Summer Camp at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
In 1918, reflecting the growing national interest in youth camping experiences, the Jewish Charitable and Educational Foundation of New Orleans began offering overnight summer camp experiences for needy members of the city’s Jewish community, including the Home’s children. After successfully testing the venture at a rented property, JCEF purchased a waterfront estate at Bay St. Louis on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a 60-mile train or bus ride from the Home. At Superintendent Leon Volmer’s urging, the Home’s board began sending its children to the JCEF camp, initially for one week and later increasing to six weeks, creating a beloved feature of Home life until its closure in 1946.

The main house at the Federation camp in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Golden City Messenger, Aug.-Sept. 1930.

One of the cabins at summer camp. Photo taken by the late Harry Cohen who lived in the Home from 1936-1944. Courtesy of Harry’s wife, Doris Cohen, and daughter, Nettie Cohen Blume.

“A Crowd.” Unidentified Home kids. Bay St. Louis, August 1919. Courtesy JCRS.

Three Home boys at summer camp in Bay St. Louis, August 1919. Courtesy JCRS. “Louis K.” may be Louis Kronenberg, who lived in the Home from 1914 to 1923. “T.W.” may be Thom Wolff, who lived in the Home from 1913 to 1920.

Mike Goldstein (in Home from June 1915 to Sept. 1919) and Harry German (in Home from 1912 to 1925), at Bay St. Louis, August 1919. Courtesy JCRS.

Photos from summer camp at Bay St. Louis, from scrapbook of Annie Schneider Pilsk, who lived in the Home from 1914 to 1924. Courtesy of JCRS and Annie’s daughter, Marilyn Hischhorn.

Photos of Home summer camp at Bay St. Louis, 1920s – 1930s.
