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Camp Melody was the dream of Andrew Dominick,
supported by his loving wife Mary, and set into action after much planning
in 1951. Beforehand, Andy had worked at an overnight camp and decided
he could provide the camp experience while returning children to their
own homes, parents and beds at night.
He started Camp Melody with an old station wagon, and a summer rental
of the Greek picnic grounds on Bryant Rd. (about a 1/2 mile from our
current location). In August of that first year, while shopping, Andy
ran into Mrs. Harko- a family friend who told him Mr. Wilson was selling
his house on Crystal Lake. It was just the location they wanted! He went
home, dropped off the groceries, asked Mary for good luck, drove to 510
Corning Road and closed the deal.
In the second season, 1952, our camp opened at our current location,
with a new name: "Melody Pines Day Camp", and also became co-ed
after much encouragement from Mary and their 3 daughters! The new name,
Melody Pines Day Camp, was a reflection of the melody of the children’s
voices under the pine trees. Gradually over the next 15 years, Andy bought
more land both East towards the beach, and West towards the farm. A home
was removed, the Rec Hall built, and the gym too!
In 1967, after 17 years in business, Andy's oldest daughter Mary and
her brand new husband Tom Connors began to run the day camp. Some years
later they decided to buy the day camp from Mary's folks.
A few things changed at Melody Pines in 1988, the biggest was that our
founder Andy Dominick passed away in August. That same year, Tom came
to the conclusion that to keep the camp at a reasonable tuition rate,
he would sell the buses (1951 - 1988) and build a parking drop-off ramp.
Things only improved at Melody Pines Day Camp, under the direction of
Tom and Mary Connors in their 35 years as owner/directors. In the summer
of 2001, Stephen Connors and his new wife Erika became the 3rd generation
to direct/own MPDC.
At the close of summer 2002, we decided to improve our office and living
quarters. We tore down the original cabin (purchased from Mr. Wilson),
and built a new office.
The walk out basement houses our office, nursing station, staff lounge
and repair area; above that will be year round living quarters for the
Connors family.
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