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Read An Abbreviated History Update Since 1976 (Compiled by Jim Solenberger & updated by Mark Estrop) November 1976 - November 2005 Credit for initiating this history belongs to Rev. Robert D. Stanford, current camp manager, who asked me to begin writing in June 1976. I am very grateful to Mr. Curtis Blair of Whitehall, IL, former camp manager; Dr. James Havens, Denver, former Illinois Baptist Director of Christian Education; Dr. Russell Orr, Seattle, former Executive Director of the Illinois Baptist State Convention; and Rev. Leland Roth, Lockport, New York, former Illinois Baptist Director of Christian Education. The detailed memories, which these men have shared, are truly remarkable. My compiling procedure began with taking notes from camp board minutes and reports. Using names from this material, I have written letters to a small number of men and women. In coming days, I hope to correspond with many more “pioneers”. New information from letters, interviews and future board minutes and reports will be basis for periodic revisions of this initial report. Information on the camping situation of Central Illinois Baptists in the late 40’s comes from the then Executive Minister of the Illinois Baptist State Convention, Dr. Russell S. Orr, who now is retired in Seattle, Washington. In his July 31, 1976 letter he wrote: “For some years, I do not know how many, what we then called “Summer Assembly” was held for a week or ten days meeting at Lake Bloomington and on the campus of Francis Shimer College at Mt. Caroll. The Lake Bloomington Camp was a joint venture of several denominations and Baptists had built and paid for one of the houses or cottages there. These assemblies were remote from the churches in Southern Illinois and in the late 1940’s growing out of a suggestion by the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Benton, Dr. B. D. Weeks, arrangements were made with the city of Benton for the use of a site on Lake Benton which was expanded later and which brought the camp there into existence. Mr. Harold W. Grob of Murphysboro made a contribution of some 40 acres adjoining the city portion.” An August 19, 1976 letter from Rev. Leland M. Roth, now pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lockport, New York, but who was the Illinois Baptist State Convention Director of Christian Education under Dr. Orr, says: “In the central area, the Illinois Baptists had been using East Bay Camp for many, many years. That same year, we revived a northern area camp at Shimer College. Our three camping programs were held in these areas during the years I was in Illinois. However, East Bay Camp was very unsatisfactory. We were given one week in our three camps – Junior, Junior High and Senior High were all held at the same time. the first year on registration day, I was totally unprepared for the large attendance. We had over 600 at East Bay in one week. You can well imagine this would create many problems. The East Bay Camp wanted to expand and improve their facilities and wanted permission to go into Baptist churches to raise money. This triggered the smoldering interest of developing our own camp for Central Illinois. We felt we were not anxious to have this group raise money in our churches for a camp which we really did not control. As a result, a Board was formed of the Associations in Central Illinois and a committee was appointed to look for potential sites.” This committee met for the first time on December 30, 1948. Persons present were L. S. Poole of Havana; C. r. Dahlen of Paris; Robert N. McDonald of Champaign; F. L. Gilson of Galesburg; Willis A. Reed of Canton; Mrs. Phila Nestrick of Kinderhook; Ray L. Kearny of Macomb; L. Clarke Granfield of Old Stonington; Herbert Hendricks of Springfield; Dr. Vernon L. Shontz, Springfield; L. C Taylor of Palmyra, Russell S. Orr and Leland Roth of Springfield. Dr. Orr and Rev. Roth represented the Baptist state office. After enumerating disadvantages of East Bay Camp, Dr. Shontz presented the possibility of securing a campsite on Lake Springfield at a cost of $495.00 per year with a 50-year lease. A motion was moved and seconded “That we appoint a committee of 5 to explore the possibilities of securing such a camp and recommend the necessary organization entailed in such action.” Concerning the selection of the site, Rev. Roth’s August 19, 1976 letter states: “I cannot remember all the persons who served on this committee, but one man, who, perhaps gave more of his time in working with me was Dr. Vernon Shontz who was pastor of the Central Baptist Church in downtown Springfield. Also, a Dr. Taylor from Virden was on the committee. I believe there were a few others. We received all sorts of suggestions and traveled all over Central Illinois looking at sites but could find nothing. However, prior to my coming, one of my predecessors, a Mr. Robert Steiger, had contacted the city and the city had tentatively set aside a parcel of land on Lake Springfield for a Baptist Camp. However, the site was inaccessible; there were no roads and the area involved was very small. One day Dr. Shontz and I went down to the City Real Estate Office to see whether we could possibly get them to allocate us a little bit more land. We had some conferences with Rodney Britten who was the National Director of Camping. The formula at that time was an acre per camper, so a camp for 100 young people should be around 100 