Chateau Christmas

When I was young, my father worked on the Governor’s staff. It was a hard job with long hours, but it did come with some perks. One of the perks was that occasionally he was able to take his family on vacation and stay at “the Chateau.” The Chateau was on the National Guard camp on the coast. I was told it was where the General stayed when he was in residence at the camp. The Chateau was a lovely log cabin design built in the 1930’s, but it was big. To my ten or eleven year-old eyes it was huge. I believe the arrangement was that a member of the Governor’s staff could schedule a stay there if it was available and only pay for a cleaning fee.

So, one Christmas we stayed there along with another family who were friends of ours. I don’t remember a lot of detail because this was like 50 years ago. I do remember the house: exposed logs of the walls, beautiful hardwood floors, and a huge rock fireplace. Santa would have no problem fitting in that fireplace. This was just the coolest place, full of secrets.

I remember that we went clamming for razor clams and got skunked (well not quite skunked. One member of our party came back with half a clam, having sliced it in two with the misguided plunge of his shovel. We were, none of us, expert clammers.) Other than the clamming, there was not a lot of playing at the beach. This being December, the weather was not conducive to beach frolicking. But there were games to be played, and food and conversation. One specific memory I have is that I got a Swiss army knife for Christmas. Somehow that day or the day after I managed to slice my finger pretty badly. My mother did not take the knife away. Back then, kids were supposed to survive childhood without safeties on. It also did not tarnish my love for that knife.

I have warm feelings when I think of our Christmas there, good times with our friends and just an affection for the place. The Chateau was not generally available for civilian use. I don’t think I realized at the time what a privilege we were being given.

Star Liner

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