tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18203275855016209542024-03-19T12:26:47.539-07:00The History of Camp Crowell/HilakaSnippets of history we learned during our fight to save the camp<br><br>
Please visit http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org!Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-56442657126182590492013-07-05T16:52:00.001-07:002013-07-05T16:52:16.629-07:00Memorial for the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve<div class="BoldNormalStyle" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">
From the preface of <span class="style6" style="text-decoration: underline;">Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve*</span>:</div>
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When, in August 1895, the women of Cleveland organized the celebration of the city's centennial year, local history was selected as a work. Upon investigation, it was found that every county of the Reserve had its published history, including each of the townships therein, so that apparently everything worth mentioning had already been told. </div>
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One thing noticed, however, was the prominence given to the biographies of men, with little or no mention of their wives, who, doubtless, had performed an equal though different part in the laying of the foundations of future civilization and prosperity. In view of this, a letter was prepared asking for the histories of the pioneer women, to be written by their daughters and granddaughters.</div>
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And therefore , whatever may be noted as crude in style, defective in composition or lacking in taste, let it steadily be borne in mind that not one in twenty who performed the task had ever before written a line for publication. This is stated not as an apology, but as an explanation. All honor is due to every name following these sketches.</div>
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A postal card received by the editor will serve to indicate the difficulties under which many of the writers labored: <i>"I hope to forward my article by the 15th, for I expect from now on to devote all the time to it that I can spare from absolutely necessary duties. But a family of six must eat, and I am cook. There is a big house to keep in order, and I am housemaid. But I shall leave every thing undone possible, devote myself to literary pursuits, and let the boys go ragged. For the sake of my soul's repose I want to finish it, for when I have worked all the evening, I go to bed so excited that I can scarcely sleep, and the ghosts of bygone generations hold high carnival all night long in my dreams, and the next morning my head aches."</i></div>
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Excerpts from <span class="style6" style="text-decoration: underline;">Pioneer Women of Richfield, Summit County 1800 - 1850</span></div>
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Chief Historian Mrs. Heman Oviatt, nee Susanna Sweet, 774 Fairmount St., Cleveland, chairman and historian Richfield Committee: Mrs. Mary Farnham Braddock, Mrs. Almoretta Bourne Garman, Mrs. Emma Hart Garget, Mrs. Clarissa Payne Kirby, Mrs. Harriet Palmer Mackey, Miss Charlotte Noble, Miss Julia Pope</div>
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The first woman of whom there is any mention in connection with Richfield is the wife of an inoffensive, friendly old Indian called Nicksaw, who was shot down in the presence of his squaw by one Williams, a white man who had followed them a long distance for the purpose. The woman made her escape after hiding her papoose in a hollow log. Returning the following day with help to bury her husband, she found her child in fine condition. </div>
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In 1818, a church was organized under the trees in the open air. Among the twelve charter members were 8 women, as follows: Mrs. Isaac Welton, Hannah and Ann Welton, Mary Oviatt, Sarah Sturtevant, Lydia Carter and Martha Farnham. [sic: there are only 7 names] </div>
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Abiah Northrop - Mrs. Jonathan Sheldon - came with her husband and children in 1812 with oxen and wagon on the broad end of which was painted in large, distinct lettering, "Going to Ohio". It is told of Mrs. Sheldon that she often quieted her restless babe by suspending it in her strong linen apron while spinning her stinted day's work of a certain number of skeins of wool yarn. </div>
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Mrs. Lucy Sheldon Clark had a platform made to place beside the wheel to enable her young daughters to reach the spindle, and so do their part of this important branch of labor. Her daughters also became experts at the braiding and plaiting of straw hats.</div>
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Mrs. Annie Benedict Crissy settled in the township in 1818, from Schoharle County, New York. Upon going to the door one day to learn what was disturbing the pigs, she saw a very large bear carrying one of them away. Mr. Crissy, most fortunately, had set his loaded gun just outside the door. Mrs. Crissy discharged the piece with such unerring aim as to kill the trespassing visitor without harm to the pig.</div>
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Mrs. Barton Brown lived a kind of gypsy life for some years, camping out in the forest - moving from one spot to another to suit the convenience of her husband, who was a famous chopper and took jobs clearing the land. </div>
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Mary Humphrey - Mrs. Salmon Oviatt - a woman of sterling worth, emigrated from Goshen, CT, in 1815 and settled near the center of the township. During the first 28 years of her life on this extreme frontier, she became the mother of 14 children, most of whom married and made their homes near her. In those early days, deer were so numerous that they sometimes came up with the cows to the stable. There were also wolves, wildcats, bears, and occasionally the frightfully human call of a panther could be heard.</div>
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Mrs. Eliza Benedict Bigelow, from Schoharie County, New York, a sister to Mrs. Crissy, is said to have been an able and resolute woman. She was returning from a visit to Mrs. Welton with a young son on the horse with her, when she was startled upon hearing the unmistakable cry of a panther which seemed to proceed from the direction she was following. To deviate from her way was not to be thought of. She instantly decided to frighten the creature by taxing her own vocal chords to their utmost. This she did by frequent and resounding screams, at the same time waving her lighted lantern aloft and in this manner reached her home in safety.</div>
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Mrs. Sarah Baker Alger, the daughter of a New Haven merchant, married John Alger in 1788. In 1818, Mr. Alger died and three years later, Mrs. Alger left Bethany, Genessee County, New York, with six children, making the journey in winter with two sleds drawn by oxen and bringing a sick son on a bed all the way. They stopped with relatives near Cleveland for a few days, and these friends went with her to her destination, bringing with them axes to fell the trees and build a house for her. In three days the home was ready, and she commenced her pioneer life with only 25 cents left of her money, which was spent for medicine for her sick boy. Salt at this time was $6 per barrel. Mrs. Alger's children dug ginseng in the surrounding wood, which, when dried, sold for 25 cents per pound. With this they bought half a barrel of salt. When the supply of flour failed, a meal or two could be furnished by shaving ears of corn with a carpenter's shave and boiled. This was called "jointed corn". At one time, Mrs. Alger was taken suddenly ill in the night. The fire having gone out, her son went to the house of Mrs. Nathaniel Oviatt a mile away for a few live coals to start a fire.</div>
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Mrs. Elenor Coates Weld was the first hostess of a public house, her husband building and keeping it for a few years; he also did much to give Richfield a reputation for fine fruits of all kinds. </div>
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The mother of Mrs. Richard Houck was sick at one time, having little or no relish for food. She was visited by an Indian woman, who brought some savory cooked meat, which the sick woman ate with great relish. After some questioning by the friends of Mrs. Houck, the squaw told them it was rattlesnake.</div>
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Mrs. Timothy Hall - Dolly Miles - was a natural nurse, at one time having access to some medical books, studied with such zeal and comprehension of the subject that she had not been long in this new country before there were so many demands upon her medical skill that she was obliged to provide herself with a horse and saddle for her own special use. Many of the first generations in Richfield made their advent into this world with her skillful assistance. She was not like the lilies of the field that toil not, neither did they spin, for she did both, early and late. The last of the bed linen made by her hands she sent to the Sanitary Commission for use in the hospitals during the first year of the late war.</div>
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Mrs. Amanda Barnes Hart, a true hardworking pioneer, wove one thousand yards of carpet after she reached the age of 72 years. </div>
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Mrs. Sarah Hart, her daughter, was a successful teacher for 30 years, always boarding around, spending a stated number of nights in each family. In the winter, she sometimes waded through drifts of snow as high as the wayside fences, lighting the schoolhouse fire with benumbed fingers and cheerfully doing each day's duty as it came to her, even to the walk with her family of three miles to church on Sunday.</div>
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Mrs. Emily Oviatt Farnham, wife of Everett Farnham, spent her whole life in Richfield. She was a woman of unusual mental ability and deft of hand, not only faithful in all her home relations, but a warm and forgiving friend.</div>
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Jane Kettle, Mrs. Drayton Curtis, came in 1829. Having outlived all who were near her in relationship excepting a grandchild, she lives almost alone with her flowers, which she tenderly cares for summer and winter. Her personality seems to be in some way merged into these constant companions.</div>
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There being no stated minister in the early days of the church, the people met in town council and elected Mr. Elijah Ellsworth to lead in meetings. As he was somewhat addicted to swearing, he agreed to abandon the practice so long as he held this office. The concientious discharge of his duties gave him a claim on the affections of the people, and he was subsequently elected train band captain and finally rose to the part of colonel. His esteemable wife, Clarissa Oviatt, became mistress of one of the earliest of the pretentious homes, which contained a large hall - a favorite place for gatherings of a social nature. Dr. Wheeler, who was at that time a bachelor and a member of Mrs. Ellsworth's household, kept his primitive laboratory in a cupboard by the side of the chimney-piece. During a social function, a rather conspicuous bottle of antimonial wine, an active emetic, was taken from its place and secretly passed among a few of the liveliest of the young men; the doctor, seemingly oblivious of what was going on, was not unmindful of results. It became known the following day, that several very limp young men were unusually silent whenever the party was alluded to.</div>
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*<span class="style6" style="text-decoration: underline;">Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve</span> (published by the Women's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, 1896)<br />Multiple authors.<br />Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham ( 1844 - 1929? ), editor.<br />According to Shirley M. De Boer CG, " This work was originally printed in five parts, each for sale for forty cents. Reprinted as books, Parts 1 & 2 made up Vol. 1 in 1896; Parts 3 & 4 contained in Vol. 2 were published in 1897; and Part 5 & the Name Index finished the series in Vol. 3 in 1924."</div>
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Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-88271398040626800112012-03-03T19:14:00.000-08:002012-03-03T19:14:03.901-08:00Take Action for the Present Day<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Access your inner "Nancy Drew" and help solve some
mysteries: </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The reason for the long list of names after the
"how we got our camp " snippet is because i</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">f
these were the people who cared about Girl Scouting in 1937, their
grandchildren are alive today & may possibly care about
helping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If they are alive, they can be found. If any of
them are interested in their family histories, they may have letters,
pictures, memories of their own relating to Crowell Hilaka or Girl Scouting in
general that Grandma & Grampa told them about on holidays. They may have
passed on their Girl Scouting heritage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So if anyone feels like investigating anyone of
these names and trying to track down the decsendants or get more information,
and even ask for a donation to keep the camps open, go for it!</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course, the extra challenge in tracking womens'
history is that the ladies used their husbands' names. and if they married or
re- married after this time frame, they got different names! but hey, that just
makes the puzzle more interesting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What I do know: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Kirby had 3 children with his first wife. They
never lived at the camp - there <strong>are</strong> grandchildren around, but
they do not have any attachment to the camp. Kirby and his second wife did not
have any children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Julia & Benedict Crowell had two children: the
son never married. I have very little info on Florence, their daughter &
have never found out if she & her husband had any kids. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Julia's maiden name was Cobb - her dad's first name was
leonard - the family made their money in pharmecuticals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">POTENTIAL LEADS: Mr. and Mrs. Warner Seely were both
VERY involved & their grandchildren, if any, may be good
sources</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had not realized until piecing together the
conncetion between early GS & the natural history museum - they may have
something in their archives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-80754961023833941472012-02-11T14:55:00.000-08:002012-02-11T14:55:59.676-08:00The January Saturday Excursion<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today we went around to talk to the neighbors !