acres. The original tract had only some 17 acres, as I recall. We wanted to see, if by chance, we could get them to give us more land. Immediately adjacent to the section I marked “A” was a section “B”. We felt if we could get that section it would give us some 30 acres which would make a camp more probable on Lake Springfield. While we were discussing it, looking at the city map, I said, Well, since you’re going to give us this, we have this creek area back here which is no good to anyone, how about giving us section “C”. He agreed to that, then I got real bold and said, Why don’t you give us the whole bit, section “D” too and this would complete this area which had been assigned to no one. As a result, we got a tract of about 40 acres that was going to be assigned to the Baptists and was available to us.” The first meeting of the Lake Springfield Camp Committee was on July 14, 1950 at Springfield’s Central Baptist Church. Dr. Russell Orr and Rev. Roth of the State Convention Office, Dr. Vernon L. Shontz, Rev. Alf E. Anderson, Ashland; Rev. Earl H. King, Chenoa; Mrs. Gerald E. Hausam, Peoria; and Mrs. H. L. Nestrick, Barry. After the appointed committee had visited the proposed site and consulted with Rev. Rodney Britten, a recognized authority on camps, the Executive Committee of the Illinois Baptist State Convention voted to accept Springfield’s offer of a 60 year lease for a sum of $300 per year. Dr. Shontz listed the site’s advantages as: being near the Illinois Terminal Railroad, with the possibilities of a stop station; being near an improved road, and within 1200 feet of a city water main. Rev. Roth suggested that a likely $50,000 would be required for initial development of the camp, with an immediate need of $25,000 to keep it going. He also presented a proposed Constitution which was adopted. Provisions of the Lake Springfield Baptist Camp Constitution are: Article I – This camp shall be know as the Lake Springfield Baptist Camp of the Illinois Baptist State Convention. Article II – The purpose of this camp shall be to provide a suitable site to be used for such activities as camps, assemblies, house parties and retreats for the Illinois Baptist State Convention, its affiliated organizations and cooperating churches in order to promote Christian growth and development. The camp site shall be available to other religious and charitable groups, when not in use, at the discretion of the Camp Board. Article III – Lake Springfield Baptist Camp shall be managed by a Camp board representing the associations of Central Illinois; that is, the Quincy, West Central, Salem, Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington, and Champaign-Urbana Associations. Each association shall have 1 representative on the Board for each 2000 resident members or fraction thereof. Each organized Baptist City Council of Churches shall have one representative on the Camp Board. The Executive Secretary and the Director of Christian Education of the Illinois Baptist State Convention shall be ex-officio members of the Board. Members of the Board are to be nominated by the board and elected by the associations in their annual meetings to serve 3 year terms. Tenure is limited to 3 consecutive full terms. Provisions will be made for varying length terms of original camp board members. Article IV – Duties of Camp Board
1. Responsible for planning and
development. 2. a. The matter of camp programs and personnel is the responsibility of the organizations or groups using the grounds. Article V – Officers Officers of the camp board shall be chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary-treasurer. Article VI – The Camp Board’s Executive Committee shall consist of the camp board officers, 2 members elected at the annual meeting, and ex-officio members of the Illinois Baptist State Convention. Article VII – The camp board shall meet twice a year in the fall and spring at the call of the Board Chairman or the Executive Secretary of the Illinois Baptist State Convention. Article VIII – All real property of the camp shall be the property of the Illinois Baptists State Convention. Article IX – Amendments to the constitution may be made by a 2/3 vote of those present. Notice of the amendment must go with the notice of the board meeting. A delegation of the July 14, 1950 committee meeting was appointed to go and look at the proposed camp. Recalling this trip Rev. Roth writes: “I remember the fist time we went out to inspect the grounds. We parked on a road north of the campsite and introduced ourselves to a farmer who lived there and crossed several fences until we got down to the area itself. It didn’t look like much because it was overgrown with a lot of brush and shrub and you really couldn’t see much. We did walk around it and it did have some potential. Our next problem was to secure a road. So, one day Dr. Shontz and I went to a Mr. Patton who owned a farm immediately west of the campsite. His lot line was adjacent to the northern boundary of the main part of the camp. We introduced ourselves and explained who we were and what our interest was and that we were hoping to establish a camp for young people on that plot of ground and wondered if by any chance he would be willing to sell us a 30’ right-of-way across the northern part of his field. The good Lord was with us because Mr. Patton was hoping that some religious group would get that land rather than one of the clubs. He agreed to give us a 30’ right-of-way into