Archive Introduction

Narragansett Chapter Archives

From the Archives, Revisited

We owe special thanks to all those early pioneers of the local Appalachian Mountain Club who recognized the importance of documenting the formation and evolution of the Narragansett Chapter. Beginning with its inception in 1921, and thereafter, their efforts and foresight helped to preserve the history of a Chapter that now boasts a membership of over 2,800. The following pages reveal a compilation of various articles, newspaper clippings, maps and pictures that trace several important events over the last 80 plus years.

Beginning with a brief history, written in 1995, and a complete updated history from 1921 to 2001 marking the Chapter’s 80th Anniversary, you will travel in time, culture and environment, to witness the many contributions of dedicated AMC officers and members who made it possible for us to enjoy the Narragansett Chapter of AMC as we know it today.

Susan DiSimoni, Archivist (2003)

Greetings From Former Chapter Chairman

Gene Mihaly recently had some correspondence with LCDR Richmond Day, currently of Grand Forks ND. He has been an AMC member since 1926 and was Narragansett Chapter Chairman for two years in the early 1940s. Dick was active in rock climbing; his wife established the first New Member Dinner. Back then only 'activity heads' attended those events instead of the general membership. They wanted the leaders to be the only ones explaining things to new members. Dick’s family lived in Gloucester at the time and hosted AMC walks nearby. They also had open houses for AMC members until an antique "McGuffy Reader" book disappeared from their coffee table.

The couple moved to Tucson AZ in the 1970's. Dick’s wife died a few years later and he moved to Grand Forks ND to be near his daughter. He described the climate in his current home as reminiscent of Mt. Washington. Last winter their wind chill hit -75 and a storm kept streets closed for three days. He told a story of a youthful January Mt. Washington trip, his first time up there, using "two horse blankets as a sleeping bag inside a half-pup tent". He also used his brother's WWI flying gear for emergencies. None other than Joe Dodge himself checked his gear and declared it safe for bad weather - including a pack which weighed 140 pounds! Crampons Dick used were donated to a museum in Minto ND. Thinking of those times made him envious of today's light gear. Current hikers can only stand in awe of the strength these pioneers took for granted.

Dick still reads the "Outdoors" magazine and was glad to see how far into the future our trips are planned. While he is still active and independent, he uses a scooter instead of walking most of the time. He sounded rather spry for someone who will be 100 years old on September 3. Gene invited him to spend his birthday on our trails but he said "I couldn't walk much farther than from the car to the trailhead."

He recently spoke to some schoolchildren about his WWII Navy experiences. After active service he joined a Reserve supply unit based in Providence. He was part of an interesting arrangement wherein members of his unit were occasionally allowed to go to sea for weekends. He has some great stories, including an overnight bridge watch 100 miles off the Maine coast where their location was plotted as 600 miles south of Chicago. Apparently supply units were not given much training in declination. An even better one concerns "the worst sailor I have ever seen...He never spoke to any of us except to say 'NO'." This was a chief who gave the command to cast off even though a 4-stripe Captain was running for dear life down the dock! He considered jumping the three feet between ship and dock but the sailors onboard yelled at him to stop. That chief also kept the sailors from using the bridge and ward room, which made for "a long cold weekend with nothing to do."

LCDR Day sends his best to all chapter members and especially any who remember him. Those wishing to answer may write him at Parkwood Place #142, 749 S. 30th St, Grand Forks ND 58201. AMC’s best wishes go out to this charming gentleman on the celebration of his upcoming Century.

(Shannon Kelley, Sept. 2008)