Before the days of air conditioning in private homes, many people escaped the summer heat by camping out.
It could be as simple as putting a tent in a backyard to escape the heat of a house for relaxing or sleeping. During extreme heat waves, it was common for families without backyards to sleep in nearby parks to escape the heat of apartment buildings in crowded downtowns such as the summer of 1936.
The Quad-Cities was fortunate to have the Mississippi and Rock Rivers along with ponds and streams to camp near during the summer months. Several small islands in the Mississippi River had camp sites that could be rented. Social and fraternal organizations, the YMCA, YWCA, Lend-A-Hand, and private families would rent space on the islands or along the levee for the summer. Some locations might have pre-built cabins, but the majority of owners just rented the land. It was up to the renters to bring their homemade cabins or tents to live in.
Some camp grounds were designated for only men or women while others were family friendly. With trolley lines located near the rivers, many families relocated to the islands for the entire summer with men taking the trolley to their jobs while women would use the trolley for quick trips to stores for food and supplies. It was also a social time with dances, music, and children playing or swimming together. Family and friends would be invited to spend a few days as well to help others escape from the summer heat.
Further away from the rivers, the woods near streams and ponds provided relief from the summer heat. Some camps might be very rustic with a tent and firepit to cook over while others were more elaborate and meant for long-term use. Cook stoves, rugs, tables and chairs, homemade bunks, or cots would be brought out in wagons or trucks and set up for the summer season.
We found a wonderful example of summer camping in our archives that we wanted to share.
This photo taken in the 1890s or early 1900s, shows eight men relaxing in a grassy area. They are all casually dressed with four men in bib overalls and four men in undershirts or shirt-sleeves. The man in the front center is reading a book.
Behind them, we are able to see two large tents on the right and left with an open air tent in the middle. The middle area has a wooden frame and netting with (what most likely is) a waterproof cloth or canvas over top. You can see what appears to be a screen door on the opposite side of the middle structure on the viewer’s left to access the structure.
Inside the middle area we are able to see a long table of some type (possibly tables or wooden planks) covered with tablecloths. Wooden chairs are scattered around the table. There does not appear to be a stove in the middle structure. It might possibly be located outside or a fire pit was used for cooking.
At this time, we do not know the history behind the photo. If this was a family gathering or organized by a social or fraternal organization. There is a possibility there were other tents located at the site as well for cooking or housing family members.
What we do know, is this was a moment in time that was captured. It shows us a wonderful example of summer camping and those that enjoyed these outdoor moments.
(posted by Amy D,)