the camp with the provision that he could sell building lots that would face on the road on the south side. The convention attorney drew up the necessary papers and we received the right-of-way for $1.00 and other valuable considerations. Dr. Shontz, through his contacts, got the Allis Chalmers Company to come out with some experimental equipment and they graded up the road and we bought some tile and put them in places where we had places for water to run through. This was our first big project. Once the road was graded, the men of the Fairview Baptist Church who had trucks came in on a Saturday and hauled slag ad we covered the road with slag and then dressed it with gravel. Now we had access into the campsite. Also, the folks from Allis Chalmers cleared off the area which is now the ball diamond, and it was possible to drive into the site without any difficulty. I remember quite vividly ordering the materials and going out one Saturday with a few friends and building the gate which was at the entrance of the road so we could lock it and give ourselves a degree of privacy.” On February 3, 1951, the camp board’s finance committee met at the First Baptist Church in Lincoln to discuss ways of financing the camp. Rev. Roth presented a sample brochure to be used a publicity material. Mr. Swarm suggested selling camp shares; Dr. Shontz suggested that persons could subscribe to unit costs such as place settings, completely equipped bunks, etc. The committee agreed on the designation of contributors to the camp: Anyone giving $1,000 or more would be “sponsors”. Anyone giving $500 to $1,000 would be “founders”. Anyone giving $100 or more would be “donors”. Anyone giving less than $100 would be “contributors”. Rev. Roth adds a few more details on how the camp was financed and early construction projects. “Along with the securing of this site and the development of it, I had the responsibility of raising money. We prepared a very attractive brochure and a poster which we sent to all the churches in Central Illinois, encouraging Sunday School classes, youth groups and individuals to subscribe .50 cents a week for a year, or $26.00. Our goal was to sell 1000 such shares during the first year, which would give us $26,000 for the basic development of the camp. the State convention advanced for the camp board $5,000 to get us underway. Our plan was to use volunteer help on Saturday to build the camp. The last Saturday of September 1951, we actually broke ground and built the forms for the concrete on the north end of the dining hall. Our plan was to build the north end first, which would give us a shelter and a place to store our tools and equipment. It became quite obvious after a few weeks that the project we had undertaken would take a lot more man hours than we could expect to secure through volunteer work. We did use volunteer helpers on Saturdays, but we just needed to have someone there working continually. Through a friend who lived in Chatham, I was able to hire a carpenter and a helper to work full time. I look back now and it almost seems inconceivable that I paid the carpenter $2.00 an hour and the helper $1.50 an hour. During the same period, we were able to contact someone at New Berlin to buy a tractor, a grader blade and a cutter bar from a machinery agent at cost. Rodney Britten again said this would be a very valuable piece of equipment, which it proved to be. We worked all through the winter and after we had completed the north half, we built the south end of the dining hall which served as a kitchen. We finished this and then set ourselves to the task of building the main portion of the dining hall. During these days, I contacted many supply houses. Through a layman in a church in the Virden area, we were able to get all the framing material and the Cyprus siding and Cyprus roofing for the amazing cost of $10.00 per hundred feet. In fact, we secured all of our materials at a tremendous discount. Our main concern was to get the dining hall erected, so we worked all winter. I remember going out there in January and putting roofing on, which indeed was a very cold job. As the winter wore on, it became obvious that we were going to have to have some extra help, so we employed a carpenter to build four cabins at the northern end of the camp property. Then we decided we would have work camps and try to have the young people build the cabins in the southern area. We were hoping we would have at least four cabins finished, plus the utility building and the kitchen and our equipment so we could begin camp that summer. Many people who came out in the fall and looked at the site just shook their heads and said, “It can’t be done.” But some of us felt it could be done and we worked very, very hard. It think I should pay particular tribute to Dr. Shontz, who, as I recall, was Chairman of the Camp Board. While he didn’t do a great deal of manual work, he was really a spark plug to keep the thing going. The Committee felt that because of the location of the camp and the fact that it would be used for other than camping purposes, we should make it as attractive as possible, so we finished off the interior with knotty pine and even a couple coats of shellac. We also stained the ceiling and this made the interior of the dining hall a very finished appearance. As the work progressed, I hired another helper from Chatham, so we had a carpenter and myself plus two helpers who did the work and we worked all through