FORT CAMDEN (Autumn)

Skully and All the Wonderful Volunteers - I personally THANK YOU with all my heart and soul for what you all accomplished in such a short amount of time; thanks to the wonderful photos I was able to watch everything, step by step and I will always admire and respect all of the wonderful people who gave their time to the clean up of restoration of those two derelict rooms which created the museum and art gallery. The restoration of the flag pole will be a huge accomplishment for Nomah to remember forever and pass down generation to generation. To me Autumn presents a scent of a job very well done and not the end; it's amazing how things turn around sometimes; people will remember who did the work with pride and honor, so this may very well not be the end. Thank You Skully again for bringing me into YOUR world, I will remember Fort Camden forever...happy to be your friend...warm hugs xoxo darlene

I've been following this for its lifetime ........ and can just say, I wish I could harness the goodwill energy that made Fort Camden a project that caught all of our attention. You did extraordinary work ... all of you and you can be proud. The future of the fort, I know, is dear to your heart, and I sincerely hope, that the vision of that the first group of volunteers is seen through to completion, and that The Fort Camden becomes something we can all appreciate in the future. But like all things.... the pioneers need to be recognised ....... and I hope that the tiny group "Rescue Fort Camden", will get due recognition. I am totally captivated by the flag pole story: that the flag pole was dug out of the ground, where it had been lost for quite a while ... and that a child of 9 years old spent his entire summer holidays working on that pole .. scraping off the residue of lost years.... and painting it a shiny bright white, before raising, with 9 year old hands, the tricolour over that Fort, once again. Well done ... and thank you.

It was so interesting to follow you guys on Facebook last year, getting the daily and sometimes hourly updates. I miss it. What you achieved in 6 short weeks was breathtaking.

Well done Skully and the team.

Skully, I am finding it very difficult to respond to this, but I will do my best. For weeks, I watched with excitement waiting impatiently for the daily updates that you posted. I watched the fort go from lonely, sad and decaying to two rooms that beamed with pride from the work that was done with HONEST,loving hands. I saw & heard of a little boy, only 9, spending his summer, working side by side with his Father and the other volunteers, cleaning, restoring and painting that beautiful flag pole. I saw the pride on his little face when he looked up at the Irish flag that he had just raised for the first time in 50 years, over the fort. I was proud to tell eveyone I knew about the fort and the men, women, child & companies who gave so much to save it. And now....to see what has happened...to know that those who started this project, those who worked from morning till after dark, who gave their time, their money, their efforts, their hearts.....were not even invited to the opening....not given the credit due them...not given the common respect they deserve....breaks my heart. The song Fort Camden (Autumn) is very appropriate. A slow, soft, farewell to a friend you had spent so much time with. A quiet sadness.

Skully...I,just like Sandy, have a very hard time at the moment to respond to your wonderful Blog. Maybe I will do so on a quiet evening later this week. I did thank the little boy though in my own way this morning.....the slide show above is dedicated to him.

Huge lump in my throat; tears in my eyes. My write [below] was done a few weeks ago... It kept rattling around in my head and stabbing at my heart every time I listened to FORT CAMDEN (Autumn).

The visions I would have are not nearly as dramatic as the photograph above titled, "Midnight, September 3rd". That picture speaks VOLUMES of the dedication, devotion, massive time, sweat, heart & soul the volunteers [listed above] put into their initial project. To quote Skully on his WXBR-AM radio interview with Jim Larkin on 26 September 2010, "It's for the children."

I truly believe with all of my heart & soul that FORT CAMDEN (Autumn) IS YOUR UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, Skully. Just as your work at Fort Camden is unfinished. And you will return some day.

I've been saving my write for you, Skully. Now it is time to post it.

"It is my opinion Skully’s aorta is connected to his piano. I hear what I believe are the ‘real’ physical feelings in his heart; reactions to his ‘MOMENT’ stimulated by a particular SCENT, in his piano medleys. Case in point: in FORT CAMDEN (Autumn), from the piano, I hear, ‘GOOD BYE Guard Room’; ‘GOOD BYE Flag Pole’; ‘GOOD BYE Billiards Room’; ‘going to miss you; enjoyed the positive times, productive times...’; ‘GOOD BYE Museum Room’; ‘GOOD BYE Exhibition Room’; ‘GOOD BYE Moat’; ‘it was a great summer’; ‘stay safe...’."

Very sincere warm hugs, Pam

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. All those that matter appreciate what you and all of the others did! It is an inborn gratification~Be happy in knowing the pleasure you have given to so many~I thank you~

Hey Pam ~ it was pleasing to read your thoughts ~ that the Fort Camden Restoration Project is an unfinished project for Skully and the rest of the group; resulting in the track "Autumn" ~ I truly do believe with all my heart and soul that Skully, Vince, Nomah and the rest of the group will at some point be back again to continue the wonderful work that they so unselfishly started. Warm and Happy Hugs, darlene

Since Im somewhat the new kid here, I just got connected to the Fort Camden story. I was so in awe of all the work you and the friends, family and all who got to live out this vision. I am slow and not sure the details, except what has been written here but Skully I truly believe that you and Fort Camden are far from over. There will be another chapter to this wonderful adventure. It will call for you and need you again, you will see. Patience my friend....this adventure "Scent of a Moment" has just begun and see how high it soars!! xoxo

It is such a shame you guys are no longer involved. Imagine how much work would be done by now. I miss following it day by day on facebook. I hope that some day Skully will create SPRING and SUMMER for Fort Camden. Well done to all the volunteers. At least Skully is giving you the credit where credit is due.

It is hard to imagine that they are the same rooms!!!!

@ Paula - In my heart, I too feel that Skully will someday be writing the Spring & Summer versions for Fort Camden. And maybe someday, a little boy, who so happily volunteered there at age 9, will come back to carry on the work started by two wonderful selfless men and a eager, hardworking group of volunteers.

Hi Laura ~ I couldn't agree with you more - and as far as the Spring and Summer versions of Fort Camden ~ I do believe that to be true ~ they will be calling loud and clear in the future, I am positive! There is absolutely no way they can turn their backs on the true Fort Camden Rescue Team...

God Bless the current volunteers working on the Restoration of Fort Camden. May they be continually inspired and motivated to achieve the goals that benefit the rich and positive history of the wonderful old Fort.

And when the time is right, may the Board of Directors recognize, utilize and acknowledge each volunteers' 'special talents'.