Onteora Scout Reservation Postcards - Page 2 - 1970s

While the majority of the postcards were released in the 1960s, there were several cards issued in the 1970s. Brian Issing was kind enough to share one with me. Here's a description he sent me along with the card: I have a postcard of the rifle range first issued in 1978. The range first opened in 1977. If you look closely you can see me crouching down instructing a Scout.(I was the aide on the range that Summer. The director was Howie Kudler and the assistant director was Bob Courtlangus.) It was taken in 1977, the first year that the building was in operation and the second year that the rifle range as a program area was in operation. It was first issued in 1978. The back reads 'Onteora Scout Reservation - Livingston Manor, NY 12758 - Onteora, "The Land in the Sky" is owned and operated by the Nassau County Council, B.S.A. The Rifle Range at Onteora is extremely popular with the thousands of Scouts who attend camp each year. It's always "safety first" at the range, which is directed by an NRA Certified Rifle Instructor.' By the way...all of the above was true. Brian also sent along another photo and an interesting OSR memory: Attached is a photo of the 1982 Rifle and Shotgun Range staff. It includes (L to R) Ference DeSzalay as the aide, Brian D. Issing as the Director and Douglas A. Davis as the Ass't Director. In your message you recounted an episode of danger when you were running skeet. During my first year on staff (1977) and the first year for the shotgun range, the Ass't Range Director was Bob Courtlangus (who is currently on the council staff). He was the only one allowed to run the shotgun program. Well one day he had to go back to LI for a funeral so I was placed in charge. During my one day tenure running shotgun a tiny 11 year old Scout was on the stand. He could hardly hold the gun. So when he pulled the trigger, the butt dropped down under his armpit, the hammer went forward and his face came in contact with the moving hammer putting a gash on his cheek. I took him to the HL and luckily he did not require stitches. Now scan ahead 3 months. I'm introduced to a woman at a party at a friends house. We arrange a date. I go to her house to meet her family and who comes down the stairs but this kid with the scar on his face. He recognizes me, I recall his last name and I meet her parents. In the end, it was OK. We even dated for a year. But in the end, it's a story that I'll never forget.   ONTEORA Route 1, Box 261 Livingston Manor, NY 12758 "LAND IN THE SKY" Owned and operated by Nassau County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Summer fun and adventure, including Swimming, Boating, Canoeing, Sailing, and Challenge. Published by Artvue Post Card Co. Circa 1978 WANTED (Caption unavailable. This card shows a flag ceremony on the Parade Ground. The staff members are, from left to right: E. Kent Kuchler, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, Bob Courtlangus, unidentified.) Published by Artvue Post Card Co. Circa 1978 WANTED Thanks to Stan Lipson for the scan.   While the following cards don't feature Onteora, they should be of interest:   Arrival of the U.S. Mail, Grooville, N.Y. WANTED While not an Onteora card, it's interesting to see that Grooville was once a real town! Here's more information from Robert Oldmixon: That building served as Ranger Bill Donahy's family temporary home 1956-57 while the current home at the main gate was built. It is located just before the entrance to the lower lake road. By the way, this one way road was the only entrance to camp in 1956 and for Operation Igloos of 56 & 57. Pulling off in the mud to let an oncoming vehicle pass was risky and a pain in the butt. The current road from the rangers house was cut out of the woods in 1957.     Near Grooville, N.Y. Another card showing that Grooville was once a real town. Postmarked there on July 1, 1924, it shows a car passing a horse-drawn wagon. This is probably along the road leading to Onteora. The message on the rear reads: "Dear Uncle Will. I am having a fine time. I have been riding a bicycle. I can not bring you back any trout unless I can go a fishing in a lake. (signed) Howard"   Babbling Brook, approaching Grooville, N.Y. Dated 8/9/07, this card features the stream we all know so well from our drives up to camp. The message on the rear reads: "Dear Matilda: Am up here on my vacation, and am enjoying myself very much. How are you? Let me hear from you. Don't know where you are, so am sending this home. Beautiful country here. Your friend, Lillian Steuber" The card was postmarked in Craig-e-Clare, another vanished post office in the area, and was addressed only to "Miss Matilda Koehler, Springland, Long Island." I've never heard of Springland and couldn't find any references to it.   Click here to return to the Postcard page, or click here to return to the main Onteora page.