Family
History of
I see by your records that Camp Claire started in 1916. Claire Scofield
by my
guess married Arthur Lane in the late 20's, about the time I was born.
She was
always Cousin Claire Lane in my memory. I have no idea when Camp Claire
got
its name.
Claire Lane was the second wife (?) of Arthur
Lane of Colony St. (?) Meriden.
She was his secretary before marrying him, a marriage that was
initially
not welcomed by his children and other family members. However, Cousin
Claire
(as we knew her because she was my mother's first cousin) , was a real
lady, and took on her role as wife to one of Meriden's leading citizen
with great
dignity and ability. She had no trouble running a proper household with
a full staff.
He `ran the Lane Construction Co which was the principal contractor on
many major road jobs outside of Conn. Perhaps the best known was
the New York State Thruway (as I understand it) or at least a major
portion thereof.
The Lanes maintained a very fine home in
Eustis Florida where they entertained
my family more than once. They transported an entourage of servants,
including
Frank, the chauffeur, Fern the maid and Gertrude Arndt (my favorite),
the cook.
She taught me to make the world's best Alaskan King Crab salad
sandwiches.
She served up the best steak I ever remember eating anywhere, anytime.
After Arthur Lane died, Cousin Claire
ultimately was remarried to Hugh Geiger,
a principle of a high end costume jewelry manufacturer in Meriden (the
name escapes me)
They moved to Florida full time and had a cattle operation.
Late years, Cousin Claire and Gertrude used to come to Conn in the
summer staying in
a rental house on the water in Branford.
During the 1938 hurricane, Cousin Claire and
Gertrude ( don't know who else ) were the Lane
summer home directly on the water in the Pine Orchard section of
Branford. They were getting
ready to close the home for the winter when the famous 1938 hurricane
hit, unannounced.
They finally had to swim for their lives when the storm swung around to
the South West and
drove the seas directly on shore.
Claire Lane loved horses, as did my father,
and maintained one under the care of Ben
Canard (sp?) in the Meriden area in the winter months and at a stable
he ran on Rt. 1 in
Branford. My father then bought two horses which he brought to the same
stable one year.
My parents and Claire went to Hereford,Arizona
(near Nogales) on the Mexican Border to
a "dude" ranch just before WWII.
And so it goes. At my age, I am lucky to
remember where I put my glasses !!
Allen R. Perrins