| Scope and Content | History and general information about Camp Mack. See also: Camp Mack Day; Gospel Messenger 19 May 1945 p.17; 1 September 1945 p.8, 9; 22 September 1945 p.27; 11 May 1946 p.17; 12 October 1946 p.25; 17 May 1947 p.17; 24 May 1947 p.16. Oak Leaves 4 April 1925 p.1; 2 May 1925 p.1; 11 July 1925 p.1; 14 May 1927 p.3; Photo boxes 63, 151. See also: Camp Alexander Mack MC2002/34 Oak Leaves 9/15/38, 9/22/38, 9/21/39, 9/28/39, 10/5/39, 9/25/41, 9/24/42, 9/18/47, 9/25/47, 9/16/48, 9/15/49, 9/14/50, 9/21/50, 9/13/51, 9/20/51, 9/18/52, 9/25/52, 9/17/53, 9/24/53, 9/16/54, 9/23/54, 9/30/54, 9/15/55, 9/22/55, 9/13/56, 9/20/56, 9/19/57, 9/26/57, 9/18/58, 9/17/59, 9/15/60, 9/22/60, 9/14/61, 9/21/61, 9/6/62, 9/13/62, 9/20/62, 9/19/63, 10/3/63, 9/17/64, 9/24/64, 9/16/65, 9/22/66, 9/29/66, 9/27/67, 10/11/67, 10/1/69, 9/16/70 p.1, 9/14/71, 10/5/71, 9/26/72, 9/18/73, 9/25/73 p.6, 10/6/78, 9/30/83, 9/15/88, 10/1/93, 10/2/98 |
| Bio History Note |
Camp Mack Day started in 1938 as a replacement for the hazing of first-year students. The classes were pitted against each other in competitive athletics, and the winning class went home with the coveted Outing Bat.
During the early years, a train was chartered for the trip, and the group walked together to the station in town, led by the marching band. The train took them to Milford, and the students trudged from there to Camp Alexander Mack. Total distance walked? 3.3 miles each way! In 1950, it was feared the event would be cancelled due to the prohibitive cost of chartering the train. Instead, students with cars were recruited and a car-pooling program was organized.
Camp Mack Day slowly evolved from a replacement for initiation activities to an opportunity for students and faculty to know each other informally. Attendance peaked in 1959, when nearly 700 people attended. Through the years, activities have included tennis, volleyball, ping-pong, four-square, boat races, swimming, softball, frisbee, archery, horseshoes, slamball, songfests, foot races, croquet, shuffleboard, tug-o'-war, three-legged races, and presentations by administration. The Outing Bat eventually phased out, and classes no longer competed against each other.
In 2001, Camp Mack Day very nearly ceased to exist because of lack of attendance. Due to the supreme effort of many people, the traditional event was saved. |