the winter. Also, through contact in the St. Louis area, we were able to buy all of our kitchen equipment and supplies, sports equipment, you name it, from a wholesale house in St. Louis at cost. It seemed the Lord just opened doors for us all along the way to make possible this camp.” The camp was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1952. An account is given in the September 1952 Baptist News (V.40 #1 page 11) “A service of dedication was held on Memorial Day for the new Campsite at Lake Springfield. Those participating in the program were the Rev. Rodney Britten of Philadelphia; the Rev. H. L. Janvrin of Roodhouse, the Rev. Oliver Peterson of Springfield, The Rev. Leland M. Roth, Director of Christian Education, the State Secretary, and the Chairman of the Camp Board, Dr. Vernon L. Shontz. The campsite is comprised of 38 acres of lake shore land. There is now constructed the beautiful “Bess R. Shontz Memorial” Dining Lodge, 6 cabins, and a utility building. Attending this summer in the regular camp program totaled 470, and there have been several other Baptist groups in other programs including the Area Men’s conference. All who visited the Camp have expressed amazement at the achievement in one season and genuine approval of site and facilities.” Another account of this dedication service comes from Rev. Roth’s letter. “On Memorial Day in 1952, we had a formal dedication of the campsite. Rodney Britten was there. We invited all the people in the area to bring sack lunches to see what we had. the dining hall was finished; the four cabins at the north were finished; the utility building was finished. We did not have the sanitary unit for the first year, but the city gave us permission for one year to operate with simply washstands and a pit privy. So the impossible dream came true and we began our camp with the summer of 1952 A young pastor in the Alton area whose name I do not remember was also a brick layer. He came up Saturdays. I mixed the mortar and together we built the fireplace. He hired a plumber from Central Baptist Church to do the plumbing for us. Everything seemed to work out. As I indicated, by spring, everything was completed. As I look back now, it’s almost like a dream. The dining hall with the original equipment, stove, refrigerator, knives, forks, spoons, cooking utensils, etc. cost us $10,000. On the day of dedication, several men who were out there who were in the building business told me that the building was worth between $25,000 and $30,000, but by using a great deal of volunteer help and also by being able to buy supplies at a very good price, we really stretched our dollars. As I recall, during that first year, we raised our $26,000 and at the end of the camp season we were able to pay back the State convention the loan which they had made us and we were in business. Before that first summer was over, we had the four cabins down by the lake, four cabins in the upper portion of the camp, the dining hall and the utility building. One of our problems was the water supply. The city had water on the far side of the lake but the cost of bringing it around was quite expensive, so we dug a well. We had good water except that during the hot part of the summer we would run out and would have to buy water and have it dumped into the well and we pumped it out. We had a chlorinating system on the well so the water would be safe, but in the years that followed the city water was brought into the camp sanitary units were built and a swimming pool was added. ----That first summer we had a fellow come in with a drag shovel and he scooped out an area in the lake for swimming, but this proved to be unsatisfactory, so in subsequent year, the pool was built. We did buy six boats and we had boats available for boating the fist summer.” Further memories of this time period in the camp’s history come from Dr. James Havens who was the Illinois Baptist State Convention’s Director of Christian Education after Rev. Roth. “I suppose the first thing that would come to mind would be the lack of water and sewer facilities at the time I arrived on the scene in 1952. For the camping season, 1953, there was no area in which campers could shower or do a great deal more than brush their teeth in terms of hygiene. Our stock answer when people asked us about this was that we took them down to the lake and after they went swimming, we stood them in the sun until they were dry and then dusted them. That fall and winter we completed arrangements for city water and the construction of a sewer plant.” I am not sure of the chronology now but I suspect the next item that I would remember in this particular way would be the drought that came along in a couple of years, which completely dried up the lake. We tried taking the kids to town in a bus, which we purchased from a school district somewhere. In any event, we decided to capitalize on the “drought disaster” and actually develop some promotional material using that theme, which made it possible for us to construct the swimming pool. At that point, the use of the lake, which did return after a wet winter, was only for boating. Somewhere along the line at this point, we became increasingly conscious of a mouse problem and the need to construct some kind of facility for the storage of mattresses. The little more-or less air-tight storage building next to the kitchen was a solution to that problem. We built a building which defied entrance by rodents and