During the early years the camp included nine cabins, a large mess hall with kitchen, a town hall, library, nature study room, arts and crafts room, a village blacksmith shop, a store, and many other buildings. Other features included two baseball diamonds, a tennis court and a track where horseback riding was provided. There were farming areas, a duck pond and domestic animals, boats, canoes, a water wheel, a water top, an island, covered wagons and early pioneer stockades.
The camp's most unique feature was the huge merry-go-round with its Wurlitzer band organ that was purchased from the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1936 for the children at Agassiz Village. Harry Burroughs insisted on the merry-go-round because he never forgot the envy he experienced as a child while walking past Revere Beach, but could not afford to buy the pleasure of a ride.
During the years 1939-40, the present dining hall was built, reportedly the largest freestanding log cabin in the Northeast. It was named for Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, Maximilian's grandmother and wife of Louis Agassiz. She was also the Founder and first President of Radcliffe College. All of the logs used in the building of the dining hall were taken from the woods of the 600 acre Village, and most of these logs were hauled to the site by the Village's own horses. The first meal was served in the new dining hall in July 1940 with Mrs. Agassiz opening its doors that day. There is still no other camp with comparable dining facilities in the New England area. The weathervane on the highest point on the roof features a newsboy and a young street trader, a symbol of the Burroughs Newsboys Foundation and the camp's original purpose.
Harry E. Burroughs was Director of Agassiz Village until he died in 1946. He was succeeded by his nephew, Herbert Fielding. In 1951, the Burroughs Newsboys Foundation was closed. The purpose of Agassiz Village was changed to provide a camping experience for boys from various social agencies, hospitals, clinics and schools in the Greater Boston area.
Dr. Arthur G. Miller, a Professor at Boston University, was appointed Executive Director of Agassiz Village in 1953.� Shortly thereafter, a major building program was started at the Village to replace or remodel the old and outmoded buildings inherited from the very early campsites in the area. Twenty-two new log cabins for the campers were built so that each cabin had a beautiful view of the lake or of a wooded area. Each sleeping area was equipped with running water and toilet facilities. The old infirmary was torn down and one of the other buildings was converted and enlarged to house the nurses room, a twelve-person ward, two isolation rooms, a treatment room and a waiting room. At this time a totem pole, originally carved by Alaskan Indians, was refinished, painted and erected in from of the administration building. A new covered wagon was built and two new tennis courts were added with fund supplied by the Hayden Foundation. In 1953, the Village was divided into three sections: the Jawhawks (Juniors), the Mohawks (Middlers), and the Sioux (Seniors). Each section had its own leader. A parking lot at BU was used as the place of departure and arrival with Dr. Carl Erickson taking charge of this part of the program. In 1955 the name was changed to Agassiz Village founded by Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Burroughs. In the late 1950's, a program for boys with physical disabilities was initiated with the first group of campers coming from the Cotting School for Handicapped Children in Boston. Thereafter, boys with physical disabilities became an integral part of the Village program. From 1964 to 1967 a Remedial Reading Program was conducted in cooperation with the Office of Economic Opportunity and sponsored by the Ford Foundation and the Department of Health Education and Welfare, in cooperation with Action for Boston Community Development. About 140 boys participated each year. they were referred to the Village from the Boston Public Schools. Each boy met daily in a group of four or five others with a reading specialist. Evaluations of the programs indicated increase of from one to three years in reading ability levels.
One of Agassiz's prized treasures is the personal check written for Agassiz Village in the spring of 1962, bearing the famous signature of John F. Kennedy, a long time friend, who was then President of the United States.
Dr. Miller served as Executive Director and Camp Director from 1953 to 1968 at which time he turned over the duties of directing the camp to Robert Hatch, who was Athletic Director at Bates College. Mr. Hatch was Camp Director from 1969 to 1972 when Donald Welch was appointed to succeed him.
Agassiz Village went co-ed in 1973, and has continued ever since to serve disadvantaged children and children with physical disabilities in an inclusive, integrated program. About 600 girls and boys are served during the summer season.
Throughout the history of Agassiz Village, the philosophy as well as programs have changed to reflect the needs of the community and the people being served. The major objective of Agassiz Village today is to provided opportunities for inner-city, suburban and rural youth to enjoy an educational and recreational experience at a resident camp in Maine. The majority of the girls and boys who attend Agassiz are referred by one of the 60 social agencies working with the camp each spring. Most campers are from economically disadvantaged families and singe parent households in the Greater Boston area.
Approximately 15% of the campers have a physical disability, enrolled in a collaborative program with the Massachusetts Easter Seal Society.� These girls and boys are active in the camping program, and participate in camp activities with girls and boys of their own age. The recreational setting is ideal for this, with a low counselor to camper ratio. This enables all activities to be adapted to each camper, regardless of their level of ability. Today, campers experience an educational and recreational camp program out of the city in a healthy environment. They learn skills and develop self confidence in swimming, games, crafts and other outdoor activities.
Our staff is a dedicated, highly motivated group reflecting a wide range of geographic, social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. About 45% of our staff returns season after season, giving the camp a great deal of strength in key leadership roles. Counselors from many different countries including England, Scotland, Netherlands and Australia are recruited. Bilingual staff members are provided to accommodate the needs of Hispanic campers.
Thank you for taking your time to read about our Village. We look forward to hearing from you.
