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STORIES & MEMORIES
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Hawkins Clan -
Post By: Larry Todoroff
No story about Camp Sunnen could be complete without a yarn about the infamous Hawkins clan.
In all the years that I have been associated with Camp Sunnen ( 53 yrs. ) I have heard numerous stories about the family that lived in them thar hills above camp and past the camp trash dump. A person didn't even think about taking that road for fear that they might not return to civilization.
I know of only three people that have had any dealings with any part of the clan. John Haack, Mick Brown, and Dale Wilson(Bulldog) have actually had contact in some fashion with any part of the family, although a Hawkins granddaughter worked at camp as a part-time dishwasher in 2003. You will have to contact John, Mick, and Dale to hear the stories.
Well, this summer(June,'08) on a lazy Thursday afternoon, talk about some stories about the Hawkins came up in the camp office. With a little doubt, I said why don't we go up and see the homestead in person, figuring theres strength in numbers. So, Rick Hooks, Matt Baumann, Tony Croxton, and myself get in my SUV and away we go. We heard that it has been deserted for some time, so our anxiety level wasn't to high.
After about 1 1/2 miles past the dump, we encountered three persons who were employed by Sunnen Products and were doing some logging in the area. We asked about the location of the homestead and they started laughing and told us we need to go up this road about 1/2 mile and we will be at the site. I asked why were they laughing and they started telling all kinds of stories about the Hawkins. Two of them knew the Hawkins brothers and went to school with one of them. They said the early Hawkins clan were not the most noble bunch and that some had run afoul of the law on a few occasions. They said they were not the most friendly of sorts and they have been gone for some time, although one of the brothers (Dennis) comes up to do some hunting every once and awhile.
Up we go not knowing what to expect. We turn into a clearing and all of a sudden here is the homestead. It looked right out of a scene from the movie " Deliverance ". We thought we heard the banjos playing. Two run-down houses ready to fall down, one of which already has from termites I think. An old camper which looked like somebody has recently been to, plus a half finished stilt house which is supposed to be the Hawkins hunting cabin according to the loggers. What stories this place could tell !!
We just knew that somebody was watching us, as we kept looking over our shoulders ready for a Hawkins toting a shotgun to come after us. Rick took several pictures of us and the homestead to prove that we were there.
After awhile we left and went back to camp joking the whole time about how brave we were and that we were probably the only staffers in the history of Camp Sunnen to be at the Hawkins clan homestead and actually return to tell about it.
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