It was a lot of fun - makes me think we should have set this up as an event
years ago!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First, we went to the King's Forest Development
off Broadview Rd. These are the houses that you can see off to the right when
driving down the camp driveway. The neighborhood was really quiet: some
houses have driveways unplowed, unshoveled, un-tread marked, unfootprinted. We
figured those to be the snowbirds who have migrated to warmer climes for the
winter. </span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For most of the houses, we just looped our fliers
near ( but not in) the mailboxes. For h</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ouses with
yards actually adjoining camp property, we knocked on doors , introduced
ourselves, gave them a heads up and an opportunity to help. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was all very friendly and we got lots of interest. I think
the neighbors were just glad to get some information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We ran into a geographic puzzle: the
northmost cul-de-sac was on the same latitude with Gund Hall and and the pack
out building. Yet we know that houses are visible from the road by Coach House
and along Last Chance Loop Trail. I had left my map at home and was standing
ont the corner of the entrance trying to puzzle it out from memory when Lucy
suggested we get back in the car and ride farther north on Broadview looking
for any streets that could possibly connect. Excellent plan. The nearest
left turn we could make was onto Newton, and off that was a small street with
the name of King's Creek. This turned out to be <em>also</em> be a
development, altho a small one. With verrrrrrrrry fancy houses. Most of
these people turned out to be home, and they definetely wanted to talk with
us! We even got invited inside for house tours, hot chocolate, and
more extensive conversations! These neighbors want to know when our next
meeting is. They are all about supprting the effort to keep the area rural!
</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Since we don't really have any meetings planned,
we told them about the camp history presentation at RHS on Feb 9. I don't plan
to spend a lot of time on the current situation, but I'll be happy to answer
questions afterwards. </span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was fairly irritated that the developer seems to
have named our creek to support his fiefdom. "King's Creek," my foot! That
is NOT the official name of the creek. Kathleen Bradly had once suggested that
we come up with a name, and when we get our camp back, I think we should.
Perhaps when the creek passes under the fence it should undergo a sex change and
be known as "Queen's Creek". From here I set off on an imaginary naming trip:
Maybe it could be called "Queen of the Forest Creek" , or QoF - for short.
that could be appropriate, because to "quaff" is to drink. Except I don't want
kids thinking they could drink the water. It replenishes the forest tho. A
good name. Or maybe since this is about the girls it could be called Princess
Creek - but does that sound too prissy? Maybe we should see if Princess Kate
wants to buy the camp since she is now a girl guide volunteer- or does England
have coed "scouts " ? Not sure. At this point in my daydreaming, I was
driving slow and I came back to reality to notice a police van right behind me.
He pulled alongside and asked if he could help ---- in a tone that suggested I
better not be planning any mischief. So I told him that yes, he could help ---
and launched into my spiel about the camps. After a lenthy chat, he drove off
with a stack of our fliers to take back to the Richfield police station.
</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We continued up Newton Rd, drove through Rising
Valley park, came out on Oviatt. We distributed fliers there & in
Secluded Highlands development off Oviatt -- but we didn't knock on any doors
because they won't be as immediatly affected by a possible sale of
camp. </span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mission complete, we de-briefed at
McD's. Generally things are looking good. There are so many untapped
resources. If the council office could accept some of these offers of help,
we could all be the so much better for it. I would love if the money raised
could go toward repairs & improvements instead of legal fees. Speaking of
which - the total donated so far is $19, 900.00</span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-44249127830554470742011-11-25T20:10:00.001-08:002011-11-25T20:58:50.141-08:00Testimonials For the CampOne emotional & one practical testimonial for the Cleveland Girl Scout camp, circa
1937 - still strangely relevant today<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Abbie Graham, author of "Ladies in
Revolt"</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I approve of the sort of campaign you are running
in behalf of camping. I might buy a square inch of the proposed acreage.....
one that would give footing for the young eyes to discover the excellence of an
adolescent moon. Or I might purchase an apple tree whereof some incipient Eve
might eat and awaken to a knowledge of her own stupendous importance. Or I could
use words to seek to arouse potential contributors to realize the unusual
opportunities which the Girl Scouts are now offering Clevelanders".
</span></div>
<br /><br />
<strong>Junior League bulletin</strong>
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<div>
"Safety Director [Elliot] Ness and his crime prevention bureau were
troubled by the reports of juvenile delinquency in a city district. THey sent
out an SOS to the Girl Scouts to organize troops in the district. Modern law
enforcement officers realize that what the juvenile gang spirit requires is direction into constructive
channels.</div>
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<div>
But to cope with city streets, the Scouts must have camps where girls can
learn the way of simple, adventurous activity out-of-doors during the adolescent
years. Harold L. Madison, chairman of the camp planning committee for Cleveland
Girl Scout Council, says: " If the children of a large
city are to build healthy bodies, wholesome minds, and appreciative souls, the
camp becomes a nessessity. It is the one organized channel available to large
numbers of children"</div>
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<div>
Now, after years of searching, the Girl Scouts have found what Mr. Madison characterizes as "the most desirable campsite
within a hundred miles of Cleveland". Their necessity is urgent is urgent since
the present site is woefully inadequate.</div>
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<div>
The proposed site covers 243 acres at West Richfield, southwest of Brecksville. It is 22 miles equidistant from the Public
Square, Lakewood, and Cleveland Heights, and its well-constructed dam provides
it with two lakes. It is not raw land but is already equipped with buildings
remarkably equipped with buildings remarkably appropriate to the uses of the
Scouts; a lodge for eating and recreation, a mill house for crafts, an 11 room
heated house for winter weekends and a boat house. </div>
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<div>
The Scouts ask us to consider these facts: </div>
<br />
<div>
1. Permanent possession of this site witll make it possible to train 1400
more girls each year and to take care of younger girls.</div>
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<div>
2. The new camp will be open 52 weeks in the year.</div>
<br />
<div>
3. Present facilities make it impossible for all the agencies for girls to
serve more than 10 per cent of the girls in Cuyahoga county. </div>
<br />
<div>
4. Cleveland is the only city in the region that does not have its own Girl
Scout camp.</div>
<br /><div>
5. Figures from Akron, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Columbus show that the cost of the camp and its
nessessary equipment is less than those cities have had to pay for a similar set
up. </div>
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<div>
The goal for the Camp Fund Campaign is $60,000; part for the land purchase,
the balance for the necessary remodeling, the erection of tents and other
necessities to operate the camp on a year-around basis. Mr. Warner Seely is
chairman of the campaign: Mrs. Benedict Crowell , vice chairman. </div>
<br />
<div>
Since the soliciting organization is not a large one, Interested Junior
League members will be doing their Scout-leader friends a very great favor if
they don't wait to be called on, but step right up with their contributions.
</div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-46831054521322158152011-11-25T20:00:00.001-08:002011-11-26T19:24:42.593-08:00Who Donated Camp Crowell/Hilaka?<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; font-type: italic;"><em>With the revelelation that Mr. Guy Renkert's family
had donated the land for Great Trail Camp and was still keeping an eye on making
sure it was used properly, lots of people have been asking "who donated the
land for Crowell Hilaka? " Here is the answer:</em> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Instead of getting a land donation and then
deciding to put a camp on it, the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1322279921_3" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">Cleveland</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1322279921_4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">Girl Scout</span> Council was looking for a place that they
could turn into a camp. The main qualification was that it have a lake large
enough for swimming and boating. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">One description of the camp search said that real
estate agents kept showing them abandoned farms with creeks that " could easily
be dammed up to create a lake" and that they were all getting tired of
crawling underneath barbed wire fences. </span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">When they found the Kirby property in 1936, they
were thrilled. Two lakes, a boat house, dining hall, main house ( to be used
for camp staff and adult trainings) and the farm buildings. Plus the mill was
so pretty it would inspire arts & crafts. </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The property was valued at $85,500.00 Kirby said
he would take $48,500.00 for it because of it was for the Girl Scouts. The
committee figured that they needed to raise $60,000.00 because in addition to
buying the property, they would need to set up campsites and outfit the dining
hall.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">They decided that Eleanor Garfield would start by
heading up the "special gifts" division of the fund-raising campaign. ( I think
this means asking the wealthier citizens for large contributions. As the wife
of a US president's grandson, she probably had the society connections needed to
pull that off. ) There was a Scout family division and a Public division. They
planned with the media to get continuous coverage of the campaign which would
run from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1322279921_5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">February 9 to February 26 (1937)</span> .
They got endorsements from a star-studded list of respected pillars of the
community*. They developed a brochure explaining why the Girl Scouts needed the
camp and why the place they had chosen was so perfect.</span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The official campaign kicked off with a dinner and
entertainment at the University Club of Cleveland. Mr. Kirby attended, as did
Mrs. Benedict ( Julia) Crowell. Girls enacted a "pantomime" called "Camping
through the Calendar" . Following the event, newspapers and community bulletins
kept up a steady stream of reports on how much money had been collected and
encouraging people to give more. </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> 5,050 individuals donated toward the purchase of the
camp. Amounts ranged from 10 cents to 10 thousand dollars.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Donations came from "every corner of Cuyahoga County".