it worked pretty well. I trust it still does. It kept the mice out of the mattresses in the winter time and provided a place to store staple groceries in the summer time. Still another recollection which is a little funny now but wasn’t very funny at the time, was the problem we faced almost every spring at our first event of the year, which was the minister’s conference. It inevitably rained and created a mud situation that made parking and even access to the camp itself quite a problem. I recall the one particular minister’s council meeting spending almost the entire time with a tractor pulling cars out of the mud. About as fast as we would get them out, somebody else would get stuck and we would have to repeat the process. I suppose that one of the building which was constructed while I was there, which gave me a great deal of satisfaction was the construction of the all purpose assembly building and chapel. Rodney Britton and I designed the building on the back of an envelope while we were at Green Lake, and we got an architect to translate the scratches on the envelope to something that could be given to the contractor. The results, at least in my time there, were quite gratifying. And although we had originally thought we would drape the chancel area so that we would only open it when we were using the building for worship, we found that this really wasn’t necessary. By just turning the chairs in which ever direction we wanted them to go, the assembly hall or chapel atmosphere seemed to prevail. I would guess that still is the case.” At this point in the report, I need to jump back and fill in on activities of the camp board. It met on April 14, 1958 in the Shontz Lodge at 10:00 AM. James Havens gave the personnel report for the coming 1958 season. Staff would be Mrs. Albert Gard, East Peoria as cook, Judy Weder, Winchester as assistant cook, Nancy Carol Thimos, Springfield, as director of activities; Sarah Williams, Carrollton, as dining room hostess; Ronnie Clark, Charleston as grounds foreman; Steve Naug of Peoria and William Trout of Bushnell as assistant groundsmen; Albert Abney of Hull as dishwasher; and Gary Fullington of Peoria as an extra for days off. The board decided to spend from $150-$200 in white rock at $3 a tone (est. 50 tons) for paths. It wanted it in time for the spring Minister’s Conference for a “Prepare Ye the Way” project. It was anticipated that the path would be some two fee wide with gravel thickness of about 1 ½ inches. The next camp board meeting was December 3, 1958. The board raised camp fees from $13.75 to $14.75 a week; decided to charge extra camp groups .75 cents per camper the first night and .50 cents per camper per night thereafter; hire Mr. and Mrs. Gard of East Peoria as camp manager and cook; set the open house for May 17. It amended the camp constitution to read “Members of the board shall be elected by the Associations at their annual meeting to serve a term of 3 years. Tenure shall be limited to 3 consecutive terms.” The board elected its executive committee as chairman, Ernest G. Riley of Pleasant Plains; vice chairman, Rev. Kenneth Anderson of Mt. Sterling; Secretary-treasurer Dr. W. L. Reppenhagen of Decatur; and members at large, Mr. C. R. W. Frost of Winchester; and Rev. N. G. Daniels of Peoria. The Board empowered Dr. Albert Gernenz, Illinois Baptist State Convention Executive director to act as the executive director of the camp. The minutes mention a federal food subsidy. The board next met April 21, 1959. Previous meeting’s minutes were corrected to read “that the cook and grounds manager should come the first regular week of camp and that they were to bring their own trailer for living quarters.” John Scott reported that the Northern Area had some equipment which they cannot use immediately, and might be used by the Lake Springfield Camp. Mr. Scott also suggested that the camp might use junior and senior high boys to build a cabin. The camp also needed 2 new boats and some oars. Nick Daniels also moved to officially continue the policy that 50% of the undesignated capital funds received be used for camp improvement and 50% for debt retirement. He also moved that construction of a cabin under the leadership of John Scott and Gordon Pehlman be authorized for the summer. The motions carried. Ralph Wilson made a motion that we accept equipment from the Northern Area Camp; motion carried; Rev. Daniels moved that board buy rock for parking and paths. Motion carried. John Scott was appointed manager of the camp. An April 28, 1959 letter from John J. Garver, Pastor of the first Baptist Church, Taylorville reads: Dear pastor of Springfield Baptist Association: As an elected member of the board of the Lake Springfield Baptist Camp from this Association and as host pastor for the Annual Meeting of the Association on September 11, I have several things on my mind.
1. We need a camp representative in each
church of the association. Would you appoint A summary of attendance for the 1959 camping season is in the folder with board minutes. It is:
