curmugeon | More of my history (Reply)

Big Cheif Camps.
Growing up in rural Maine i was fortunate to meet remarkable people. This story relates to a man i always was fascinated with.

I remember when it was known as Big Chief's camp. It was a hunting and fishing camp that was owned by a real Indian Chief. My dad became friends with him as he used to work on the Cheif's Jeep. The Cheif had been part of Admiral Byrd's expedition party to the pole. Admiral Byrd had a hunting lodge on Tunk Lake. I got to see the lodge when I was a young boy when Cheif took us across the lake for a tour. I never knew the Cheif's given name as he always had us call him Chief. I always remember the trips because it involved many miles of travel through thick woods. We always had a good meal with every visit. This was rustic living. Moose and deer were everywhere and eagles used to fish the lake. He had many canoes and boats tied up along the shore. When we travelled to visit Admiral Byrds Lodge I remember it was by canoe, that was the preffered method the Cheif used. I last visited this place sometime around 1957 the Cheif was quite old. Good memories of life in Maine.