It is interesting for me to look at the dozen slides that my Dad took during our Summer weekend retreat at Woodland Altars in 1974. I’m not exactly sure what the retreat was for or when it took place, but my guess is that it was around the Fourth of July holiday. Also I am not sure if this was a retreat of the Bear Creek or the Beavercreek Church of the Brethren. When we moved to Beavercreek the year before, we had switched from Bear Creek to Beavercreek, obviously due to the closer proximity.
Our Pastor in Beavercreek was Byron Flory, who was the twin brother of our former Bear Creek Pastor Dan Flory. Byron (who I can recognize because he is with his wife Betty Lou) was here on the retreat. But then again so were Bill and Dottie and their kids, who attended Bear Creek. So the jury is out.
Either way, the pictures are most fascinating to me because it shows the campgrounds many years before I first ever attended camp in 1981 and really got to know these surroundings. I have visited the camp as recently as 2007 and the bulk of the locations seen in the pictures are still virtually unchanged.
Paparazzi shot of the arriving Florys
The road, the woods, and the cars
Mom and me, hand in hand on the prairie
Vespers on the prairie
The log cabin…still there. See a photo of Christi and me inside of it in 2007 here.
Robby and Lora and an unidentified kid
The shelter area where we often hung out at camp. We performed our talent show here in 1989.
Mom and I break bread with the other retreaters
The small diving board is still there. The big one remained through my camp years but has been removed.
Dottie (in pink), Mom, and I cool off in the Woodland Altars pool.
Strolling poolside
I’m sure I had fun on this trip, but it wasn’t until our 1977 visit that any specific memories would stick with me.
1974 will continue…
Very cool. As you noted, it is amazing how much of our beloved campground is unchanged to this very day.
My grandpa helped clear the original trails at WA when the camp was moved from Camp Sugargrove. Can’t wait for the fourth generation of Ockermans to experience its beauty.
Aaron
January 28th, 2010