A camp board meeting was held December 15, 1959. 2,288 persons used the camp in 1959, 804 of which were regular campers and counselors. Repairs were made to 3 tents and platforms; a fourth could be set up, providing for a maximum 115 campers and counselors in any week. New boats were purchased, making a total of 8, but 2 of these are in poor condition. New wear-type lifejackets were purchased to comply with the law. Mr. Scott recommended that a regular water-front director be hired to be responsible for boating activities and improvements. Also, the total recreational program needs a good director who knows how to care for equipment and best use available facilities. One extra staff person could handle these responsibilities. The board felt that counselors could not be expected to handle this part of the camp program. The board recommended that an adult be used as a dining room hostess with definite responsibilities outlined to distinguish them from the kitchen staff’s. The hostess would also assist with registration. John Scott gave a complete financial report. A lot of money seemed to go for maintenance of the pool pumps and plumbing; high phone bills; and chemical, bus, and poison ivy spray. The camp was eligible for state milk refund. Government surplus food is down in quantity and quality from previous years; they weren’t receiving meat, but did get some butter. With 100 in camp (not counting the paid staff) it cost $12.04 per camper per week for food and staff salary. With 60 in camp the cost increased to $15.19. About $145 was long on the Junior Citizens Camp. Nothing was paid on the camp debt principal in 1959, but interest was paid on the principal. the State Convention paid the manager’s salary. There was a $5,000 subsidy of the camp’s operation (but the notes didn’t indicate who paid it, or if it was an annual subsidy or not.) The camp owed $10,000 to the Illinois Baptist State Convention, and $10,000 to Carl Weber; the camp bookstore is in debt $500. Doris Olson held Bible studies for the 1958 summer staff, which she felt helped in staff development. Salaries for the 1958 season were: lifeguard- $40 per week; younger Gard children $6 per week for each; older Gard boy who washed dishes - $25 per week, Steve Naug, pot washer, - $15 per week. A curfew was suggested for the paid staff because of its age level. the Gards lived at the camp all winter. Shoring up the lake front at the vesper site and adding benches, installing new sewer line from the upper area and the dining hall to the disposal unit, repairing leaks in the pool and on chlorinator; 7’ or 8’ platform with the pier, ventilation of chapel, connecting a sewer to the craft shack in order to make it a dormitory, additional stove in kitchen, and a staff dining room were listed as necessary camp improvements. Housing developments were moving in toward the camp. A road ran along the fence about 20 feet from the Frontier Camping area in the back corner. Springfield had promised that a buffer area between the camp and the Christian Assembly would be left, but they leased it to the Sportsmen’s Club and the American Legion. On April 5, 1960, the Camp Board appointed Rev. Lee Hicks of Auburn the camp manager. It also reported that the Gard family had moved from the camp. 1960 personnel were to be cook – Mrs. Edna DeLong of Auburn; assistant cook – Gloria Coons; dining room hostess- Leah Horton; Camp Maintenance – Ronald Clark; Dishwasher – Don Schinall, Peoria. The women lived in the dining hall building and the men in the craft shack. Rev. Hicks made a grounds report. Both the general and kitchen sewer were stopped up. A separate sewer was installed to the kitchen and craft shack so that a kitchen stoppage would not block all the camp’s sewers. Development of a new building project a few feet from Koehler Cabin raised considerable discussion. The board decided to investigate getting protection against infringement of camp rights. Rev. Hicks and Dr. Gernenz were to contact city officials. Dr. Gernenz read a memorandum indicating the camp is to pay $300 annually to the city for the use of the land. The board voted to ask churches to give $1.00 per resident member to the camp. The camp was on the U. S. Department of Agriculture excess foods program for the summer. 2,365 persons used Lake Springfield Baptist Camp during 1960 season; 717 were campers and counselors. 23 special groups used the camp. It operated on a six-day week, giving staff a day off and making it possible for outside groups to use the camp. The 1960 cost of operating the camp through 1960 was $16,536.60. The financial balance on November 15, 1960 was $7,062.41. Miscellaneous repairs were: the upper level cabins were painted; 2 tents were waterproofed (making 4 tents usable) the boats were painted and a boat dock was constructed; plumbing in the lower washhouse was replaced and the motor on the swimming pool was replaced. A list of recommendations from the Public Health Department hasn’t been met. An exhaust fan has been purchased for Memorial Hall, but hasn’t been installed: a new tractor is needed and the wiring in the kitchen should be changed. Circuits are overloaded; in hot weather it is not unusual for equipment to go off; creating danger of food spoilage in the freezer. A new ice machine and washing machine are needed. Tthe history from 1960 on will be spotty at best. Several years of minutes were not in the file. I have noted names of board members and hope to correspond with them in coming months.) A November 1, 1961 letter from Ernest Riley, chairman of the camp board stated, “It was a great pleasure for me to announce at the state convention at Alton that our debt at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp has been further reduced. This year we have paid 2 payments of $3,500 and $4,000 on our debt. This leaves us with a debt of $10,000. The January 25, 1962 Camp