Site of Bishop McDonnell Camp (1927-1980)

USA / New York / Commack /
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Summer camp for underpriveledged children from New York City. Run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°50'56"N   73°18'19"W

Comments

  • This camp was called Nazi Concentration Camp by the kids who experienced the sadistic tactics of the nuns running the place. My bunk house had the distinction of being Stalag 17. One of the worst childhood memories I can recall.
  • I agree..my parents sent me to this nightmare camp on the word of a parish priest..on arrival they took all my belongings away from me and made me wear usedclothing..I was not from a poor area just a misguided parent. It was my worst night mare.
  • I had the best time.I do remember woolen bathing suits,playing baseball. Went with friends from from brooklyn…nice memories!
  • is camp bishop McDonald still yhere I use to go there when I was a kid
  • Most of us who went to this camp do have memories of a concentration camp. My father had bought me 3 or 4 comics at the railroad station while we were waiting for the train. The nuns took those comics and replaced them with the Young Catholic Messenger with Chuck White. They also took our clothes, our shoes, our money and all the belongings we brought. We were marched to a long barracks which contained rows of beds on each side and roll up mattresses on each bed. We were told to stand by the bed we were assigned and to roll down the mattress. A nun came around and placed a folded mattress cover on each bed. Two more nuns then came and looked us over and placed a polo shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of sneakers with no laces at each bed. We were then told to strip totally, right there, right then, in front of the nuns and each other. As we stood buck naked trying to keep our privates covered; we were inspected by the nuns for cuts, sores and I would imagine bugs. We were then told to put on the polo shirt and the shorts and the sneakers, no underwear! Two more nuns came around and took all our clothes and all our belongings. If this was meant to demoralize us and make us more submissive; it worked halfway it definitely demoralized us, however, not all of us be came submissive. We were then marched in our sneakers, shorts and polo shirts to a large toilet building; there were no toilets in the barracks. There were open toilets throughout the building and an entry door on each side of the building. Next to each entry door was a nun on a stool. We were told to go in and use the toilets and then wash our hands; all in front of the nuns guarding each entrance. Many of us thought that this could not get any worse....it could, it did. After being marched to the grotto to pray a rosary or two we were marched to the chow hall. Nobody put on any weight at that camp. After "dinner" we were marched back to the grotto to thank God for the great food. Then we were marched back to the barracks where we stood by our beds and were instructed to put the mattress covers on the roll up mattresses. Then two nuns came around and placed a set of trap door long underwear with no buttons on each bunk. We were then told to strip naked again and put the polo shirt and shorts on the bed and to put on the long johns. Two more nuns came around to pick up the polo shirts and shorts and to make sure the long johns weren't cutting off our circulation. We then prayed one more time and were told to go to bed and the light were turned out. This was multiplied by the days we were there!
  • I dont remember any of that kind of stuff >>>The nuns we had were great Dominic nuns. ..fun loving. great sport etc.
  • I hated this place! Simply said!
  • It was definitely concentration camp for me...............I remember them checking us for lice as we got off the bus and handing us clothes to wear. I got beat up every night by the mean girls. Horrible place.
  • I did reply but it was not accepted
  • I am sorry you lost my story
  • Please give your comments now
  • I hope someone can give us some incite to your experience. I will answer answer any questions
  • I had so much fun when it rained we stayed indoors and did arts and crafts i lived the slide in the water and at night we prayed in the garden i loved it
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This article was last modified 6 years ago