Camp Conger celebrates 100 years

NORTH FAIRFIELD — A century's worth of 4-H history will be celebrated at an upcoming Huron County event. Camp Conger, 2915 Walnut Road in North Fairfield, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. A lot will be happening over a two-day event on June 28-29 to help those involved with the camp celebrate the milestone. Here's a schedule of events: Saturday, June 28 • 11 a.m. - onwards: Registration @ Dining Hall • 1 p.m.: Flag Raising & Opening Ceremony • 1:30-5:30 p.m.: Self-Guided Activities - Basketball Court: 1:30 -2:30 PM • (immediately after flag raising): Knockout Tournament • Dining Hall (All Day): - Historic exhibit -Silent Auction • Craft Hall (1:30-5:30 p.m.): - Friendship bracelets - River rock painting -Name tag decorating • Pavilion - 2-3 p.m.: Guest Speakers – Camp history & memories -3:30-4:30 p.m.: Learn to Line Dance • Swimming: 2-4 p.m. • 5:30 p.m.: Picnic dinner at pavilion • 6 p.m.: Silent auction ends • 6:15 p.m.: Matt Missey performance at Pavilion • 7 p.m.: Flag lowering • 7:15-9 p.m.: Square Dance • 9 p.m.: Closing ceremony Sunday, June 29 • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Open house - Swimming: 1-4 p.m. Much has occurred over the 100 years of Camp Conger. Elaine Conger provided the following history on the camp: The early years Early in the year of 1925, Charles Hampson and Nancy Polson, who were the Huron County Extension staff at that time, approached my grandparents Lewis and Ada Conger. They were looking to start a 4-H camping program somewhere on the west branch of the Huron River. As Grandma would say years later, "Lew and I decided to let them use some land for a year or two," not knowing if the program would last. The first camp was held in the summer of 1925 with over 80 4-H campers in attendance. A tent was used as the dining hall and all food was prepared outdoors. A pit was dug and filled with ice for refrigeration. Campers stuffed wool bags with straw from Grandpa's straws stack for mattresses, and slept in tents. They scrambled to dig ditches around the tents to drain the water away when it rained (as it always does during 4-H camp). Drinking water was carried to the kitchen area in 10 gallon milk cans from the improved spring on the hillside. After two years, it was decided that campground needed to be "modernized," so in 1927 a kitchen was constructed. The dining hall (now the craft hall) was constructed in 1928 and water was piped from the spring to the kitchen that same year. 2 cabins were built for the girls in 1929 and 1 for the boys in 1931. The early buildings were built of native lumber donated by my grandparents. The early entrance to the camp was from Olive Road. If the dirt road was too wet, campers and staff had to carry everything in. Surely not a fun way to start the week! The current camp road, down through the cow pasture, was established in 1935 and was maintained for many years by the Huron County Highway Department. Electricity was brought to the camp in the fall of 1938, so 1939 was a big year for campers. Swimming was in 'the deep hole,' a naturally occurring deep spot in the Huron River behind the dining hall. Also during this time, a rope bridge was constructed across the river for access to the 9 acres of the camp on the west side of the river. This bridge was taken out by a flood in 1944. There was no 4-H camp from 1942-1945 due to World War 2. Other Extension people who were instrumental in the early days of Camp Conger were Guy Hummon and Mable Fernald. Louise Linder was extension secretary and also served as camp secretary/treasurer for many years. Camp Conger also would not have survived if not for the many hours and donations from the volunteers who always strive 'to make the best better.' To all of you, the Conger family says thank you. 1946 through 1980 4-H camp resumed in 1946 after the end of the war. Several more cabins had been added in the late 1930s. There were now two boys and four girls cabins. They were of an open design with canvas used as flaps. These cabins were replaced during the 1950s by the ones that stood until the first part of this century. The last two built were the boys cabins after a successful fund-raising effort in 1958. Other improvements during this time included water being put under pressure in 1957 and the addition of a rec hall in 1962. New bathroom facilities were built in 1964 and for the first time, showers were available! A single shower for the boys and a single shower for the girls. During this time, other local groups were using the camp. There was a farm wives camp, which was advertised to be '3 days and 2 nights where you don't have to cook and clean-just