From MSFB vol 12 #2, 7/13/1994

Work Weekends Make Festers See Double

by Ian Dowell
Bulletin Staff Writer
Midsummerfest has doubled in size!!! Well, not in numbers (it will be another small and intimate Fest this year) and not in acreage (still at 100 acres, despite an off-season bid to acquire some adjoining property). But there are now two ponds and two cabins! Shades of Wrigley's Doublemint gum.
Red Ostrosky and David McCullough finally transformed the mud mountains and swamp flats into a pond. Though it was over budget and smaller than expected, it is still twice as big as the upper pond. The primary denizens of the lower pond seem to be frogs so folks can look forward to crayfish-free swimming. The dam around the pond is large and level and has been seeded (though the grass probably won't be up in time for MSF) and should provide some prime tent-pitching real-estate for those wanting some privacy from the MSF activity areas.
Over the course of several weekends, a second cabin has been built overlooking the new pond. Under the expert direction of neighbor and contractor Tim Murphy, a small section of swampland has been transformed by Chris Dowell, Ian Dowell, Carol Barrette, Mike Guenette, Neal Goldman, Jennifer Sydney, Wil Dowell and Gary Dryfoos into a three-season, two-story cabin complete with deck and balcony. Chris and Ian will be returning to Royalton to put the finishing touches on the building before MSF.
The first weekend, Chris, Ian and Carol laid out the foundation piers and excavated holes to sink sona tubes. When it was discovered that water filled in the holes about a foot below ground level, Carol had to cast the ends of the tubes to seal them off and keep the cement dry. This made sinking the tubes difficult due to the water displacement required. Eventually a dozen cement piers were poured.
Over the long July 4th weekend, Tim, Chris, Ian, Carol, Neal, Jen and Mike put up the frame, some siding and the deck and the following weekend Chris, Ian, Carol, Mike, Tim, Wil and Gary returned to add insulation, end walls, stairs, roofing and ramp.
Next weekend will hopefully complete the cabin with siding completed, drywall, carpeting, doors, and railings. If you can help us, join us on Friday and Saturday.
In addition to the cabin work, Carol and Neal dug a new latrine pit, Chris, Ian and Neal mowed the field thrice, Neal Wack-ed the thigh-high grass in the meadow and the barn foundation, and Ian, Carol and Mike did some repair work on the dock.
The deck, dock, shack, and raft remain in poor condition, and if there is interest after MSF, I'd like to run a couple of real Work Weekends (with credit to be applied toward MSF '95).