The Smell of Cedar
By Judy (Blase) Woodruff
Imagine that you are one of the first campers to arrive June 28th the opening day of Camp Ondessonk in 1959. Your family drove to Ozark, Ill., (a two- or three-hour drive) and wearily turned onto Camp’s dirt road that was once a railroad bed. You swallowed mouthfuls of dust as your un-air-conditioned car twisted, turned, and bounced along the primitive road until you thought you would never get to your destination.
Finally, you came to a clearing where other autos were parked. It was all so exciting and new, with a little anxiety mixed in. You and your family hurried out of the car to register, but registration was at the newly built Dining Hall. You had to climb down a small incline, cross a trickle of water that came from the hill to the west, and back up the other side to where the Dining Hall stood.
There was no Covered Bridge or bridge of any kind where you could walk easily across the run-off with your belongings to the large screened building. Eventually, a footbridge was built across that dip in the landscape to make it much easier to get from the parking lot to the main area of Camp.
In 1968, volunteers from St. Mary’s Parish in Centralia, Ill., built one of the most recognized structures at Camp – the Covered Bridge. It was expertly crafted under the direction of Fred Schulz. It welcomed visitors coming from the parking lot into the center of Camp.
I remember the first time I crossed the Covered Bridge. I was a fourth-year camper in Brébeuf, and the main thing I noticed about the bridge was the smell of cedar. The bridge was freshly built, so the smell was strong and recognizable. Over the years, that smell has dissipated somewhat, but your senses can still identify that unique smell.
As we marched to Inspection every evening, the hallowed footfalls of an entire unit of campers could be heard echoing on the wood floor. After some time, a short tree trunk was installed at each end of the bridge to prevent motor vehicles from trying to cross it. A few years ago, a new roof was installed, and window boxes were added under the cut-out windows to brighten the bridge with flowers.
Not all campers had the experience of crossing this iconic bridge upon their arrival at Camp, but if you did, you never forgot it. The Covered Bridge was and is the “Welcome Home” greeting one is grateful for upon arriving at Camp. It is the doorway to the excitement and adventure that awaits each and every camper who crosses it.
Click here to learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s Mission & History.
