TOWN
Sport
operated through polio epidemics. “Once you had your community together, you didn’t let anyone else in, because you risked picking up the infection. There were quarantines,” he explains. “So, vendors would drop the food at the gate, and staff would bring it all in.” By then, Virginia Sevier, Joseph’s daughter who originally wanted to learn to swim, was directing Greystone. Perhaps one of her best skills was keeping connected to alumni. Each Opening Day, she would carefully arrange wedding and debutante announcements on the dining hall’s central bulletin board. In years to come, a changing societal view and swinging ’60s drove other camps to close. But in 1972, Jimboy witnessed his parents re-focusing on faith, tapping into Greystone’s biblical roots. “My parents reinvigorated the camp and added moments of significance into each day,” he recalls. “They were very intentional to make sure campers go away from this experience with something more than just a good time.” Christian speakers were brought in to interact with campers, including writer Corrie ten Boom who stayed for two straight weeks. The ’80s also included facility improvements with construction of water ski docks, a pool, and a soccer field, and a track used by the Stumblers Running Club.
Target Practice: (Clockwise from left) A camper poses on Greystone’s archery range (1940s); as part of their training, girls were instructed in firearm safety and worked to pass shooting levels (1940s); during Challenge Day, counselors supervise a sack race as teams work to earn points (1950s); campers enjoy cabin time (1930s); canoeing on the lake at Greystone (1990s); girls pose with their rifles on the Pageant Court (1940s).
64 TOWN / towncarolina.com
TOWN_JUNE_Sport.indd 64
5/20/19 2:01 PM