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The Legend of Tar Hollow |
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 Richard H. Evans After his studies at Ohio State, Richard Evans began a long and distinguished career at Lennox Industries. First at their Columbus Plant -- on the site of the Lennox Town Center on Olentangy River Road. Some years later, Dick transferred to the Stuttgart, Arkansas facility where he continues to play a major role in Lennox' cost accounting operations. In remembering his years at University School, Dick Evans demonstrates the qualities and character so many developed during their years at Woodruff and High. He is a major contributor to the AAUS archives through his donation of memorabilia, papers, photographs, programs and books. Richard Evans is a major player in the operations of the AAUS website. He serves on the website board of directors and enjoys the challenge of proof reading new web pages prior to their being lit for public viewing. But most of all, Dick enjoys writing about his years at University School in his columns in the Magazine Section, and in his frequent contributions to front page articles and stories. If you have not yet become acquainted with Dick's wonderful way with words -- now is a good time to begin.
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The legend of Brigadoon is well documented in the minds of University School students, where the mythical village comes to vibrant life once every hundred years. But as students, we weren’t required to travel to Scotland to find our own Brigadoon, and we didn’t have to wait for a century to pass. In the spring of every year, going well back into the 1930’s, upper school students would begin to buzz with excitement as plans were made to spend most of a week in the beautiful Hocking Hills and the seclusion of southern Ohio near Lancaster. This would be our mystical retreat, and thus was born the annual trek to The Legend of Tar Hollow for hundreds of students. For many, camping and being away from home was a new and exciting first-time experience. One such experience occurred in April 1952, as the classes of 1954 and 1955 traveled together as freshmen and sophomores united in one large group. After much frenzied packing, and a bumpy yet pleasant ride through one of the most luxuriant areas of Ohio near Old Man’s Cave, the campers drove down the long winding road that leads to the main lodge. No one was disappointed once the large rustic lodge came into view, with the lake nearby. The students couldn’t unpack fast enough, as cabin assignments were issued to the eager explorers. The cabins were located on the hillsides overlooking the hollow where the lodge dominated the scenery. For some reason, the faculty advisors thought it best to have the boys on one hillside and the girls on the opposite hillside. The cabins were equally as rustic as the lodge, and could accommodate a large number of students, since they were furnished with bunk beds. Of course at the end of the day, those beds looked really good after a fun-packed day of adventure. Before slumber would take over, however, there were tales of wild stories and secrets, mixed in with an abundance of laughs and giggles before the lights were turned out. The main lodge was the focal point of all activities. Meals were prepared and eaten there, with the toasting of marshmallows later in the evening. There was singing and story telling, either by the large inside fireplace, or outside on the patio. Beyond the patio area was a large lake and high diving board. This was a very popular place and activity for all the campers, whether they were proficient swimmers or just spectators. Canoeing was another recreational option for many. There was a marvelous film documentation made in June 1995 by 1954 classmates Bill McCormick and Bob Butche, that they titled "Perspectives of Yesteryear"—A University School Chronicle. This film, through sound and music, compares the adventure taken in 1952 against the same surroundings some 43 years later. It is remarkable how many things looked the same, as the color pictures of today dissolved into the black and white images of yesteryear, as if time had stood still. There is even some film footage from that earlier time of classmates swimming and diving in the lake.
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Did You Ever Swim Here?
There is an excellent photograph of Ronald McNabb (’54) standing on the stone pedestal outside the lodge blowing his bugle horn for possibly dinner or reveille call. Within walking distance of this area was a large dam, made of stone with hewn timbers for railings above. This was a good area to relax and take in the idyllic beauty that nature served us in all of its splendor. Besides all of the fun recreational activities, the faculty advisors blocked out large amounts of time to discover flora and fauna, and achieve some education rather painlessly. There were guides available that could identify the many trees and their leaves, that we later mounted for display in our notebooks. Our science teacher, Adrian Stilson, accompanied us and took some great pictures with his twin lens reflex camera strapped around his neck. It was on one of the hiking trails that I had an amazing sighting. On a very small tree limb, was a beautiful bird whose feathers were the most extraordinary brilliant iridescent blues ever seen, which were highlighted by the bright sunlight.
We tried the Audubon Society and other nature organizations, but none would tackle the situation. After much research, I was able to have a non-profit museum in Arkansas agree to sign for it and have it preserved for display with other wildlife specimens they have. At the end of our journey with nature, we came upon a fire observation tower in the woods. It was a long climb to the top, but well worth the effort. From that high perch, one could see for miles the entire Conkle’s Hollow area and the Hocking Hills beyond. This was a fitting conclusion to our special visit to the Tar Hollow legend, and it will remain a special memory in the hearts of us all over the enduring years. We had a good time, and left everything as best we could for other classes to follow in our footsteps. Dick Evans, '54
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