John Conway

 

It is easy to think of Ten Mile River Scout Camp as something of little interest to anyone outside of scouting. But since David Malatzky has spearheaded the reorganization of the Museum there, that is definitely not the case.

 

A new exhibit set to debut next month is a perfect example.

 

The exhibit, which runs from the Museum's July 5 opening to the end of the season in mid-August, is entitled "Tusten Postcards" and is curated by Malatzky and John Dowd.

 

Malatzky says Dowd is "the foremost collector of Tusten postcards, and is loaning many of his own postcards for this exhibit." In addition, Malatzky has personally collected at least 50 additional postcards that will be part of the exhibit.

 

Malatzky is quick to point out that the postcards in the exhibit have a wide general appeal, and most of them have no connection to the Scout Camp.

 

"Some of the postcards depict buildings and locations that pre-date the 1927 acquisition of the Ten Mile River Scout Camps property but were incorporated into the Scout camps when they opened starting in 1928," he said. "If one closely reads the exhibition guide they will see the connections between these non-TMR properties and  TMR. For example, three of the five original borough camps were built on pre-existing youth summer camps."

 

Among other things, the postcard exhibit provides an unusual look at the burgeoning tourist industry in the Upper Delaware region in the late 19th Century that accompanied an aggressive promotional campaign by the Erie Railroad, which had arrived in the area by 1848.

 

"During this period, two trends coincided in Tusten and Sullivan County," Malatzky said. "The number of accommodations catering to visiting tourists soared. Farmers could more than double their annual incomes by boarding tourists during the summer months. A Beaver Brook "farmhouse" with a capacity of 75 guests was advertised in NYC newspapers. Boarding houses and hotels were constructed, and provided housing for tourists arriving in Tusten in large numbers each summer, mainly via the Erie Railroad from NYC."

 

"The demand for picture postcards also soared. Tourist lodgings and local merchants sold them, promoting both themselves and the region. Tourists mailed postcards to family and friends, reinforcing their relationships. Some of the recipients, in turn, visited Tusten to see the sights on the postcards, filling the lodgings while purchasing and mailing even more postcards."

 

Among the hamlets covered by the postcards in the exhibit - and we aren't talking about just the resorts there - are Beaver Brook, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Halfmoon Lake, Rock Lake, Neweiden, Lava, Ten Mile River, and Narrowsburg. There are also a number of interesting views of Camp Wel-Met, Camp Utopia, the Sullivan County Turtle Club, and the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Ten Mile River.

 

The Museum will have the full color postcard exhibit guidebooks on sale for $12 each. These attractive compilations of all of the cards in the exhibit can also be purchased from the Museum's website store for $16 each, including shipping. The store's web address is www.tmrmuseum.org/online-museum-store.

 

And there is much more to see at the Museum than just the amazing postcard exhibit.   Malatzky points out that among the permanent exhibits are extensive displays relating to local history, geology and wildlife.

 

"I organized almost all of them," he says. "These include the following collections, almost all found on TMR property:

 

• Native American arrowheads and artifacts from three rock shelters, some 5,000 years old.

• Coins, metal tools and other artifacts from the lumbering era.

• Geology of TMR - Explains regional geology.

• Artifacts from Historic Tusten Village - Uncovered by the National Park Service and donated to the Museum.

• Wildlife of TMR - Illustrations and samples of local wildlife.

• "Birds of Prey" stuffed bird collection.

• "The Museum also has exhibits about two local non-Scouting businesses that were popular with Scouts, the donut machine from the famous Donut Farm, and an extensive collection of neckerchief slides carved by Rolland Flora of the famous Slide Farm."

 

The Ten Mile River Scout Museum is open to the public from July 5 until the middle of August. Hours of operation are Tuesday thru Friday from 9am-12pm, from 1:30-5pm, and from 7-8:30pm, as well as Saturdays from 9am-12pm and Sundays from 11am-3pm, and by special appointment. There is no admission charge, although there is a donation box, and donations are always appreciated.

 

John Conway is the Sullivan County Historian and a founder and president of The Delaware Company. Email him at jconway52@hotmail.com.