Archives Room Open During Friends Weekend
By Judy Blase Woodruff
Guests during Friends Weekend were treated to viewing Camp Ondessonk’s Archives Room. After many years of renovation, filing, and research, the brightly lit room was opened to Camp Friends on Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. They could peruse the displays and information that has been filed to date.
Far from complete, the cases hold many items from Camp’s history, including cases that hold Lodge memorabilia; items that could be purchased at the Trading Post over the years; and a variety of items from Camp’s history, including a Tommy the Bear t-shirt that was given when Tommy was spared euthanasia from biting a child. One wall displays the picture of each Camp Director and Executive Director since 1959. In addition, there are binders that were made compiled from the first day of Camp that hold much of the history from the beginning of Camp.
It has been a labor of love on the parts of several people, along with dozens of former Camp staff and campers who have donated items to the room. Eventually, more of Camp’s history with be displayed and filed, like Staff and Unit pictures; newspaper articles; thousands of pictures where one can search via a database; plus, much, much more. There are literally thousands of pieces of paper and pictures to still go through in order to catalog everything.
While the Archives Room has not been accessible for years, we hope that by getting much of what we found and what people donated organized, everyone will appreciate the diligence and work done thus far. Those visiting the room this past Saturday were overwhelmed by the history displayed. Dozens visited the room and were rewarded with nostalgia and wonderful memories of their time at Camp. Thanks to those who visited the room!
If you have an item that you think might be appropriate for the Archives Room, please contact Judy Blase Woodruff at judy.woodruff@ondessonk.com.
The room is not open every day, since more information has to be organized and displayed. Hopefully in the near future, the room will be accessible at more times throughout the year.
Click here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s Mission & History.
