View: Aldersgate,
A Slideshow Through Time
History
Camp Aldersgate was established in 1947 and served its’ first campers in the summer of 1948. The original lease with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District permitted the purchase of three buildings (30’x90’) for $1.00 each from the conservancy to be moved to the 17-acre site. These buildings were constructed originally for the National Youth Corps during the Depression.
In addition to these buildings, permission was granted to construct a kitchen, a dining hall, a double latrine unit, a headquarters building, cabins, a dock, and a swimming area to accommodate 200 campers. The cost for this project was ambitious with an estimate of $100,000. The challenge was left in the hands of architects, Damon and Worley of Youngstown. The camp was built and eventually opened.
The first summer staff consisted of several people. Mrs. Pearl Johnson, the first cook, will never be forgotten for her roast beef and fried chicken as well as her inspiration to all who knew her. Rev. Tom Saltsman served as the camp manager in the beginning years of Camp Aldersgate. Others who helped in the initial stages of the camp were: Lester Pugh, Harry Poff, Stanton Gilcrest, Harry Loria, Tom Richards, Francis Lang and John Beck. District Superintendents who gave additional assistance include: Dr. Paul Carter, Rev. William Robinson, Dr. Ted Mayer, Dr. Paul Ward, and Rev. Tom Hammerton.
Construction and renovation projects kept Camp Aldersgate evolving. In 1953, Gilcrest Lumber Company built Wesley Lodge, with a large common room as well as 7 bedrooms, a small kitchen, and 2 bathrooms. In the Mid-1950’s many volunteers, lay persons, and pastors worked on erecting four cabins, numbers 1 through 4, for the camp. In 1960, the dining hall was winterized. The camp entrance and playing field were developed under the leadership of Rev. Ray Butler in 1964. Ray Warwick of Carrollton constructed four new cabins, numbers 5 through 8, in 1965 to accommodate more housing for the camp to grow. In 1970, the volleyball court was cemented just behind the dining hall and is used for basketball as well. The boathouse was built in 1977 for the many boats that were purchased in the 1970’s for campers to use on the lake. Then, in 1982, new restrooms and showers facilities were built. In 1988 the Deans Cottage was constructed above the shower house. In 2000, the waterfront went through a substantial renovation replacing the old retaining wall of railroad ties, but still maintained the peninsula constructed by Harry Horstman over the years. In 2003-04 the camp, which had shared water and waste treatment systems with the neighboring camp, constructed independent water and waste treatment systems to further protect and provide independence for the camp’s future. In 2002, phase 1 of a new 3 phase dining hall renovation project was completed that involved replacing and insolating the roof. In 2004 phase 2 was completed with the remodeling of the back porch and “lifeguard” bedroom into office space and the replacement of all windows and doors. Phase 3 was completed in 2008 and included further insulation and interior refinishing of the main dining hall.
When Rev. Thomas Saltsman took on the role of Camp Manager in 1961 the salary was $600 a year. In 1963 John Beck became the Camp manager when Rev. Saltsman retired on September 1st, 1963. John Beck held the position until 1967 when Harry Horstman replaced Beck as Camp Manager on September 21st, 1967. In 1971, Camp Aldersgate added a new position on staff when Lindy Vickers was hired as the naturalist. Harry Horstman hired Eric Dingler in 1997 as a cook, and then Dingler returned as program director for Harry in 1998 and assistant director in 1999. Dingler became the fulltime year-round director in 2000 and still serves the camp in that capacity today.
View: Aldersgate, A Slideshow Through Time