Editor’s Note: As part of our year-long celebration of our 100th Year Anniversary (1922-2022), we’ll post a Throwback Thursday edition of our Alleghany Rattler Newspaper to give you a peek into life at camp across those 100 summers!
In this piece Kitty Hutcheson explores during the 50th anniversary year what it is that captures the spirit of Alleghany. The next few Rattler throwbacks will continue to focus on the 50th summer’s events and reflections.
The Spirit of Alleghany
It’s hard to describe the spirit of Alleghany without sounding trite to those who have felt it or vague to those who haven’t. When something is felt and shared by many people, it can best be described in silent understanding rather than in awkward description. You can’t love Alleghany until you’ve lived it, and the living there is wonderfully unique. It is unique because of about two hundred people there and hundreds who have been there who love it.
Any place that has love in its foundation has a head start on other places.
Alleghany is a world in itself that teaches a great many things and makes it easier to face the other world with a little more confidence. You can be what you want, think what you want and feel secure in a friend’s understanding.
The spirit of Alleghany is many things — it is learning new things, it is Vesper Hill, it is a team song — it is anything you want it to be however and whenever you want it.
Someone who loves Alleghany once said that anyone who is creative and keeps her individuality will find that any place she is will be the most wonderful place in the world. It’s easy to feel that way at Alleghany. Once you’ve experienced ‘Ghany it will be easier to feel that way wherever you go. Above all, Alleghany has many doors to welcome you back. And you will return realizing that you’re not escaping from life, but learning how to live it.
— Kitty Hutcheson, Alumnae, written in 1971