The youngest donor was seven years old. </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At the time, there were 3,626 Girl Scouts in the Cleveland
Council. </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><em>So the answer to the question of "who donated the
camp?" would be "the people of Cuyahoga County."</em> </span><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">* </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Endorsements for purchase of a camp for
Cleveland GS Council 1936 / 37 came from</u></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Eleanor Rooseveldt</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lou Henry Hoover</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Elliot Ness</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Junior Leauge of Cleveland</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Charles H. Lake</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. R.N. Rutledge</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. & Mrs. Max Hellman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi Abba H. Silver</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dr. A Caswell Ellis</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. F.W. Reindel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. E.L. Shupe</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Paul Bellamy</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Robert H. Jamison</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Frank L. Session</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fred Ramnsey</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A.G. Knebel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Edward D. Lynde</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rabbi B.R. Bricker</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>The camp planning committee was headed by Harold L.
Madison, director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History</u>.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Mary Colley, age 15,
was selected as the "representative Girl Scout" pictured on the campaign
flier.</u></span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Opening Banquet</u></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Carlton W. Bonfils was chairman of banquet
arrangements
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Alexander C. Robinson was program chairman,
assisted by:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. John A. Kiggen Jr. ( publicity chair)
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Stanlee Orr ( chairman of hosteses)
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Fred Harroff</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. J. Jones Hudson</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. E.A. Fisher</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. George Jones</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Normal Siegel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. W.A. Roberts</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. F.O. Fleming</span></div>
<div>
Mrs. Howard Dingle</div>
<div>
Mrs. Edwin Parkhurst</div>
</span><br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Proffessor Henry Miller Busch of
Cleveland College was the keynote speaker </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">GS Troop 89 (captained by Mrs. Clifford Jorns)
and </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">GS troop 120 ( captained by Mrs. William C. Russell) </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">took part in the " Camping Around the
Calendar" skit. </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Girls Jo Anne Galberach, Elizabeth Izant, and Peggy
Camplejohn were pictured in the Plain Dealer laying logs on a pretend fire in
the skit</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Clifford E. Jorns - author of
skit lyrics </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">additional entertainment by radio stars Delma Lee
and the Kay sisters </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">a motion picture by Mrs. Warner Seely of the new
campsite was shown</span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">According to the Cleveland <em>NEWS,</em> the
following accepted invitations to sit at the speakers' table:</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mayor & Mrs. Harold H. Burton</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. & Mrs. Edward D. Lynde</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. & Mrs Hal Griswold</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. & Mrs. James R. Garfield</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Harold Madison</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. George Green</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Banquet attendees pictured in the Cleveland Press
report:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">J.B. Kirby</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Benedict Crowell</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Menry M. Busch</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Henry Friede</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Hal Griswold</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Harold L. Madison</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Grace Courtade</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Mary Driver</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Fay Stein</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Jean Warwick</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Stanlee Bates</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Warner Seely</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs C Bonfils</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">George E Greer</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs Rudold Garfield</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs B.F. Quate</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Ann Wright</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stanlee T. Bates</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">support also came from </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Cleaveland Cross</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>From the Financial Report of the Capitol Account
Drive. Cleveland GS Council February 26, 1938</u></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Campaign Executive Commitee</u></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Henry Friede , Comissioner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Warner Seely, General Campaign
Chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Rudolf [Eleanor] Garfield, Special Gifts
Chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. B.F. McQuate, Public Division
Chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Clifford Jorns, Scout Division
Chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. James B. Garfield, Treasurer</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Camp Construction Committee</u></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Morris A. Black, Chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Alexander Robinson, III</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. W.F. Schickler</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. E.A.Fisher</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Gilbert R. Osterland</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. James B. Kirby</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Henry Friede</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dr. R.W. Markwith</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. Harold Madison</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr. John Homer Kapp</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Special mention was made to Glidden & Co., The
Electrical League, The Ohio Edison Co., Walsh & Co., and the newspapers for
their invaluable publicity</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The estate of Mr. & Mrs. James B. Kirby became
the property of the Cleveland Girl Scout Council on April 7, 1937</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The deed for the property was formally presented at
the dedication ceremonies held at the camp on June 20, 1937. ON this date the
camp was named in honor of Mrs. Benedict Crowell. Garfield Lodge was dedicated
August 9th. Kirby house was dedicated on August 17th.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">403 different girls between the ages of 7 and 18
attended the first summer camp sessions. From September 1, 1937 to February 26
when the first financial report on the camp was written, the camp was in
"constant use" . 16 troops comprised of 252 girls camped on the weekends, 260
girls were served during 3 snow days. 8 conferences and training courses served
238 adults</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u>Cleveland GS council -1937</u></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Anne Wright, Director [ CEO ]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> [ the following are what today we would call the
board officers ] </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Henry [Linnea] Friede,
Commissioner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. B.F. McQuate, first deputy
commissioner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Stanlee T. [Margaret] Bates second deputy
commissioner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Miss Grace Cody , third deputy
commissioner</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Morris A. Black, corresponding
secretary</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. John H. Kapp, recording secretary</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. John Pavlik, treasurer </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mrs. Bennett Chappele, of Middleton, OH; regional
chairman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">information for this history snippet comes from
the 1938 CGSC report / 39 clippings provided by Farnham Publicity Service 1937
/</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> courtsy, archives of the GSNEO history committee
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>For newspaper articles and other information about the campaign to raise money to buy Camp Julia/Crowell, click <a href="http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/images/camp_julia_crowell_campaign_1937.pdf">here</a>. But be warned: This is a 46-megabyte file, and it's going to take a long time to download.</em></span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-41784445326115117552011-10-14T16:58:00.000-07:002011-10-14T17:04:54.916-07:00The Sapsford Farm and the Determined Children<div>The Sapsford farm was located somewhere around the middle of camp. The remains of the farmhouse are up near the stables. If you were driving in from the stable entrance on Oviatt Rd., just past the barn, on the left side, is a clump of trees and bushes that obscure the old foundations. The Kirbys bought the Sapsford place to add to their estate - so it was included in the parcel sold to the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_2" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Cleveland</span></span> Girl Scouts in 1937. </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I was googling around & found this reference</span> </span><a href="http://www.ohiofarmmuseum.com/?page_id=75" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_3"><span style="color: #366388;">http://www.ohiofarmmuseum.com/?page_id=75</span></span></strong></a> which looks to be a collection of oral history - Lynn</div><div><br />
<strong>The SAPSFORD FARM -- The DETERMINED Children</strong></div><div><br />
