GENERATIONS

Many years ago, I read a quote that stuck with me:

“There is nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands”

John Mellencamp

Musician John Mellencamp was born and raised in a small town, just like his song says. Reading his website, I see that he still lives and works from Bloomington, Indiana even after being in the music business since the mid-1970’s. I’ve always enjoyed his music and I feel that his folksy blues voice connects me to open space, farmland and Americana. I also like that he is true to himself. As he was breaking into the music business, his manager told him, in order to sell records, his stage name would be Johnny Cougar. He followed this advice, and in 1982, scored one of his biggest hits as John Cougar: “Jack and Diane”

As time went on, he became John Cougar Mellencamp, and finally John Mellencamp. Over the past 40 years, his records have continued to sell and he has piled up many many hits. His 1985 album “Scarecrow” is the record that contains the quote above. I remember having a copy of the cassette (I’m dating myself here haha) and following along with the lyrics and liner notes while I listened to BOTH sides. (Google that kids…learn about how track listing and order on both sides of records and cassettes used to be a big deal). The quote that begins this post was actually attributed to Mellencamp’s grandfather Speck Mellencamp, who had recently passed. Although I was only in grade 7, I internalized that quote and began to think about my own grandparents. At the time, I still had all 4, but over the next few years, I would lose 3, with the remaining one being Francis “Frank” Moeschen, my paternal grandfather.

It dawned on me that all of us are preparing our offspring for the change of generations all the time. We raise our kids to value family, and the legacy of our last name. We hope that a thread is passed and we can also hold connections to the family stories and legacy of past generations. In Mellancamp’s case, it was (and is) farmland in Indiana. According to John, the essence of the Scarecrow album is this:

“I think that’s the key to the whole LP – suggesting that each person come to grips with their own individual truth – and try to like themselves a little bit more. Find out what you as a person are – and don’t let the world drag you down. People should have respect for and believe in themselves.”

I feel strongly that part of this belief comes from being proud of the previous family generation, and, as you age, helping to bridge the connection between past and future. As the generations change hands, the glory is the legacy through the stories. In the same vein, the sadness comes from those stories being first lived, and then told, and finally, after 3 or 4 generations, they lose all personal connection to the people involved in the first place. Eventually, it all becomes a series of ghost stories for the entire human race.

The Moeschen legacy involves a summer camp that my paternal grandparents Frank and Helen (Carney) Moeschen purchased in New Hampshire in 1933. They purchased 50 wooded acres on a lake for $12,000 during the Great Depression. Living in Manhattan, they had between 20 and 40 boys from ages 6-15 spend 8 weeks every summer at Camp Mascoma. The camp ran from 1934-1968 and the kids learned boating, swimming, tennis, baseball, archery, rifle shooting, teamwork, and, of course, life skills. When I was young, I heard stories and stories upon stories from Frank as well as my father Tim, and his brother Pete. Both my father and uncle were campers and then counselors. I was (and am) extremely lucky that my grandparents decided NOT to sell camp after they retired. Although my father and uncle did not resurrect the business as my grandfather had hoped, my family did keep the property, the main lodge, the boathouse and several cottages. Frank and Helen built this legacy and my father and uncle had firsthand stories. For me, being generation #3, there were stories and photos. I am now preparing my 2 sons to be generation 4, along with their cousins. My sister and I share stories, photos and teach them as much as we can. My wife also took an in depth interview recently of Peter, who, at age 87, is the last living family member with a first generation tie to Camp Mascoma. For the founding generation and generation #2, it was a livelihood. For my sister and I (generation #3) it was a playground full of ghosts where we vacationed, and swam in the warm summer months. In 2015, my sister and I, along with our spouses, purchased a house directly across the road from the main camp. Suddenly, instead of decades of non-insulated summer cabin life, became a year round vacation home for generation #4. I often wonder what stories they will tell, and if they (hopefully) will continue the legacy of stories of camp. On a cool note, every now and then, I get contacted by men in their 60’s and 70’s wondering if I am related to the owner’s of Camp Mascoma. When I write and tell them that it is still in the family, some of them have come back to visit, take photos and tell stories. One of them is Bob H. who came with his wife a few summers ago and was amazed to find the place almost the same as he remembered it 50 years ago. It is a time warp as we have done our best to preserve it. I am elated that I can help them connect with special memories from their childhood, and I can only imagine what it must have been like for a young NYC boy to live in the New Hampshire woods for 8 weeks in July and August without their families. Different times from today for sure.

Although I don’t find it healthy to live in the past, I do find it healthy to continue this legacy of the Moeschen name and Camp Mascoma. I will continue to teach my boys the stories, and share the photos. Someday I will be gone as well, and they will realize that there is nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands. We all have our turn and our time, and then it passes. Don’t let it fade completely from the Earth.

Stay safe, stay awesome, and stay tuned. If you went to Camp Mascoma, please let me know. I’ll bet I have a photo of your bunk somewhere.

My grandparents, Helen and Frank Moeschen in front of the main lodge (left) and woodworking shop (center and right) at Camp Mascoma circa 1945. Anyone know what the car is??

Tennis courts and main lodge, Camp Mascoma circa 1950.

Top half: Campers in “The Circle” in front of main lodge at Camp Mascoma, circa early 1960’s

Bottom half: Main lodge summer 2022. Come by and visit!

Generation #4. Main Lodge, “Big Truck” 1955 Chevy. Yes it still runs and is the one in the featured photo.