By: Shayne Russell, NJSOC Archives Project Volunteer
The School of Conservation was buzzing on Sunday. Inside Long House, our Archives volunteers were busy as bees bringing SOC’s history to life through organizing and cataloging box after box of documents and artifacts. Looking out the window, there was a view of Lake Wapalanne with its shores lined with families participating in our annual Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Youth Fishing Challenge and competing for prizes. For just a few minutes, these two programs connected in a curious way.
Our volunteer archivists enjoy sharing interesting finds with each other. It helps in gaining a broader overview of SOC history, making connections… and it’s fun. On Sunday, Tara was sharing remembrances of SOC’s long-time resident nurse, Mary Durbin, that had been prepared for her memorial service in 2015—some written by names we recognized. This one got a big reaction:
“I remember your love for animals and how you fed the raccoons and skunks at your back door. You cared for me after I was stung about 50 times by yellow jackets.” (Julie Behrend Weinberg, Camp Wapalanne 1969-71)
Yikes! We read some additional reminiscences and viewed some photos of Mrs. Durbin who during her long tenure at SOC (1968-1991) was clearly both beloved and legendary. We’d just all settled back in to work on our respective files when Mike, an Archives team member who was coordinating the fishing program, came in to check the well-stocked first aid kit for something to treat… you guessed it… a bee sting.
One of our young anglers had a bee enter through one of the holes in her Crocs and was stung… fortunately not 50 times, but twice… which is bad enough. Mike came to the rescue with a sting relief pad while Bonnie collected plantain leaves and applied a soothing poultice.
A short time later I went out to take pictures and got to witness our patient catch her first fish—a beautiful pumpkinseed sunfish—the bee stings all but forgotten.
While our first aiders may have lacked the beautiful Scottish accent mentioned in so many of the memories of Mary Durbin, I’m sure she would have approved of their calm, gentle and caring treatment of our young angler’s bee stings. We’d like to think that the spirit of Mary Durbin lives on at SOC, as part of the magic here on the shores of Lake Wapalanne. And, of course, also in our archives, where thanks to our Archives volunteers her story will eventually be available online to all!
Funding for the NJSOC Archive Project has been made available in part by the New Jersey State Historical Commission through the County History Partnership Program, as administered by Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council, and by individual donations from NJSOC supporters.
Donations are always welcome through Givebutter, or by check (payable to Friends of NJSOC) sent to the NJ School of Conservation at PO Box 403, Branchville, NJ 07826.