Wandawega Blog Archive
It took us 40-something years, but they’re finally here. In the 1960s and 70s, the Latvian Catholic refugee community that occupied Camp Wandawega pronounced it vohn-duh-vay-guh and spelled it Vandavega. This “shoebox” footage we found several years ago shows an @ 7 year old David along with his brother Herb and numerous cousins proudly wearing their Camp Vandavega Ts. We had so many folks asking for one, we decided it was time to bring them back, thanks to our friends at @threadless. Weve recreated the original design and are now offering it on a T or a sweatshirt in our @threadless shop, wandawega.threadless.com #threadless #retrotshirt #vintagetshirts
We thought we knew every broken corner of this place by heart – and then somebody comes along and shows us a different side of broken.Sometimes we are too close to the reality of our own mess, and all we can see is the work – the to do list that will never be done. The beat up things. What were missing. What we lost. (Mud fields. Gray skies. Ruined landscaping. Broken pipes. Peeling paint. Thrift store furniture finally giving way.) We forget theres also some good under the glaring brokens – until we to see it through somebody elses eyes. It turns out that letting somebody else in when things arent ready / clean / fixed can be therapeutic – and a needed reminder to see and appreciate the all the good enough. This little Oscar Wilde reminder is taped up on the camp wall: > #preachThanks, @erikengstrom44 for sharing your perspective.
So happy to share that our collaboration with @SanbornCanoe is here! ..The craftsmanship that goes into each of these is mind blowing. We are honored to partner with small Midwestern businesses (like these talented folks). .From Sanborn: .Camps are sacred places, filled to bursting with stories. None more so than Camp Wandawega. Since 1925, people of all stripes have called it their home away from home. Its long been a place where the city-bound find an escape in the quiet of camp. Even mobsters pursued their liberty on these grounds. At Wandawega, children fly through the air, flung wildly by a rope swung out over the lake and priests raise their hands to offer a blessing. The stories in this place are many and varied and their number is ever growing. This paddle is a celebration of these stories and a shared belief that they are best told between sips of whiskey by the glow of a crackling fire.” Bonus: The @merrimackcanoes crew where kind enough to lend us one of their hand crafted beauties to keep at camp .TODAYS BLOG POST:http://www.wandawega.com/blog/2019/04/13/sanborn-paddles/ LINK TO PADDLES:https://sanborncanoe.com/collections/all-painted-paddles/products/wandawega photos: .@MERRITTOGREN @sanborncanoe @erikengstrom44 @merrimackcanoes
Welcome to Spring in Wisconsin..Sorry, Sophie Bunny – we know we promised to move you back into your little bunny log cabin this week, with all those newly sprouted day lillies to romp in. You deserve it after a long winter cooped up in the lodge in your cage..We are guessing that the publishers of this magazine whos spring feature just hit stands had also hoped for a different reality to coincide with their story. (Sorry guys, Mother Nature has a sick sense of humor).We wont be ringing the bell to announce the arrival of spring just yet. Heres hoping for next week….Thanks @ahutchgram for the spring shots
.[ We hope we dont regret this ].BEFORE & (soon-to-be) AFTER: .The latest hellhole. .We were white-knuckling while hauling it yesterday (while hearing the leaf springs of an old snowmobile trailer moaning and bottom out). We found this one last fall near Eagle Wisconsin, but it got snowed in before we could move it. It came from a farm in the middle of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. In the early 1900s, there were many versions of similar gothic arch style barn outbuilding kits, including some from the Sears Catalog. For over 100 years, theyve been used as milking sheds, farm equipment storage, small animal barns, coops and god knows what else. Were giving it a new life as a communal nature-watching stand in the back woods. This guy has virtually no redeeming characteristics. Except for the lines of its gothic arch roof and rafters – so thats gonna be the starting point. .THE PLAN:-Tear off the asphalt singles & install cedar shakes instead.. – New finish grade plywood floor (with a light gray deck paint).. – Remove the kettle-facing wall, and make it a screen wall open to the woods.- Add @Rejuvenation lantern lights.. – Custom ten ft table & benchesRestore the rafters & interior exposed planks.. – Park it on the edge of the kettle (with the entrance facing the lake). ..Were hoping to have this 14×10 nature cabin wrapped up in the next month or so, so the folks who will be staying up in the tents, tipi & A-frame have a communal place to hang with the woodland creatures. ..// Shown here: Hauling it to camp yesterday. Some modern gothic arch cabin inspiration. Our planning comps + sketches. And the antique book you need if you also geek out on classic American Ag Architecture. ..Review for Sears Book of Barns 1919: Anyone who loves barns, farms, architecture, early 20th Century American history or is just plain nostalgic will find this book to be a real treasure. Beyond its architectural value, its also a fascinating stroll down Memory Lane, to a time in the early 1900s when more than 50% of all Americans lived in an agricultural setting. Thanks for the help on the first cabin move @bhwoodworks
Vandavega Tees
In the 1960s and ’70s, the Latvian Catholic refugee community that occupied Camp Wandawega pronounced it “vohn-duh-vay-guh” and spelled it “Vandavega.” This shoebox footage we found several years ago shows an 8 year old David – along with his brother and cousins – proudly wearing their Camp Vandavega T’s. We had so many folks asking for one, we decided it was time to bring them back, thanks to our friends at @threadless. We’ve recreated this vintage design and are now offering it on a tee or a sweatshirt in our threadless shop.
Sanborn Paddles
Our new custom paddle collab with @SanbornCanoe is live! 🛶 Check out their gorgeous work through the Store link on our site, or by visiting them right here. From Sanborn: Camps are sacred places, filled to bursting with stories. None more so than Camp Wandawega. Since 1925, people of all stripes have called it their home away from home. It’s long been a place where the city-bound find an escape in the quiet of camp. Even mobsters pursued their liberty on these grounds. At Wandawega, children fly through the air, flung wildly by a rope swung out over the lake and priests raise…
BEFORES . The Shower House .LITTLE KNOWN SECRET: A few years ago, on our mission to find & save little cottages – we started cold-calling scout camps to see if they had any tear downs slated for the wrecking ball. Luckily- Camp Juniper Knoll (just 3 miles away) answered our call. The girlscouts have more camps & buildings than they can afford to maintain- so we were invited to come take a look – they had an old outhouse that was about to be demolished. It was buried deep in a section of abandoned woods. As soon as we saw it, we recognize the twisted saddle (‘butterfly’) roof as the work of architect Harry Weese. ** Weese worked alongside Ralph Rapson, Florence Knoll & Charles Eames… and is best known for his Time life building, Washington Metro, Metro Correctional Center, & our fav: “Shadowcliff”in Wisco.** After much moving drama – We got her to camp & converted it to a 2-room showerhouse. Once we had her set- David’s mom recognized it…It turns out that 60 years ago she was a camper at Juniper Knoll- this little wood shack with the tin roof was no stranger. We learned that Harry had re-designed much of the camp in the 50s, with its epic open air dining hall, (sadly, recently demolished). No matter how humble, we appreciate architecture of all kinds, and are happy that even a little shed can have a bit of historical significance. Undoubtably his most humble of buildings, it now has a second life. When Harry designed a temporary pit toilet as a prototype for his roofline concepts he surely never imagined that someday it would be documented by the State Historic society. // shots: images of some of the bldg plans & blueprints of Camp Juniper Knoll. Thanks, Harry!.The rest of the Before & Afters at #wandawegarehabs
