film (200 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16mm

circa 1927

Collection contains [Camp McWain], amateur footage of activities at a girls’ camp in Waterford, Maine. Scenes include an auto excursion for a picnic, cooking hot dogs over a camp fire, riding ponies, and training for rescuing a drowning swimmer. Picnic scene includes a close-up of Camp McWain’s founder, Helen Sanderson. See also Birch Rock Camp Collection.

Camp McWain, one of many Maine summer camps for children, and one of five on Lake McWain in Waterford, accepted "delicate girls" between the ages of six and sixteen. A Lewiston Journal article on June 16, 1923, regarding the impending opening stated, "one peculiar problem has thus far been overlooked--the problem of the small girl who is not an invalid, who is not abnormal, who has natural instincts for fun and play; yet who lacking somewhat the robust vigor of normal childhood, needs expert supervision." The Collection documentation includes a brochure for the camp. The camp operated from approximately 1923 to 1935 and was associated with the Birch Rock Camp for boys, also on Lake McWain. David Sanderson’s family has lived in Waterford, Maine, for over 200 years. The camp was located beside his great-great-grandfather’s farm, established in the 1850s.

Northeast Historic Film

The Collection is open for research.

Authorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://oldfilm.org/content/stock-footage-licensing for more information.