The Sapsford family farm was on Oviatt Rd. in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_4" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Richfield Twp</span></span>. Summit Co. They raised their children, Chalice, Blanche, Clyde, Ray and Ruth during the Depression. Quietly, some people called the children crazy. More openly they were known as “determined”. Many stories are still remembered of their many escapades. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div> Just to the west of their farm, on Rt. 303, is <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_5" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">West Hill</span></span>. It’s one of the longest, steepest hills in northern <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_6" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Ohio</span></span>. Back then there were a number of flat areas carved into the hill so that the horses pulling wagons up the hill could stop and rest without the wagon pulling on them. One day, the brothers decided it would be a good idea to “sled” the hill. They took one of the farms’ buggy running gears that had no seat or shafts and tied a rope to the front wheels to steer with. One of the brothers sat on the frame and the other pushed the buggy off. As it went screaming down the hill, it hit the “flats”, launched into the air and kept flying on down the hill. By the time the buggy and brother reached the bottom, they were completely out of control, missed the bridge over the river and landed in the water. It was a wonder he wasn’t killed. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>In that same river there was a place to ford. The family had a horse who was trouble so when they hitched it up to a buggy, they kept the check rein tight so the horse couldn’t lower it’s head. One time the children went out for a drive. They crossed the river and the horse was thirsty. The children forgot to loosen the rein and the horse couldn’t reach the water so it simply lay down in the shafts, turned the buggy over, and got a drink. It took a lot of work to unhitch, right the buggy and pull it from the ford. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>One of the kids was out riding a horse one time. But the saddle girth wasn’t fastened tight enough. Slowly the saddle started to slide around the side of the horse, with the child in it. An upside down ride was inevitable. Grandma was watching but couldn’t do a thing about it. She just turned away and walked into the house saying, “Those kids are going to kill themselves one day.” <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div> Another time. the boys dad told the boys to go get the horses in from the back field. Many hours later, dad had to go get the boys and horses. Ray and Clyde had taken a bottle of hootch (probably gotten from Sam Nemer) and were passed out in the field. Severe consequences awaited them. Of course, the boys weren’t the only ones to get a nip. One time Ruth got into the hard cider. For years after the family kidded her about the time Ruth kept telling everyone she heard the canaries singing. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div> When the girls made up their minds to to something, they did it. Growing up in the Depression, there was no money to go to town. The girls wanted to visit <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_7" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Akron</span></span> so they simply got up early, walked the 18 miles, saw the sights, did a little shopping, and walked home. Never thought a thing of it. Years later one of the sisters got a job at a tractor repair shop in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_8" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Richfield</span></span>. This wasn’t really considered ladies work, but that never stopped her.Unfortunately it didn’t go so well for her. She was out mowing with a tractor to see if it was fixed. She backed up under a tree, hit a branch and broke her neck. She died shortly after. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div> As the “kids” grew older they continued their “determined” ways. When Ray was older, he walked out on the back porch one morning. A skunk was there to greet him. Well, he wasn’t going to have that, so he kicked the skunk off the porch. His family had to bury all the clothes he was wearing and it was quite awhile before the porch was put to full use again. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>Ray also had a small cannon he liked to shoot off on special occasions. But one day it seemed like a good idea to just let fly with it loaded with gravel. -You know, just to see what it would do. Unfortunately, all the dish towels had just been hung out on the clothes line to dry. That was the day the towels became holey. </div><div></div><div>Chalice later lived “in town” near <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1318636629_9" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;"><span style="color: #366388;">Richfield Center</span></span>. She wanted to build a garage, but her husband didn’t want to help, so Chalice made all her own cement blocks and built the garage herself. She used the outhouse behind the house until her passing in the mid 1980’s. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-5956782489204086842011-07-03T12:36:00.000-07:002011-07-03T12:38:25.833-07:00Landscape ForensicsA collection of vintage photos of Camp Crowell/Hilaka, provided by council historian Sunny Baddour, is now on line at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65282355@N00/sets/72157626948137609/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/65282355@N00/sets/72157626948137609/</a> . In reply to the announcement of this link on the Friends of Crowell/Hilaka mailing list, Kathleen Bradley wrote:<br />
<br />
"I notice the trees on the dam got quite big in some years- not allowed anymore of course for safety reasons. The lake seems much lower in many of the pictures, too. Most of the girls in the photos seemed older. Do you think they were all campers or were some counselors?"<br />
<br />
Lynn replies:<br />
<br />
I don't know - that's part of the fun of looking at these- the more you look, the more you notice, and then the more you question. It's like working a puzzle! <br />
<br />
I showed the series of Kirby House gardens to a friend who is very familiar with the camp. After he stared at them a while, and flipping back & forth between them, he pointed out that the one with the woman standing on the right was taken much later than the other three. <br />
<br />
How can he tell? There is a small room added onto the back of Kirby House that isn't in the other, and that reeds have grown up in the middle of the pond.<br />
<br />
Does this make a difference to anything? Probably not --- but the act of figuring it out - that's fun! And I bet this kind of landscape forensics would be intersting to girls if presented correctly. MOst of the time when I camped there with troops we were so busy with our planned activities, the kapers, the sight-seeing to obvious places, that we never thought to look. But I bet there is a tremendous amount of history / mystery there, Mostly on the south, but probably some lurking in the woods of the north. <br />
This spring, Suzanne Czaplicki found and pointed out the remnants of garden architecure behind North House: If you stand at the fire circle with the porch to your right, there is an almost hidden path on the left that goes down to the water. A small creek feeds into the lake . there are stone foundations on either side of the creek: there had been a bridge there at one time. It must have been mostly decorative -- You can hop over the creek - but imagine the elegant & myserious Mrs. Neal strolling along this garden path. I keep thinking that there had to be a boat landing around there somewhere.<br />
Suzanne also noticed that upstream of the creek is a bridge that is still there! It goes over a culvert & connects North House lawn with the back of Spiff's Garden. I have been told that the site of Spiff's Garden was, at one time, a clay tennis court. The owner builder of Amity was the son of the owner/ builder of NOrth. If so -the tennis court was right in the middle for both sets of families to use. Makes sense - as does the size & shape of the Garden. <br />
<br />
My current lanscape archeology pursuit concerns the possible existence of an ice house on the south side. ONe of the things in the GSNEO history committee archives was a report that a girl wrote about the camp that meantioned an ice house. It's also on a map. I can't remember if the girl drew the map or if the map was separate. Anyway. Both seem to indicate that the Nature Hut that hangs off the side f the hill was it. Which can't be right. <br />
First, for those not familiar with an ice house It's where people got blocks of ice in summer before freezers were invented. It got filled during the winter when slabs of ice would be cut from a nearby pond. The sides of the ice house were heavily insulated. As layers of ice were stored, layers on more insulating material ( like sawdust) would be packed around them. and between the layers. <br />
OK, so we got the pond. We know that Kirby had electricty early on, but the rest of Richfield did not. Kirby did not need the income from an ice business, but it might have been something he worked out with a neighbor. ( He also didn't need the income from a farm, but he had one anyway). However : Ice is Heavy. No one is going to haul it up a hill. Also , the way the Nature hut hangs off the side ofthe hill, it is hardly insulated. <br />
But - just below the nature hut is a garage. The garage is set back INTO the hill and is on a level withthe road which runs right alongside the pond. PLus, if you look at pictures of Kirby house, you can see that there used to be a garage underneath the back porch kinda by the giant oak tree. You can look at the pattern of the brickwork and see that the original garage door opening was bricked in ( just like the one at Coach House). <br />
THEORY ( ok, really hypothesis) The original garage was the garage; and the current garage was originally an ice house. This still does not explain the nature hut. Laura G says she was told it was a house for a worker. Couldn't have been Kirby's main farme manager, because that person lived in the Oviatt Farm house. But it was something before it was a nature hut. It's sitting there right in the middle of one of those vintage pictures. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..................Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-88890820891049698952011-05-17T16:37:00.000-07:002011-05-17T16:58:32.669-07:00Memories of Mable SmithKerrin<span style="color: black;"> Winter-Churchill contributed this memory of Mable Smith, for whom a shelter at Camp Crowell/Hilaka is named:</span><br />
<br />
My mother went to work for the Cleveland Girl Scout Council in 1949. Like all Girl Scout staffers of the day, she went to Camp Macey, in upstate New York for a month of intensive training. When she came back to Cleveland, she shared an office with Mable Smith. Mrs. Smith was not a volunteer. She was a paid, professional employee of the Cleveland Girl Scout Council, which officiated over Chagrin, Bedford, Richfield, Elyria, and those districts in the Westpark area. My mother was a Field Director. <br />
Mable was the Director of Camps. It was she that scheduled troops at the various campgrounds. She met regularly with the staff that trained the leaders. It was a different world back then. Imagine: every single person who worked at the Girl Scouts <u>had</u> to go through training at a special camp up in New York. Another of Mable's responsibilities was to take the staff out on nature hikes. They would go out with "A stick and a bundle" (which was also the name of the instructional booklet that Mable and my mother wrote and published) to teach about wildflowers and medicinal plants. Other hikes would be all about identifying animal footprints and wild birds. Mom said that so many people would want to go on these walks that they would have to schedule additional days. <br />
<br />
I have learned so much about nature from my mother, always identifying plants and birds. My mom told me tonight that Mable taught her so much about this. So it has been handed down to me, and to my sister's children, and beyond. I am sure there are hundreds of other families handing down Mable Smith's legacy in the very same way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3R0OeUNBlopV7TlOmioRjDO6VFtw-JwsXbxpHcAWjCL9g-hH7Ur8SuGcobs_0eeJ3aPecm05yLGZMQ51ZLyyThnpKgbrf25wD5pC7nJGVU3bsu79BEHICr65qWb7LtudTU5hv2_7cF-M/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3R0OeUNBlopV7TlOmioRjDO6VFtw-JwsXbxpHcAWjCL9g-hH7Ur8SuGcobs_0eeJ3aPecm05yLGZMQ51ZLyyThnpKgbrf25wD5pC7nJGVU3bsu79BEHICr65qWb7LtudTU5hv2_7cF-M/s320/17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second from Left, my Grandmother, Berta Phanholzer-Schmoter playing </div><div style="text-align: center;">in Rocky River with her fellow "Campfire Girls" in 1919... by this </div><div style="text-align: center;">time, the Campfire Girls and other such organizations were taken </div><div style="text-align: center;">under the wing of what was called "The Cleveland Girls' Council."</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5-9rvAJuL9IuRKUpPvIXMUbrSk0-4UeamKM1zh3iAbUfhRNKfJdq2c6_-pXJnjRrTfbvUH0B_Xf-C_im4SBgCAh9kLZcDTsIszQaetVEifGwEtuhI74sLWl5AHi2TzQSOUhB7DD5oAk/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5-9rvAJuL9IuRKUpPvIXMUbrSk0-4UeamKM1zh3iAbUfhRNKfJdq2c6_-pXJnjRrTfbvUH0B_Xf-C_im4SBgCAh9kLZcDTsIszQaetVEifGwEtuhI74sLWl5AHi2TzQSOUhB7DD5oAk/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1951, My mother's fellow Cleveland Girl Scout Council staffers - from </div><div style="text-align: center;">left to right, Gene "Billy" Hill, visiting GS from South Africa, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sammie Green, Director of Public Relations for the Cleveland Girl </div><div style="text-align: center;">Scout Council and Virginia Payne-Wentworth, Director of Leadership </div><div style="text-align: center;">Training (left GS in 1958 to pursue a career as noted children's </div><div style="text-align: center;">author.) Note from Lynn: I believe that this picture is taken on the road north of Kirby House. That would be the roof of Cricket's Corner on the right, the Kirby garage on the background.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY67_DHPLuCXjEodZSlcm4g92pSoy1YbLU541gJfK5V2Ef-LVJKYfgzw4f-hGkMvn6w9YXumcFJUgZ9wqmj4gIWauREjdDmgIFvUgTXhAYVXMrGAMXtbHDgvp3PSatElnFzHrH-qyKVcA/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY67_DHPLuCXjEodZSlcm4g92pSoy1YbLU541gJfK5V2Ef-LVJKYfgzw4f-hGkMvn6w9YXumcFJUgZ9wqmj4gIWauREjdDmgIFvUgTXhAYVXMrGAMXtbHDgvp3PSatElnFzHrH-qyKVcA/s320/24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In 1950, Mable and my mother rented a rustic limo, filled it with </div>supplies, hooked a trailer with more supplies and set off with a <br />
