It has been said that the ‘20s and ‘30s were the golden years of Camp John Hay. Sandwiched between the ruckus of the building boom of the first quarter of the 20th century and the horror of World War II, memories of the time had the power to evoke wistfulness among those who lived through those three periods. This sense of nostalgia was especially true of Baguio oldtimers, a term used to refer to the city’s builders, its first migrants and those whose childhood included such pleasures as picking mushrooms and edible ferns inside the Camp, sampling the chocolate cake at Snyder Hall or visiting the bear in the Italian Garden.

For the U.S. Army, it was during this time that Camp John Hay’s renown grew and took hold. Living conditions inside the Camp reached new heights of comfort, especially when electricity brought more conveniences. While there were not many cars available, horse and ox-carts were replaced by better and faster vehicles. In the 1920s, a train ride from Manila brought visitors to Damortis, La Union. From there, motor cars brought visitors up via Kennon Road.
More than just its scenic beauty and pleasant climate, the Camp’s reputation as an exceptional resort facility grew from “initiatives” taken in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Its famous apple pie and chocolate cake at Snyder Hall were the forerunners of the epicurean delights of later years. Though only a sand green in the ‘30s, its golf course would later host a tournament that remains one of the Camp’s continuing legacies.
It was also during this time that a contingent of Filipino soldiers came to make Camp John Hay their home. In 1923, the Philippine Scouts -- who had had a permanent garrison inside the Camp since 1914 -- were authorized to build houses for their families on the road to Loakan. Later known as Scout Barrio, utilities and services such as electricity, water, garbage collection and pest control were provided free from the Camp. Not surprisingly, it was a lighting rod that had several generations of each family migrating to Baguio. Inevitably, their customs and traditions were likewise transported. In time, their dances and canaos lent ethnic color to the Camp’s life and these became part of many celebrations.
The horrors of World War II brought that halcyon time to an abrupt end.

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