude). You might have intuited the meaning already, but sometimes I get weird looks from people when I talk about the place: "What, you own like a kids' summer camp?"
Uh, no, it's what we here in the Northeast call a "cottage"1. This happens to be the only picture I have of the camp itself, taken in the winter of '98 (the first year we owned it):
And now we're back home, by which I mean...ah, forget it.
ntodd
1 - Not sure of the etymology, but maybe the usage derives from deer camp. My grandmother has a place in central Maine that the family bought in the 50s, and we've always called that Camp. Contrast to my wife's family: they have The Cabin in Minnesota's Boundary Waters. You say tomato...
I think "camp" is a Maine thing. At least I can't remember ever hearing a Vermonster or New Hamsterite referring to their dacha as such... but during the two summers I spent in Maine, everyone was constantly talking about "camp." (And not in a Liberace way.)
The "251 Club" is a cool idea. My dad has a similar project, which involves visiting and photographing every single county courthouse in Texas, where he lives. Ditto every state capital in the U.S. and every provincial capital in Canada.
And my mom is about to visit the last inhabited continent she's never seen, namely South America.
I'm pretty sure wanderlust is genetic, because I have a serious case of it too.
Posted by: vaara | June 10, 2004 at 05:01 AM
I think "camp" is a Maine thing.
It might be, though I hear it in the Northeast Kingdom fer sher, and people seem to know what I'm talking about elsewhere in VT. Your mileage may vary!
My dad has a similar project...
Cool!
I'm pretty sure wanderlust is genetic, because I have a serious case of it too.
That's apparent from your blog! You sure do get around...
Posted by: NTodd | June 10, 2004 at 08:12 AM
Well, whatever it's called, enjoy!
And I'll be looking forward to seeing your report on Middlebury.
Posted by: vaara | June 10, 2004 at 03:35 PM
We're looking forward to it as well: we love the Fire & Ice restaurant! :-)
Posted by: NTodd | June 11, 2004 at 03:18 PM
So. Here's something for Vermont trekkers: the 5th anniversary Vermont History Expo will be held in Tunbridge, June 26-27, 10 AM-5PM. For more info, look at www.vermonthistory.org/expo. Eh yep!
Posted by: gootch | June 17, 2004 at 01:56 PM
Thanks!
Posted by: NTodd | June 18, 2004 at 08:47 AM
I think "camp" is a rural thing. That's what we call it here in central Alabama, too, whether it's for hunting, fishing, or living in the woods for a while.
Posted by: Chris S | July 28, 2004 at 04:03 PM
Oh, I had no idea anybody outside the NE used "camp"! It might just be a rural thing. Thanks!
Posted by: NTodd | July 30, 2004 at 04:04 PM
Upstate NY has camps galore. A camp there can be anything from your type deal (far away from your house) to a cabin 300' into the backyard.
The Adirondacks have lots of 19th century "great camps" (the vanderbilts and duponts each had one...), I always assumed it came from that.
Posted by: josh | November 26, 2004 at 06:03 AM
josh - totally makes sense. Upstate NY is really just an extension of Vermont across Lake Champlain!
Posted by: NTodd | November 26, 2004 at 09:58 AM
My grandfather had a Camp by Kentucky Lake here in Tennessee when I was a kid. I thought it was totally boring then; now I wish we still owned it almost every weekend.
Posted by: A D Moore | November 26, 2004 at 02:54 PM
I wish we still owned it
I guess what they say is true: youth is wasted on the young, isn't it? :-)
Posted by: NTodd | November 27, 2004 at 07:56 PM