couple extra girls for a long weekend of primitive camping in the <br />
Mohican Wilderness. They had all been studying a manual on primitive <br />
camping and this weekend was to prove to themselves they could <br />
survive by roughing it, if they really had to. They set snares for <br />
food, dug their own latrines, learned to sterilize water by fire - <br />
speaking of fire, they learned how to make it without a match. Mom <br />
said they "had a wonderful time."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXpoKbSVjEGviqw-dpM2_kl6RkJwmRQmmZfMa5-4o9IDmyOnVH81rEcNzWjZW9Ji8Nf-Cv9Nb4XHsSCN-eQB2dGVHZMS19itD5kRW0cxtYSbVdWSsCdIPCb4ROW00o_qzeihrAQjk6wo/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXpoKbSVjEGviqw-dpM2_kl6RkJwmRQmmZfMa5-4o9IDmyOnVH81rEcNzWjZW9Ji8Nf-Cv9Nb4XHsSCN-eQB2dGVHZMS19itD5kRW0cxtYSbVdWSsCdIPCb4ROW00o_qzeihrAQjk6wo/s320/26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From Left to right "unknown", Field Director, "Little Lois </div>Smith" , Executive Director of the Cleveland Girl Scout Council, <br />
Helen Tolman Murray and Lois Schmotzer (later Smith) Field Director <br />
of Chagrin, Elyria and West Park Districts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Wlbq95S5LIy9sJMDVefHs3e6EqF4xIn-0z0NNjp_Ov7yG-qfV70E_HxGXTGla7kNtjva3TY72-KjUFLyc6m2QiUhgmq7EgWSGsuQGL1iiZtNaN91ePyaFfAlClwnfzzXs3CYtujuRI/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Wlbq95S5LIy9sJMDVefHs3e6EqF4xIn-0z0NNjp_Ov7yG-qfV70E_HxGXTGla7kNtjva3TY72-KjUFLyc6m2QiUhgmq7EgWSGsuQGL1iiZtNaN91ePyaFfAlClwnfzzXs3CYtujuRI/s320/41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mable Smith at far left of camera - (older glasses and plaid jacket) </div>and the rest of the Cleveland Girl Scout Council - taken by my mother <br />
Lois Smith) at Mable's home in North Royalton a year before Mrs. <br />
Smith died of cancer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicWU8i-S4-DrmI2FL0pTLuVH_Rv76qIa6jjDVj541sDfZkIUSG_0TeazcEcw4MCamq5BsmCwsrR0UHu3HJn15xlzg-d2lLu8BoLkXmhKUzX8qaEQkYNPFvrv1TFZML6rrutBR3dfJEKk/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicWU8i-S4-DrmI2FL0pTLuVH_Rv76qIa6jjDVj541sDfZkIUSG_0TeazcEcw4MCamq5BsmCwsrR0UHu3HJn15xlzg-d2lLu8BoLkXmhKUzX8qaEQkYNPFvrv1TFZML6rrutBR3dfJEKk/s320/45.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My core Girl Scout troop, Troop 180 - led by our wonderful leader, </div>the late, Mrs. Lucille Manica and Mrs. Lois Schmotzer Smith - we were <br />
state Canoe racing champions of Ohio Girlscouts in 1974 .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kneeling, first row - left to right, Kerrin Smith (now Winter </div>Churchill) Linda Dyson and Denise Besida. Standing, left to right, <br />
Lynn Geragach, Lucille Manica, Cindy Platt, Jan Carter (brunnette) <br />
Doctor Susan Schuckert, (Susie), Kristin Smith (Sullivan) and Mary <br />
O'Neill.Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-52649791339343156432011-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:002011-04-24T08:44:17.945-07:00Julia Crowell's HusbandThere is very little information available on line or at sources such as the Western Reserve Historical Society about Julia Crowell, after whom the south half of Camp Crowell/Hilaka was named. But there is a lot about her husband, Benedict. Benedict Crowell was in charge of miliary procurement during World War I. That meant that he coordinated the entire American effort to manufacture and transport all of the materiel used by the American forces in that war! After the war, he wrote extensively about how he did it, and about how the US armed forces should prepare themselves forthe next conflict. And during World War II, while he did not have an official position that we know of, he was a close advisor to Secretary of War Henry Stimson. <br />
<br />
Below are a speech and two articles found in the Western Reserve Historical Society archives. The speech and one article are biographical, and the other article was written by Benedict Crowell in 1921 about "Modern Preparedness". You can click on an image to display it sized to fit on your screen, and then click on it again to display it in its original size, where you will be able to read the text more easily.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjha8cgOUcek5rdhpWITdWEnG7D78FGAtuTRpi3lNMHo1zZ-KsvUfLLgOjuXLpS6xT7PV-3XgMOL0hWorLPTTPBF-OCT6_zNsmISpy_l_8SefJ0ZYd8iT1k_exQ4IxrEGe6ZNvywPy443Y/s1600/portrait_of_an_american_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjha8cgOUcek5rdhpWITdWEnG7D78FGAtuTRpi3lNMHo1zZ-KsvUfLLgOjuXLpS6xT7PV-3XgMOL0hWorLPTTPBF-OCT6_zNsmISpy_l_8SefJ0ZYd8iT1k_exQ4IxrEGe6ZNvywPy443Y/s320/portrait_of_an_american_1.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4i0bDfa85G_fBHLpeVTvp343b0619OfuYV09RfK8vbStefVxq-eGcJ3uPaleMnjlBRREys1gvo16seNp6TRh20RRTbEdrTJFuw9jM8OkQYRcawz7vjEaTuvrQV4hyNg5i-G-XAR5mAMQ/s1600/portrait_of_an_american_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4i0bDfa85G_fBHLpeVTvp343b0619OfuYV09RfK8vbStefVxq-eGcJ3uPaleMnjlBRREys1gvo16seNp6TRh20RRTbEdrTJFuw9jM8OkQYRcawz7vjEaTuvrQV4hyNg5i-G-XAR5mAMQ/s320/portrait_of_an_american_2.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1-AV4eVAKPwfBFm-ZQ4yn-JgqI2u8Cqcfipo_qyeTgpIsE0YdGbgsnORw2hC9dHeni_nsWg04Uu51pA_eTninm4_WxJBVLmVfNNb9DVhg0JFBdbbICH6dupoUnxQawouiiffi5LVprc/s1600/portrait_of_an_american_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1-AV4eVAKPwfBFm-ZQ4yn-JgqI2u8Cqcfipo_qyeTgpIsE0YdGbgsnORw2hC9dHeni_nsWg04Uu51pA_eTninm4_WxJBVLmVfNNb9DVhg0JFBdbbICH6dupoUnxQawouiiffi5LVprc/s320/portrait_of_an_american_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlLy4WfJFZSlC6nxTMNDfM5q9oTFHgIfaOZUSpcWz3Sa_jNI1w_Mg1ytZ4OuW67Zl9crJvkfE7AKVsSPts7Q1JM9CP_umBGYE4AwkKKkC04J67-iAh2HFVwV_X08p2wRlyoUHMf6a3xM/s1600/reformer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlLy4WfJFZSlC6nxTMNDfM5q9oTFHgIfaOZUSpcWz3Sa_jNI1w_Mg1ytZ4OuW67Zl9crJvkfE7AKVsSPts7Q1JM9CP_umBGYE4AwkKKkC04J67-iAh2HFVwV_X08p2wRlyoUHMf6a3xM/s320/reformer.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Xc32pxO7kuas9k2AyccvVImlogA2C9MMMTrrL6fUJuKopTBzdC7j_O2j6oD0PzGIokhyIFNRVHY94L6UTIv_HEr5qGILreW8NhVax4fYUNQM2dgkBJQUISFNPC-LKT3mn5gu9wpKCqA/s1600/modern_preparedness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Xc32pxO7kuas9k2AyccvVImlogA2C9MMMTrrL6fUJuKopTBzdC7j_O2j6oD0PzGIokhyIFNRVHY94L6UTIv_HEr5qGILreW8NhVax4fYUNQM2dgkBJQUISFNPC-LKT3mn5gu9wpKCqA/s320/modern_preparedness.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCB2caO4o1iGriy_5DCcJPq997i-AhkMJtAz_Zhqp6nJbWw8V_Mtl2WzCvl7qUtt1qO2E3Th5BC4vaAslquRU0nw1-1uFmWQlC8mGjRXhn7x6gc6cyl98tA8zqaJ3ZdzOZUpDbETTEhw/s1600/modern_preparedness_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCB2caO4o1iGriy_5DCcJPq997i-AhkMJtAz_Zhqp6nJbWw8V_Mtl2WzCvl7qUtt1qO2E3Th5BC4vaAslquRU0nw1-1uFmWQlC8mGjRXhn7x6gc6cyl98tA8zqaJ3ZdzOZUpDbETTEhw/s320/modern_preparedness_2.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-30606583545504324992011-04-09T17:37:00.000-07:002011-04-09T17:37:08.831-07:00Jim Kirby's letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>One of the things in the Mother Lode was a letter from Jim Kirby to the Girl Scouts describing what they had purchased, and how to take care of it. Here it is:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/images/mother_lode/Property_description_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/images/mother_lode/Property_description_1.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/images/mother_lode/Property_description_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/images/mother_lode/Property_description_2.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-36347058763477876582011-04-09T17:08:00.000-07:002011-04-09T17:13:45.837-07:00The Mother Lode<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">A box recently arrived at the GSNEO History Committee office. Sunny took one look , saw what was in there, and gave me a call. </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Where it has been all these years? She says they didn't have all this information available to them when they wrote "A Promise Kept" - but hey - better late than never! </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I couldn't resist immediately sharing the letter from James Kirby himself! Some of the information is not new - but I never had a source to really confirm. I like that Kirby capitalized the names of trees! I like that he called his workshop " the power house" . I especially am happy to hear how sturdy the dam is!!!!!!!</span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The most surprising thing to me is that when the Girl Scouts bought the property, the mechanism for the self-clarifying lake was still operating!!! I wonder if the old council ever realised what a unique structure this was & tried to maintain it? I wonder if anyone ever took care of the ballbearings in the millwheel per Kirby's instructions? </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Stuff I want to find out more about - evidently there was some sort of farming operation still going on. a chicken coop? extra barns? whooa! what's up with those? I'm more pumped than ever to do some archeology!!!</span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next up: the official description of the land when the council was getting ready to buy it, the campaign to raise the money , old maps. Tons of stuff about the early council. Poor Sunny had to pry my hands off the xerox machine and drag me screaming out the door. She promises to let me back in if I promise to behave.</span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of it I will summarize instead of repeating everything - but Rob has agrred to scan everything so it can be posted on the history blog!</span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lynn</span> </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-48698988216195789732011-04-07T16:23:00.000-07:002011-07-21T17:03:56.975-07:00Celebrity EndorsementsPurchase of the Kirby estate to be a Girl Scout camp was SPECIFICALLY endorsed by:<br />
<ul><li>Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Roosevelt</li>
<li>Lou Henry Hoover, wife of former President Herbert Hoover</li>
<li>Eliot Ness, crimefighter</li>
</ul>Eleanor Roosevelt said:<br />
<div style="margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;">"I was very much interested to hear whatthe Cleveland Girl Scouts are planning to do, and I wish them every success in their campaign for funds with which to buy a camp site. I think camps for girls are very valuable and are greatly needed."</div><br />
Those of you who have run programs at camp about solving mysteries, Crime Scene Investigation, etc - you were more appropriate than you knew. Elliot Ness was the saftey director of Cleveland. He noted that there was much less juvenile crime in areas where there were organized Girl Scout troops. He supported the purchase of this camp!!!!!<br />
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Here's the introduction of "Elliot Ness: The Man Behind the Myth", a biography written by Marilyn Bardsley:<br />
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<br />
<div style="margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;">Ever since Eliot Ness first published The Untouchables in 1957, the public has fallen in love with the adventures of this authentic American hero. His book was a runaway best seller because it was the exciting true story of a brave and honest lawman pitted against the country's most successful gangster, Al Capone. The television series that followed in the 1950's and the Kevin Costner movie in 1987 built fancifully on the same theme. Then again in 1993, the television series has been remade for yet another generation to watch Eliot Ness battle it out again with the Capone Mob.<br />
<br />
Every school child knows what Eliot Ness did for two years in Chicago, but what happened to him afterwards when Al Capone went to jail? Almost nobody knows. Does that mean the young hero retired to a quiet life?<br />
<br />
Not by a long shot! With a new group of "Untouchables," Eliot Ness went right on fighting the mob for another decade: staging daring raids on bootleggers and illegal gambling joints, catching criminals with his bare hands, and generally putting organized crime on the run. After Capone, he broadened his crusade to include labor racketeers, crooked cops and the country's most vicious serial killer, the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run.<br />
<br />
So why didn't Eliot Ness write about his adventures after Chicago? Actually, he had planned to do just that, but he died of a heart attack just before the publishing of The Untouchables.<br />
<br />
