It’s one hot summer! But we’re going to lean into the heat and feature Camp Tamarack in this month’s Guess the Year photo. Here are some clues:
- Referring to this photo as “Camp Tamarack” is a bit of a misnomer. The property in Ortonville which inspired the Tamarack name wouldn’t be purchased until the next decade.
- That means, at the time of this photo, it was still Fresh Air Camp. But that water tower in the background should give you a clue as to where this photo occurred! And the car should help to place this in time, as well.
- These young people are enjoying some carefree summer days, but in just a few short months from this photo, the US will be entering a war.
And the year is…1941!
This beautiful photo is from the Marjorie Mitshkun Acker Photograph Collection. Margie, seen in the photo with her friend Sherman, was born in 1919 in Detroit. She worked as a camp counselor for the Fresh Air Society at their camp in Brighton. There she met fellow counselor, Chuck Acker. They married in 1942 and had three daughters. Margie went on to graduate from Wayne State University and worked as a health education teacher for Detroit Public Schools. Margie passed away in 1966.
The Marjorie Mitshkun Acker Photograph Collection includes photographs taken at Camp Brighton between 1936-1941. In addition, we have lots of content on our digital database for you to explore!
Image: Jewish Federation of Detroit Photograph Collection, Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives, Image# JF.762.