Board meeting empowered the Director of Camping to: purchase mattresses with plasticized ticking costing up to $1,000; spend up to $150 for an overhang over the garage area; spend up to $250 for road rock; investigate the type of electric wiring needs; and look into the type of stove to be purchased. The bank balance for the camp on September 14, 1962 was $4,578.89. The debt for the noninterest bearing loan from Carl H. Weber was $7,500. George Hill, 30 years old, was going to be on the grounds through October 15 to wash dishes, clean, etc. Repairs and improvements made in 1962 were: the electric pole came down; an electric drinking fountain purchased for $125; an ice machine purchased for $500-$600; screen doors put on the restrooms; wooden doors that swing both ways in the dining room; floor of one cabin was replaced; and fire extinguishers were put in the cabins. (I did not find minutes or reports for the 1963 and 1964 camp seasons.) In 1965 there were 751 campers; 112 counselors and 60 first decisions were made for Christ. A BIG event in 1965 was that the camp was out of debt for the first time, and had a bank balance $2,000! $2,5000 had been paid to the Weber estate. The board had authorized Morgan Davis to plant a few evergreens and install a water fountain and purchase a snow cone machine (for canteen) for around $100. Rev. Davis reported that profits from the snow cone machine had almost paid the original cost. Hot weather was a blessing that year! A new insurance program was put into effect at cost of almost $1,300 annually. Charles Nation was to have rip rapped along the boat dock but the water was too low. The 1965 camping season had the largest attendance ever. The board authorized its chairman, Rev. Davis, and Mr. Pehlman to select a site for a new cabin to be built. The 1965 camp fees entirely met operating expenses; all donations were used for capital improvements. The board approved the suggestion that camp facilities be made available to Judson College for a credit course in camping. Morgan Davis announced: a camp directors training session would be held on Tuesday, January 25, and that the counselors and directors training would be on Friday and Saturday May 20-21, 1966; that the State Camp Board has issued a statement of policy that junior campers should be given a cabin assignment with another child when that request is received in writing with the camp application. Each camp’s director will make cabin assignments. Rev. Hall suggested that canoeing, swimming, archery, etc. be offered as a progressive year to year course. The next board minutes in the folder were for October 3, 1966. The balance then was $18,039.86. Attendance figures for the 1966 season were 725 campers, 123 counselors, and 76 first decisions for Christ. The fees were raised to $25 a week. A meeting for all camp directors for the 1967 season was set for Thursday, January 19, 1967 in Springfield. A two day training session for directors and counselors was scheduled at all 3 Baptist camps simultaneously from noon April 21 to noon April 22, 1967. Daily charges were decided upon by the board as follows: for day groups, a charge of .25 cents per person with a minimum charge of $15.00. Charge for groups desiring to have meals served will be $4.25 per day. Cost per meal will be breafast-$1.00; lunch-$1.50 and dinner-$1.75. Charges for groups desiring to do their own cooking would be $15 for one meal, .25 cents per person per day, .25 cents per person for overnight and .10 cents per person for insurance. Each additional meal per day would be $5.00. The board bought “counselor beds” for 11 cabins; decided to put steel doors on the incinerator; put white rock on the paths, and panel the restrooms in Shontz Lodge. Rev. Davis gave a report of the 1968 camp season. A comparison of attendance figures for the past few years: 1961-752 1964-841 1967-843 1962-695 1965-862 1968-793 1963-784 1966-848 In 1968 changes at camp were the remodeling of the garage into living facilities for the permanent staff; purchase of twin beds with inner spring mattresses for the counselors; new ceilings in the bathrooms; repair of the pool resulting in an “A” rating from the state; and a new boat dock. The camp had about $15,100 balance in 1968. “With the available funds now in hand it was suggested that the sliding doors in the dining hall be torn out to make living quarters for the permanent staff in that end of the dining hall, thus eliminating all ideas of ding hall expansion. Alternatives to this would be to build a separate staff house or winterize some space for winter conferences.” Some of the state’s associations have funds they would like to invest in special camp projects. The board voted that the following recommendation be drafted. “Due to urbanization of the area surrounding the camp and the fact that the camp is now used at maximum capacity, future plans may call for a new camp site. Therefore, the Lake Springfield Baptist Camp Board recommends that any capital funds be invested for future planning. Until plans are definite, interest from the entrusted fund should be used for scholarships for needy children.” The board also decided to cover the dining room floor with a special rolled-on plastic covering. (Board minutes for 1969, 1970, and 1971 were not in the folder. The next minutes I found were for April 20, 1972) Rev. Dan Holland reported that he had made a request to the Board of Managers for permission to complete the design for