Ness's career in law enforcement continued for a decade beyond the Capone years, a decade in which his very considerable talents flowered. At the age of 33 in Cleveland, he faced the challenge of his career when he took over the corrupt and incompetent police force in a city that had become a haven for gangsters.<br />
Never one to sit behind a desk and administrate, Eliot took to the street with a new group of trusted confidants, mostly undercover investigators and reporters, until he cleaned up the police force and put the mob chieftains behind bars.<br />
<br />
Drawing on his master's degree in criminology, he turned the miserable Cleveland police force into one of the most modern, efficient and respected departments in the world. Crime in the city dropped 38 percent after he was on the job just a couple of years!<br />
<br />
Eliot Ness was so much more than just the courageous guy who battered down the door of Capone's biggest brewery. It's time the American public knew about the rest of his accomplishments, which are at once exciting, inspiring and long lasting.</div><br />
<br />
comment from Corey :<br />
this is completely not related...but I'm currently working with the materials from Al Capone's hide out to add detail to my professor's home...after the hide out was shot out during their stand off, my professor's professor gutted it for architectural remnants...all his detailed windows and doors are in my professor's garage and he's asking a few students to hang the elements around his house... <br />
...Lucy, this is the contemporary history professor I was telling you about that specializes in mid-century modern and design in America between the wars...<br />
<br />
comment from Lynn:<br />
<br />
the wife of this proffessor donated her hand-stiched 1960's senior GS uniform to the Richfield Historical SocietyRob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-11215907954234725482011-01-30T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-19T12:25:52.066-08:00History's Jigsaw PuzzleTracking down an unwritten history is like working a jigsaw puzzle - where all the pieces are playing hide-n-seek. Spent the morning at RHS. No particular objective. I have come to realize that in this small town where everything and everyone is connected to everything and everyone else, I might as well just go through and read everything.<br />
<br />
<div class="NormalStyle">Adeline Axtell ( who owned the driveway parcel) continues to be a mystery - altho there was plenty about her husband - the governer of the New Mexico territory - in the Cleveland Leader, November 5, 1878. After a lengthy tale of Axtell's western adventures, there is a final paragrph referring obliquly to the Oviatts. Then this: "One place of interest, which deserves more than a passing notice, is located at the foot of the hill upon which the West village is built. It is the cider mill, where the average Richfielder imbibes enthusiasm and patriotism. In proportion as the texture of the cider approaches that of a grindstone, the Richfield citizen becomes more patriotic. Much more might be written of this place, but lack of space and a great love of my fellow man bid me forbear."</div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">The foot of the hill would be at Oviatt & 303, by the south entrance of camp. The cider press could have been across the street where the golf course is now - but there's that odd, unconnected reference to the Oviatts. So at first I thought this was a nice little mention of a place to get apple cider. But the more LInda and I talked about it, it feels like an "insider's" code. Kind of the way gossip columns used to hint at scandals without actually making an accusation. Maybe that last line is kind of a threat. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">We know there was a sawmill behind the Oviatt farm house in 1834. Which mysteriously (and frustratingly) disappeared from the town records. Did they turn it into a cider mill - as in hard cider? The more the citizens drink, the more patriotic they become - as in generally more emotional? Hmmmmmmm. Well, it's a theory. But if these guys were running an unofficial tavern - maybe that will turn up in the archeology! </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">As usual, anytime anyone came in, Linda asked if they had any connection with the Girl Scout camp. Turns out that the reason Ed came in was to purchase on of the wooden millwheels from Green Cottage crafters that RHS still had on hand. It further turns out that Ed is one of our camp neighbors whose property adjoins Crowell HIlaka! We had a good time talking history & the need for kids to get out into nature. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Next - up to the Kirby Company on W. 114th to look through the last box of their archives. Most of the archives had been lost or destroyed and there is almost nothing left. The staff were very friendly and they set me up in a quiet room with a good cup of coffee. Tucked in between all the 1970's photos was three versions of this old picture:</div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9P5dJLI5YgnmwVMOxV78Hs3194SRSFFxJO9gGFeQ2iKw5MLOm6DXMPdxk1YCYwOrf14aoJUQ6Tj35HcPGZ82Sct8IISxCj31dViOXWs6SX_-OFuxSSDa6Tn8GQ07wo_wks2Ah5PZi0I/s1600/people_on_hillside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9P5dJLI5YgnmwVMOxV78Hs3194SRSFFxJO9gGFeQ2iKw5MLOm6DXMPdxk1YCYwOrf14aoJUQ6Tj35HcPGZ82Sct8IISxCj31dViOXWs6SX_-OFuxSSDa6Tn8GQ07wo_wks2Ah5PZi0I/s1600/people_on_hillside.jpg" /></a></div><div class="NormalStyle">There is no label, no name. The only context is that it was in the box of company photos. So its likely a group of employees. 1920's, early 30's? The guy in the front row 4th from the left in bow tie & jacket looks like it could be Kirby, and I would suspect a couple of the other front row bow tie guys are Scott & Fetzer, Kirby's business associates. I like to imagine that this is at camp. On the dam hill. We know that the Kirby Co held at least one picnic on camp land. But if that's a shadow of Kirby House on the far left, the giant oak tree is missing. Altho maybe it can't be seen from this angle. Or maybe this is a completly generic, insignificant hillside nowhere near the camp. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Not only are the jigsaw puzzle pieces hiding, but pieces from other puzzles are mixed in at random. <br />
sigh. :-( </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Lynn</div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-55330854476926708772011-01-30T12:02:00.000-08:002011-02-19T13:36:42.198-08:00History of the Outhouse<div class="NormalStyle">Even more than ghosts, the favorite fear of campgrounds to the uninitiated is......................the ominous outhouse (cue scarey music). </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">The dead of winter seems an appropriate time to tell outhouse stories. There was always the fear of dropping critical items down the hole. Especially your glasses. Or your flashlight. Or yourself. My biggest nightmare used to be that a monster from the depths would reach up and pinch me right when I was most vulnerable. Tips for outhouse issues will have to be a subject of a later article. For now, I present a historical perspective. <br />
- Lynn </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle" style="text-align: center;"><b>History Snippets: The Outhouse</b> <br />
by Ranch Harper <br />
The Richfield Times <br />
July, 1991 <br />
<br />
When electricity came to Richfield many people remodeled their homes to accomodate a bathroom. One old stalwart on a farm on Broadview Road north of town positively refused to install a bathroom in his home. He didn't think it right and proper to "do your business in the same house you ate in." </div><div class="NormalStyle">Modern day campers might think the pit toilets in many of today's campgrounds are similar to the old fashioned outhouse of yesterday. We old-timers can tell you - the only similarity is in the shape of the hole in the seat........ </div><div class="NormalStyle">.......A couple of local carpenters have a little experience in outhouse construction. In Richfield's back.......A couple of local carpenters have a little experience in outhouse construction. In Richfield's back yard is Camp Julia Crowell, which belongs to the Cleveland Girl Scout Council. That 400-acre camp today encompasses the old Jim Kirby estate. Jim KIrby was the inventor of today's vacuum cleaner and is the uncle of Richfield's own Virginia Baumgardner. </div><div class="NormalStyle">It was the Buell Davidson Company that went into that undeveloped back country and constructed the first primitive outhouses for Camp Julia Crowell. In those days there were no electric lines running back there among the steep clefts and rocks with spring-fed streams and rocky hillsides covered with virgin timber and brush. </div><div class="NormalStyle">Harold Davidson and Johnny Gabriel were the carpenters assigned to construct those first nessessities. Harold said there were drawings or blueprints of the basic buildings to be constructed. Everything went fine until they discovered the prints did not show any specifications for the holes in the outhouse seats - nothing to indicate size, shape, beveled or sharp edges; no specs. Well, that didn't bother Harold who though usage in his younger days had acquired a "feel" for the proper size and shape for those old time nessessities. So Harold, taking saw in hand, proceeded to cut a beautifully bevel-edged hole of the proper shape and proportions. Johnny was profoundly amazed at what Harold had done and said, "What a memory, what a memory." </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-79941049309955949672011-01-22T18:38:00.000-08:002011-02-22T18:40:36.304-08:00Benedict, but not Julia<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I was all excited because I accidently found an entry on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_0" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">Benedict Crowell</span> (husband of Julia Crowell) in the encyclopedia of Cleveland history. It cited its source as the Benedict Crowell file at the Western Reserve Historical Society. So the next available moment, I was at WRHS library asking for the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_1">Crowell</span> file. I had just a limited time (lunch hour at work), so I decided to look at the picture file thinking there'd be a wedding picture. There was NOTHING with Julia. It was all military. I feel unreasonablely grumble-some over it. The librarien suggested that I contact the Cobb family (JC's maden name). They are a prominent family - still around - may have something. That may be - but it would be in a collateral line. I may someday, when I get time. I'm still chasing down Kirbys and Oviatts.</span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-74728270339832190672011-01-22T18:20:00.000-08:002011-02-22T18:22:50.193-08:00Real CiderDr. Alan Lee, an archeologist, wrote this in response to a history snippet:<br />
<br />
Lynn,<br />
<br />
Virtually <u>all</u> references to "cider" in C19th America, and elsewhere in the world to the present day, mean the somewhat alcoholic fermented juice of the apple. The insipid <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_0" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">apple juice</span> that Americans buy as "cider" at the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_1" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; cursor: hand;">grocery store</span> and serve to the kiddies at Halloween parties, is an artifact of prohibition times. Today, sadly, so-called cider by law is pasturized by the producer beyond all possibility of fermenting into <u>real</u> cider. It is illeagal for even the owner of a small orchard to market cider that is capable of fermenting. I say this with regret because as a boy, in the late 1950s, I helped make cider with my grandfather, using our apples and our <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_2" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">cider press</span>, and still recall fondly the wonderful and changing complexity of flavors as the resulting beverage slowly aged and matured.<br />
<br />
Just by coincidence, NPR ran an article on cider just recently. Here is a reference:<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132054630/cider-winter-kitchen-s-secret-weapon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_3">http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132054630/cider-winter-kitchen-s-secret-weapon</span></a><br />
<br />
Gives a whole new perspective on "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_4">Johnny Appleseed</span>", don't you think?<br />
<br />
Regards, <br />
<br />
