Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - A place to find God.
A place to grow in Christian understanding and commitment.
That's part of the purpose behind the founding of Quaker Haven Camp, just off CR 500E between North Webster and Syracuse.
Quaker Haven Camp is celebrating its 75th anniversary Saturday.
The first camp at Quaker Haven was held in the summer of 1925. Sixty-three people attended, sleeping in tents.
The camp was founded by Aaron Napier, whose personal tragedies caused him to turn to helping people, mostly youth. He believed he was called to establish a summer camping program for Quaker youth. According to a camp brochure, he prayed for and sought ground for such a camp.
"It started out as a youth camp," said Quaker Haven director Jerry Dain. "Today they have eight weeks of youth camps from senior high all the way down to second grade."
More than 550 attend the camps today.
He said, "They're from Indiana, the edge of Illinois, the edge of Ohio and parts of Michigan."
Quaker Haven Camp also has adult camping for families and church groups. "The camping in the summer, as far as that goes," he said, "we rent to families and adult groups."
In the spring of 1927, the Beulah Lodge was constructed. It was named after Napier's daughter. The three-story building housed dormitories, classrooms, a kitchen, dining room, a porch and crafts. A boys' dormitory and canteen were built later to meet the need for more sleeping space. It remained the central building in the camp until the new Quaker Hall was built in 1979.
Twelve log cabins, bathhouses and a chapel were constructed in the early 1950s, overlooking Dewart Lake. An additional 105 acres of farm and woodland were also purchased, extending the campground to 160 acres.
As the decades swept by, more facilities were built, including a year-round facility retreat; a manager's home; a year-round cottage, George Fox Cottage; new bathhouses; a new lodge, Hunt Lodge; Oak Haven Lodge, which has room to serve more than 100 guests in the winter; and a recreational vehicle area.
The RV area has 40 hook-ups with water, electricity, a bathhouse and septic pump. However, the RV area is for church groups and not for public use, said camp director Letitia Dain.
Jerry Dain and his wife, Letitia, were hired as the first year-round managers in 1976.
For the anniversary celebration this weekend, more than 300 people are registered to attend.
"It'll be a day of celebration with guest speakers reflecting on the history of the camp. There'll be some inspirational time with hymns and songs. There'll be carnival (games) for the kids. There'll be three meals," said Jerry. Those three meals will include a chicken cookout in the evening.
"We'll finish up with an evening vesper service," Jerry said.
The anniversary celebration Saturday will be more than just a reflection of the past. Jerry said they will be looking at plans for the future and new development.
"Our first goal of development is centered around our youth program," said Jerry.
Saturday also will be the day when the fund-raiser for a $1 million multi-purpose building begins. He said they will look toward getting more use out of the multi-purpose building for campers and youth programs.
Part of the money also will be used for an addition to the chapel for more meeting rooms.
They will talk about other goals, too, such as having private sleeping room facilities. They will look at the present buildings and how they can be improved to meet today's needs. New programming for youth will be reviewed, including the possibility of climbing walls, water skiing and other new types of programs.
Quaker Haven Camp is open year-round and is used by other churches and denominations.