relax and learn of new advancements for farming households. This camp was open to all ages from 18 to 80. County wide 4-H picnics were also held for many years. There was always a softball tournament which ended with a county champion being crowned. The county picnics were discontinued when they became too big for the facilities. It frequently drew over a thousand people to the camp for the day. One of the picnics I do remember is the Pepperidge Farm picnic of 1978. Pepperidge Farm had just received the contract to make Star Wars cookies. They had David Prowse, who played Darth Vader, land in a helicopter on the old baseball field. Since he did not do the voice for Darth Vader, (James Earl Jones did), he did not speak but mingled with the attendees for several hours. The next big improvement for Camp Conger was in 1963. This was the year the lake was dug. The A.J. Baltes Company of Norwalk had developed an experimental double pan earth mover and were looking for a local place to test it. Swimming in the river had not been allowed for several years, and the Extension staff saw an opportunity to bring swimming back to the camp program. Extension staff at this time were John Wells, Carlos Tucker, and Barb Wurzel. The lake was completed in short order and named Lake Wells in honor of the work John had done to bring this project to fruition. Many older 4Hers will remember his camper sitting at the top of the hill by the driveway, where he and his wife Emily would spend their summers. Another memorable time was the flood of July 4, 1969. The flood was on a Thursday and camp was scheduled to begin the following Monday. On that Sunday, over 100 volunteers showed up to clean up the camp. Picnic tables were found over a half mile down river. My dad hauled all campers back with a tractor and hay wagon to limit the amount of traffic on the camp road. There is a mark on the front of the craft hall showing the water level on that day. In 1975, Camp Conger held its 50 year celebration. Many attended that day and a time capsule was prepared by the counselors and campers and buried near the flagpole that day. This will be dug up and the contents will be on display at the centennial celebration. Plans are in the works for the 2025 counselors and campers to bury their own time capsule this summer. The Conger family has received a lot of recognition over the years for our involvement in the Huron County 4-H camping program. None more special than my father, Lewis 'Jack' Conger being inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame posthumously in 1979. Others in Huron County also belong in this elite group. Their pictures are hanging in the Extension Office. Just a few of the many in Huron County who have worked to 'make the best better.' 1980 to present We move through the years into the 1990s. My mother, Florence, had passed in 1992 and there was a growing need for a new dining hall. The original dining hall (now the craft hall) was in the flood plain. Refrigerators had to have their condensers on top of the unit, and the ovens had to be gas (not electric) and had to be thoroughly cleaned each year. A committee was formed consisting of Frank Chapman, John Fries, Wayne Dalton, Walter Horn Jr., and Nancy Barnes with the goal of raising funds to build a new dining hall up above the flood plain. During a 2-year period, over $230,000 was raised and construction began in the fall of 1998. The Lewis and Florence Conger Hall was dedicated in 1999 and all the counselors that year got "First to Flush" T-shirts. Local companies who helped in the construction were RWW Masonry, Winkler Construction and Gross Plumbing. I would like to note that Guy Gross has helped to open and close the camp's water system each year since. In the dining hall, there are plaques to commemorate all of those who donated to the effort. With money left over and additional funds that came in, all six of the sleeping cabins were replaced within the next several years. They were built by Attica Lumber. For many years, when we needed concrete work done, Fred Linder had volunteered his services. Once again, Fred took charge and with many volunteers, the cabin floors were concreted. He also designed and poured the basketball court during this time. This pretty much brings us up to date on the major accomplishments of Camp Conger over the past 100 years. Going forward, we are looking at replacing the roof on the dining hall and making improvements to the cabins. Elaine, myself, and our children Mathew and Marie are so thankful to the many volunteers and donors who have helped Camp Conger over the past 100 years. It has been a pleasure for our family to help 'make the best better.'