AlRob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-19308043152928936352010-09-21T13:29:00.000-07:002011-02-19T13:31:26.901-08:00Unauthorized!<div class="NormalStyle">I've mentioned before that when I visit the Richfield Historical Society on Tuesday mornings, there are usually people from the village dropping in. And that because Richfield is a small town and most of the families have been there forever, most of the people turn out to have some connection with Crowell Hilaka. </div><div class="NormalStyle">What I haven't mentioned before is that most of the men of a certain age grin sheepishly - then admit to having having snuck in. Or at least trying to. No names to be revealed - just historic trends. </div><div class="NormalStyle">One elderly gentleman liked to sneak over at night while the Kirbys still lived there. He liked to stop the millwheel from turning with his bare hands and then see how long it would take to start up again. Another guy confessed that he and his buddies would ride their bikes over to the camp before there was a fence, creep up to a tent unit, and make scarey animal noises. They considered it a triumph if they could get the girls to scream. Then they'd peel out on their bikes before getting caught. (I told that guy that he owed us. He agreed.) </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">All that changed once the fence was up. Today's informant liked slipping into the tank proving grounds on a regular basis. But he made it a point to check through the fence to see if there were any girls in view. Sometimes the girls were already up at the fence already, and they would talk. This was in the late 1950's and early 60's. I have never been able to pinpoint WHEN the fence was installed. But by getting rough dates and correlating them with the degree of male sneakage, it had to have been put up between the mid 1940's to late 1950's. The fence is so unusually heavy-duty for a GS camp even now, let alone fifty years ago. My guess is that it went up when the proving grounds came in. I would not be suprised to find out that it was paid for by the proving ground people - either the military or GM - as a condition of being able to locate so close to a girls' camp. But that's just my theory. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Today's informant spoke at length about the tank testing operations: The proving grounds were located in what is now Rising Valley Park. The entrance was on Newton instead of Oviatt. The tanks were built at the GM plant in Cleveland (now the I-X Center) and tested in Richfield because of the hilly terrain. At one point the tanks went down a hill into a creek. The water got to six feet deep and the tanks had to go all the way under and emerge on the opposite hillside without stopping. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Addendum to the apple story: When I told my dad about Neal Fruit Farm, he said when he was a kid during the second world war, he and the other kids in Bedford would get taken on a YMCA bus down to Richfield to pick fruit during the summer and on weekends. All the men were at war and even migrant workers weren't enough. He wasn't at Neal's himself, but somewhere nearby. The amazing thing? Not that Dad picked fruit, but that my own FATHER turns out to be one of the folks with an old-time Richfield Connection! </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-48021787194531046112010-09-20T18:11:00.000-07:002011-02-22T18:18:09.565-08:00Apple Trees and Civil War Soldiers<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The part of our camp that we are allowed to use was once a fruit farm. The Neals ( who built the fancy houses) ran the Neal Fruit Farm as a sideline. The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_1">Giant Eagle</span> next store started out as the Neal's "Country Counter". In the mid 1800's, well before the Neals, it was the Freeman Fruit Farm, one of the largest orchards in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_2" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; cursor: hand;">Ohio</span>. Mrs. Freeman was the daughter of Nathaniel Oviatt, one of the first pioneer settlers in the village. </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">So.....how did it all start? I was wondering if there may have been a connection with <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_3" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">Johnny Appleseed</span> (yes, he was a real person). But altho Johnny may have made some contribution, he worked mostly in the Massillon area when he was in Ohio. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_4">The Freeman</span> fruit came came from somewhere else - probably right next door. </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The land that the camp's long drive crosses has had some interesting owners. The first recorded owner (1834 tax map) was Isaac Welton, R<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_5">evolutionary War</span> veteran and fruit farmer. It was his family that carried varieties of Connecticut apples by covered wagon to Richfield. From these, their family grew what became known as the Richfield <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_6" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; cursor: hand;">Nonesuch</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426216_7">Apple</span> and the Welton Pie Apple. These varieties were well enough known to be described in a mid-nineteeth century English booklet on American apples. </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Richfield Nonesuch was very much a local claim to fame. But it was small and tart, and fell out of favor with large growers. I was in the Richfield Historical Society last week reading about how interest in the Nonesuch revived from time to time. And each time, a few cuttings of the historic trees were carefully grafted and nourished. I mentioned to Linda that it would be cool to see one. "Oh, c'mon then," she said. "I'm just about to lock up and get some lunch". I tagged along with her across the street and into the neighbor's yard. There were trees loaded with every color of apple. "This one" she pointed out a tree loaded with bright pink and yellow apples. We both munched into the Richfield Nonesuch. Historic Research: Delicious! </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"> * * * * * * * </span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Back in the archive after lunch, Linda told me about some college undergrad coming in to research a couple of Civil War soldiers who were brothers. Both died during the conflict, but one had kept a diary. After his death, the family had the diary published. The soldier's name was John Oviatt. The name didn't ring a bell to me. Not a surprise - considering that there were probably several hundred Ovaitt's in NE Ohio at the time. But I poked through the introduction. Lo, John's parents were Nathaniel & Julie - which made him the brother of Ruth Oviatt Freeman. Yup, that's OUR girl! </span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-53056437758306431062010-05-05T15:42:00.000-07:002011-02-20T15:46:53.353-08:00The Millwheel - 1972 - The Times, They Are A'Changin'<div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The 1970's were tough on Girl Scout identity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Millwheels through the 1950's & 60's had a jaunty tone. The favorite topics were camping, service projects, and the Dollaballoo. Leaders were almost <em>always</em> shown in full uniform - including the hat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Then bam! 1970. Cover articles start to worry about fundraising. 1971. Leaders begin to be shown out of uniform!!!!!!!! 1972. Girl Scouts struggling to remain relevant. A leadership conference includes these courses: "Action Now - Ecology" , "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298241224_4" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">Grassroots</span>: Drugs and Sex" , "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298241224_5">Women's Lib</span>" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The March 1972 issue has this headline : "Suppose one of your girls said 'I am in real trouble' ?", and gives sound advice on listening to and counseling </span><span>girls with serious issues - including addiction and pregnancy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The same issue has an OK article about camp, but the tone of the headline suggests that perhaps the old ways are .....well, maybe just a bit <em>quaint,</em> and perhaps even slightly embarrassing. </span><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> “ Why should Girl Scouts bother about camp? “<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span> " </span>At camp there is time for making the winter day dreams come true. There is a chance to be independent:<span> </span>and a chance to prove to yourself you’re as grown up as you think you are. New friends are there for the asking… maybe of a different religion or race, but still a sister Girl Scout. There are adventures to be found in the out of doors. There is no better place to learn the principles of conservation, the need for good housekeeping practices, and to try out the ideals of Girl Scouting. Camping can turn the dull hot summer into an exciting experience. Living out of doors is like wearing new shoes: the more you wear them, the more comforatble you feel.<span> </span>Try it on for size.<span> </span>From the smallest Brownie to the tallest leader there’s a place for you at camp. Remember, financial aid is available: check your camp folder for a campership application. " </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Everything this writer says is true. But do you notice that she is <span>working really hard to justify the value of camping? We're not just talking campfires and nature crafts here - we have positive <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298241224_6">race relations</span>, conservation, proving you are grown up and independent. Also the explanation that resident camp can be hard to get used to at first - like a pair of new shoes, but that it gets more comforatble. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>Does this sound familiar? Doesn't it sound like us - Trying to convince people that camp is worthwhile, even in this time of radical social change ? </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>Yeah, I thought so, too. The funny thing is that from the perspective of 40 years later, we <em>know</em> that camping became wildly popular again in the 1980's & 90's . Times change. But the basics stay the same. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>Lynn</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span> </span></span></div></span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-57818851101780025022010-04-28T18:33:00.000-07:002011-02-22T18:37:06.817-08:00History Research and a Hiking Destination<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fairview Cemetery in Richfield. </span><br />
<div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I knew there was another old cemetery in Richfield besides the one right near Crowell Hilaka. Tonight Rob & I scoped it out and found several history hints. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fairview cemetery is on Rt 21 (Brecksville Rd). From camp, drive or hike out the Broadview Rd entrance. Turn Right (South ) to West Richfield center. At Rt. 303 turn left (East) to Rt 21. Turn Left (North). The cemetery is a short way up on the left side. The sign is not hugely obvious because it is set back on the hillside. The first thing we noticed from the road was the row of white crosses. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The second thing we noticed was that the front wall is the same kind of stonework as the Kirby House fireplace and exterior chimmney. It has this half-rounded mortar that looks like a thick cord going around all the stones. Very distinctive and probably the same guy did both. We drove up the hill and parked at the windmill. </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Familiar names from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298426408_2" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">Richfield</span> history jumped out at me, although none were attached to any ghosts. The oldest graves are at the top of a beautiful hill. We found the common grave for the children of John and Mary Ann Brown next to a huge tree. Since the family was still near destitute at the time, the neighbors must have pitched in to buy the headstone. Walter & Mildred Kirby. (Walter was our Mr. Kirby's brother and business partner.) Several Oviatts. Mason's father and some of his brothers. The eccentric Lord Farnham. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Being fond of old cemeteries, we prowled around noticing things - the ground full of white violets, purple heal-all, and moss. We heard (but did not see) a large woodpecker nearby. At the base of the far side of the hill, there is a headstone with a very large martini engraved on the back. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lynn</span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-39678214198633098062010-04-14T16:03:00.000-07:002011-02-22T17:58:28.109-08:00Questions<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been reading through some of the old camp director reports from resident camp in the 1960's and 1970's.