NASHUA FRESH AIR CAMP (Camp Watahanock or Watananuck or Watananock)

Information from Greenfield, New Hampshire: The Story of a Town, 1791-1976, written and compiled by Doris E. Hopkins, published by the Greenfield Historical Society in 1977:

“The Nashua Fresh Air Camp, or Camp Watahanock, on the shores of Sunset Lake, originated in 1927.  The funds for creating the camp were the gift of the Gregg family of Nashua.”

“Three hundred underprivileged children, 150 girls and 150 boys, are cared for during the season by taking seventy-five for each of four two-week periods.  In 1947, a new recreation building and enlarged waterfront were added.  Today [1976] the camp is supported by the Nashua United fund and private donations.  Children are chosen by churches, welfare and other competent agencies in Nashua and Hudson.  The present director is Mrs. Jane Buchanan.”

Information from A Brief History of Greenfield, New Hampshire, 1791-1941, written by Henrietta M. Hopkins and Ruth W. Ledward:​

“Camp Watananock, or the Nashua Fresh Air Camp, on the shores of Sunset Lake, originated in 1927, and was incorporated soon after as ‘Greggson Incorporated.’  The funds for creating the camp were the gift of the Gregg family of Nashua.  The buildings consist of three main buildings, five utility buildings, an infirmary, five bunk houses, a cottage for the director, and one for the head counselor.  Three hundred under privileged children, 150 boys and 150 girls, are cared for during a season by taking 75 for each of the four two-week periods.  Competent agencies in Nashua select the children from Nashua and Hudson.”

Information from a newspaper article in The Telegraph (Nashua) by Marilyn Solomon — 

“Camp Watananuck opened in 1926 on lakefront property donated by Harry Gregg, founder of Gregg & Son, and the father of former Gov. Hugh Gregg and grandfather of Sen. Judd Gregg. The younger Greggs helped to build the camp, and local businesses and service clubs such as the Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions and Exchange generously contributed money, food, and staples.  In early years, it was supported by the Red Feather Agency and then by the United Way.  For most of its existence, Community Council was in charge of selecting campers.  In its final years, the YWCA took over the process.

[In the early 1930s], the camp was equally divided with one month for boys and one for girls.  There were some 100 campers at each two-week period.  During the boys’ stay, the outdoor lavatory was the King’s Castle; during the girls’ visit, the Queen’s castle.  They bathed in the lake.  There were three bunkhouses, a waterfront clubhouse, an infirmary, an arts and crafts center and a cabin for the director, Margaret Doyle.  A teacher and later the school psychologist with the Milton, Mass., school system, she ran the camp with a miraculous mix of discipline and caring, earning the affection of all the campers.” …

“When their two weeks came,… the campers were transported from Nashua to the shores of Sunset Lake in an open Gregg company truck.  All the necessities were provided except for the penny postcard campers were expected to send home.  The girls were given “one size fits all” bloomer suits.  The boys received a shirt and shorts, and before they left Nashua, Berg Shoe Store fitted them for sneakers.” …

“Except for memories, the Camp Watananuck is no more.  ‘The 37 acres are up for sale.  The property required too much of a capital infusion to bring it up to code, and I don’t see that as a reality,’ says Peter McArdle, treasurer of the board.  The money, he adds, will go into a charitable trust to benefit needy children.  Its last operating budget in 1993 was $65,000, and the United Way changed direction in its funding policy, bringing a reduction in its allocation.  ‘And we were not able to make up the difference in private fund raising,’ says McArdle.

Note:  We think the eventual disposition of the Nashua Fresh Air Camp land was a transfer to the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center (CMRC).  A couple of lakefront buildings have been refurbished, but most of the others have deteriorated.  Bushes and trees have grown up across the former beachfront.  People from CMRC often come to fish from the big wharf, where formerly there were a large diving board and a slide.