Barney Barnum honored for years of service to Big Moose community

Barney receives 50-year Mason membership award-Tim Harwood presenting with Andy Getty and Pete Meneilly observing

A party was held recently at YMCA Camp Gorham in Big Moose to celebrate and honor the 90th birthday of their first Camp Ranger, Barney Barnum who, with his late wife Betty, worked at the Camp for twenty-seven years,

Among the 200 people in attendance were the Big Moose Fire and Ambulance Company, the Eagle Bay Fire Department, members of the Camp Gorham family, and the Masons.

According to Camp Gorham Executive Director, Anne Thornton, Barnum received a number of awards in recognition to his lifetime of service to the community.

Big Moose Fire Company awards lifetime achievement award – Jason Pratt (fire chief) and Craig Smith presenting.

He was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his 65 years of service to the Big Moose Fire Department as well as an award for 50 years of service to the Masons.

As a birthday present to Barney, a scholarship fund was created in his and his wife’s name by Camp Gorham that will allow children from the Town of Webb to attend the camp each summer.

“They lived on site while they were here, and have lived down the road from here for the last 28 years,” Thornton said.

“So to honor him we are having a scholarship and 100% of the funds raised go to Town of Webb Kids to attend Camp Gorham.”

Camp Gorham dedicates Barnum Scholarship. Offering the dedication, with Barney Barnum at left, is John Steinbrenner, Gorham’s former camp director of 26 years.

To date, over $1,500 has been raised for the scholarship and 100% of all monies donated will go towards sending kids to camp.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the scholarship fund can forward it to: YMCA Camp Gorham, c/o Barney Barnum Scholarship Fund, 265 Darts Lake Road, Eagle Bay, NY 13331.

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