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I never went to resident camp, so I don't know what some of these things are, I am going to copy them to this list when I have time, but in the meanwhile: WHAT is a floating campfire ? What is a floating lunch? It sounds like they had a raft anchored in one of the lakes. Was lunch there, or on a canoe? What is a water carnival? </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the constant favorites seems to have been a hike from Crowell Hilaka to Whipp's Ledges. Has anyone done this? I want to try it sometime this spring. anyone interested in hiking with me? </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lynn</span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-17400584506286573902010-04-14T13:34:00.000-07:002011-02-20T10:14:32.722-08:00How Girls Can Help<div class="NormalStyle">As I am working on camp history displays for the open house this weekend, I keep thinking this: As fascinating as the historical research has become, the really important message is <strong>How Girls Can Benefit from Camp NOW</strong>. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">It is so much better if girls at the different sites could say "Our troop camped here and we had a blast!!!!" than "the 93 acres of what has become known as "Camp Hilaka" were purchased as an extension of camp Jula Crowell in 1956 primarily to protect the northern shore of Lake Linnea" ( yawn). </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">People may be curious about the old houses, but it probably doesn't matter much if anyone knows whether they were bult in 1904 or 1924. A little mystery won't kill anyone. However, pointing out that the grand staircase at Amity is perfect for fashion shows and the staging of fairy tales, that can get the ideas rolling. </div><div class="NormalStyle">This may be a sacreligious thought from a historian, but we're not running a history museum on Sunday, we're trying to save a camp. So don't be afraid to help. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">We can use more volunteers for the open house. No expertise required. There are some sites that have adult volunteers with a small display or two, but it would be helpul to have all the sites covered, if we could, and girl enthusiasm to ANY site is a very welcome addition!!!!!! </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-59360953603093588532010-03-28T10:11:00.000-07:002011-02-20T10:13:19.047-08:00How did they get him home?<div class="NormalStyle">E-mail from Lynn to Dr. Alan Lee, an archeologist:</div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">I was getting ready to write to you about a different puzzle concerning Mason Oviatt - so he dies in California in July 1850. They shipped his body home and he's buried in the West Richfield cemetery. Very sad, but not questionable. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">I'm reading the history of Summit County by Samuel Lane from 1898. He was also a prospector of 1850. He left Akron the same month as Mason altho in a different party. He gives a great description of the very arduous journey. Lots of hopeful prospectors died along the way or at the destination - mostly cholera. They were buried along the trail or in California. Being shipped home was not an option. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Sure, Mason had the very rich Uncle Heman who may have financed it. But how the hell would they have arranged it? There were no railroads. There was no dry ice. They could have packed him in brine -- but even so -- who is going to drag a body in a heavy barrel in a wagon where there is barely enough room for survivial provisions? Not to be gruesome, but someone had to have worked a miracle to have arranged this. Does this make sense to you? What am I missing, here? </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">It opens up the possiblilty that there might be some record somewhere at the California end. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Lynn </div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-65328218664857907552010-03-25T10:18:00.000-07:002011-02-20T10:21:35.038-08:00Western Reserve Historical Society Library<div class="NormalStyle">Today I looked through a set of Oviatt family documents dated 1756 - 1876 at Western Reserve Historical Society library. They are on microfilm because the originals are stored in "the vault" somewhere. Included are: </div><ul><li class="NormalStyle">a draft of a resolution from the Congregational Church of Richfield 1846 condemning slavery</li>
<li class="NormalStyle">The organizational charter of The Sabbath School May 9, 1847. </li>
<li class="NormalStyle">A copy of the deed for the northwest quadrant of Richfield from Benjamin Tallmadge to the Oviatts;</li>
<li class="NormalStyle">Either a short contract or a very elaborate receipt between John Brown and Heman Oviatt 1846 </li>
<li class="NormalStyle">A couple of short business letters from JB </li>
<li class="NormalStyle">A description of the Richfield Town Reunion 1880 </li>
</ul><div class="NormalStyle">There is also a faded document that is pretty much impossible to read on the microfilm but the annotation says it is a "copy of JW Weld deposition in the case of Old John Brown". </div><div class="NormalStyle">I am up trying to decipher the handwriting from these bad copies of already fuzzy microfilms. I don't think there will be any stunning new revelations here. But I am glad to find our people in Richfield formulating their abolitionist stance: </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="style6"><em>"...Resolved - that there appears to us a strange inconsistency in the action of the Ecclesiastical body to which most of our ministers belong inasmuch as they declare slavery to be sinful and yet take no measures for disciplining ministers or members for this sin...... " </em></div><div class="style6"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">In other words, they are getting tired of just talking. They are especially angry about hypocrisy. They are moving towards doing something. This is 1846. Fourteen years before the start of the Civil War. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">Then of course later John Brown went from being a stealth abolitionist and underground railroad conductor to actual fighting against slavery and leading a raid at Harper's Ferry. The juxtaposition of a deposition for his trial with his everyday business letters just makes me think. Average, ordinary people - going about their work - just trying to make a living - but at the same time, standing up for what's right. Not letting the status quo dictate to them. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">This is something that girls should be able to read about when they come to Crowell Hilaka. This stuff all happened right there in Richfield - and especially because the whole camp was at one time Oviatt land. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">I transcribed the letters below. Looks like a lawyer is coming after JB asking about the ownership of some land. And someone else hasn't paid a debt. </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="NormalStyle">If anyone else want to look at the source material, it's microfilm 777 Oviatt Family Papers WRHS </div><div class="NormalStyle"><br />
</div><div class="style6"><em>Akron 28th [????] 1845 </em></div><div class="style6"><em>Darius Lyman Esq </em></div><div class="style6"><em>[???] </em></div><div class="style6"><em>The deed from Aaron Clark [ transfer ? ] to Augustus Baldwin [in the deed referred to? ] it is for land included in the Mortgage. Brown, & Thompson's addition to Franklin Village does not include all the land intended to secure Oviatt. The amount in Village & in farming land as near as I can tell I gave to Cap't Oviatt more than a year ago with the map I had, & I doubt not he has them yet. Without those [papers?] I could not be [????} about the number of acres in each. The addition includes some Lots sold before the date of the mortgage, & marked on the map. I lent to Capt. O. without it I cannot [?] them out. The addition includes ( I think) 2 of the reservations in my deed from Haymaker [?] one to himself and one to Mrs. Warner; I can think of no more that are incorporated in it. The addition was laid out on township lots eleven & twelve. The exact amount of land included in Village or left for farming I cannot well determine but I suppose the statement I made out for Esq Weld & gave to Capt O to be nearly correct </em></div><div class="style6"><em>Respectfully Yours</em></div><div class="style6"><em>John Brown </em></div><div class="style6"><br />
</div><div class="style6"><em>Springfield [ Mass ? ] 7th Sept 1848 </em></div><div class="style6"><em>Marvin Oviatt Esq </em></div><div class="style6"><em>[draft?] </em></div><div class="style6"><em>Yours of the 1st. inst returning my order on the McClellands is received. I do not wish this note given to Mr. Perkins but I would rather you would write to McClellands that unless they take care of their note immediately you will put it in a way of being collected. The prospect of sales is good & I think we shall begin to realise soon on wool but at present have not & we have to pay about $1000 per week for frieght bills. </em></div><div class="style6"><em>Respectfully Yours, John Brown</em></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820327585501620954.post-26795004431179332232010-02-11T13:30:00.000-08:002011-02-20T13:48:49.194-08:00Mom's Memories<div id="cg_msg_content"><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298237399_2">Kathleen Bradley</span> and I crawled through the swampy parts of camp in September, making a list of plants we recognized. By the time we made it down to Cook's Cabin, we were pretty whipped. I flopped down on a ridge in front of the cabin and found myself eye to eye with a miniature, spiny pink seed pod hanging under a leaf. I pointed it out. Kathleen has an encyclopedic knowlege of plants, and she identified it right away as "Heart's A-Burstin". The tiny pod had already split, liberating even tinier red seeds. It did indeed look like a valentine heart that had burst open. It's also called strawberry flower, but I like the first name better. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">My mother-in-law, Ele, is a fan of wildflowers. She taught me most of the ones I know. A day or so after the hike I told her about our hike and asked her if she had ever heard of "Heart's- A- Burstin". She hadn't. But she was very interested in where we had found it. "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298237399_3">Sunny</span> may have planted it" she said. "Not the Sunny you know. Her real name was Mary Hoyt. She used to run resident camp. One summer, she planted a wildflower garden between Cook's Cabin and the creek." </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I asked Mom to tell me more. Mom had been volunteering at camp and was stationed in the Nature Hut - the little cottage just off the path between Kirby and Hilltop. Between visits from girls, she was poking through a stack of old camp newspapers. In one of them she found a poem written by her daughter Cindy. It was unexpected, and made her happy. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">She said there used to be a campsite on the far side of the lower lake. It was called "Innisfree", after the poem by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298237399_4" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">W .B. Yeats</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div style="height: 266px; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; width: 77.23%;">I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,<br />
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:<br />
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,<br />
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.<br />
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,<br />
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;<br />
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,<br />
And evening full of the linnet's wings.<br />
I will arise and go now, for always night and day<br />
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;<br />
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,<br />
I hear it in the deep heart's core.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Innis" is Irish for "Island" . This particular campsite was isolated, beautiful, and high above the lake with the waterfall below. One could imagine being on some misty Irish Island in a storybook time. Naturally, the waterfall right below was called "Innisfree Falls". Logically enough - especially since it fits with the spirit of the poem, listening to the sounds of the water. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mom later met another leader who had never heard of the poem, never heard of the old campsite, but had been on a hike one time and thought she heard it called "Industry Falls". So that's what she always called it, even though it totally made no sense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Lynn</span></div><span id="lw_beacon_1298237399375"></span></div>Rob Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16392051826623757851noreply@blogger.com0