winterizing the camp by remodeling the staff house and ding hall. The Board of Managers was favorable to the idea and gave Rev. Holland permission to negotiate with the finance committee to raise funds up to $25,500. Someone on the board made a motion to winterize the dining hall. Such winterization would provide a center for local planning retreats and provide lodging facilities for various regional committee members who would otherwise be house in a motel. Mr. Waterman moved that the winterization of the cam be done to improve the existing dining hall and staff house to facilitate flexible year-round programming for groups of 25 to 40 people. Modification will include living quarters at the north end of the dining hall and rest room facilities. The pool was to be sandblasted and painted at a cost of $1,500. At the November 21, 1972 camp board meeting, Rev. Holland distributed a plan of the upper camp area which showed dimensions of the proposed changes to the Shontz Lodge, cabins, bathhouse, and staff house. A maximum of 36 people could be house in the Lodge, with 10 more in the staff house. Rev. Holland presented a detailed plan for accomplishing this. Some of the plan’s steps were: Lodge - At maximum cost of $13,900 and the bathroom at $8,900. Remodel the interior walls and use a suspended ceiling. Carpet the floors. Blow in insulation for the outer walls. Add heat (possibly with a 200,000 BTU furnace), Insulate the roof, using Styrofoam in the program area, and batts in the kitchen and living area. Cabins – at cost of $800 each, excluding cost of extending wiring to each cabin. Insulate walls. Cover inside of walls with durable material (3/8” fir plantex, which is sturdy, but would retain a rustic appearance) was suggested. Cover floors with an indoor-outdoor carpet. Add windows. Insulate the ceiling. Add heat, using electrical, or fully vented gas heaters. Rev. Holland said that a person with carpentry skills could do most of the work except the concrete and plumbing. He suggested a halftime pastor, halftime camp manager. This suggestion was accepted by the board. The minutes state that the camp will again provide scholarships for needy children. A camp board meeting was held April 4, 1974. It was reported that several groups will be utilizing the facilities presently winterized. To date $14,000 of the $25,000 allotted to winterize the camp had been spent. It will take about $2,000 more to finish the dining hall and staff house. Electric furnaces for the cabins had been purchased. Insulations, siding, windows, subfloor, and a ceiling had already been added. The February 20, 1976 board meeting raised camp fees from $35 to $38. It announced that Rev. Stanford laid a new hearth in the fireplace. The following projects were discussed: road improvement-tear up the surface, rock it, and seal it with oil (laymen from Auburn will donate labor so the cost will be limited to $1,000 to $2,000 for material and machinery); rewiring of cabin interiors and redoing the general outdoor wiring on the grounds at a cost of $200 plus labor; replacing the chapel doors at a cost of $400; a circulating pump for the pool using a 5HP motor that would be in operation 24 hours a day when the pool is in use; buying 4 more canoes and a 6-canoe trailer; and renovating the chapel and changing the colors, getting portable furniture, and getting rid of the north platform. The board also suggested buying 2 more canoes and 2 sailboats. Rev. Holland suggested converting the upper bathhouse into a program area and putting 2 stools, 2 basins, and a shower in each cabin. Rev. Holland announced at the February 9, 1976 board meeting that in making an informal study of camp expenses in proportion to income from campers’ fees he found that 50% more subsidization from churches is needed. The board also raised camp fees to $40. Rev. Ferreira suggested that camp counselors rather than pastors be used as contact people in the local churches. Two more sofas had been purchased and are around the lodge fireplace. New fluorescent lighting was put in the lodge, and 3 spotlights with a dimmer switch now face the fireplace. Area II youth planned to buy a canoe and trailer to be based at the camp and be available for all youth. Rev. Holland announced that the camp winterization project is coming along; winterization of the upper cabins will be postponed. The idea of developing a hookup camp rejected because of state regulations. The owner of the property between the camp and the country road (about 17 acres) was willing to sell, but the price was not known. Rev. Stanford suggested that camp end at 10:00 AM Saturday instead of after lunch. In May 1976, the camp had a huge water bill due to a leak in the pipe. It was discovered by a water department crew when the Christian Assembly complained of low water pressure. The break was under the creek, 50 yards from the Baptist meter. The cast iron line probably separated, at the point where the creek enters the lake. There was no surface evidence of the break. The Bicentennial Camp season brought a new roof on Shontz Lodge by summer staff (Dave Pollett, Jeff Rynning, Allen Stanford, and Rev. Stanford, Camp Director. Violet Johnson, the cook, enjoyed a “new used” rebuilt mixer, and an eerie blue light flycatcher. Bicentennial red, white, and blue paper plates and cups showed up every Saturday noon. Girls on the staff were Deb Meyer, Brenda and Jeanne Schnacke. |
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