|
"In
1922 when the camp was first opened, it was known as Wanalda
Woods and was owned by three ladies from Chicago; Ada L.
Whitney, Nina A. Weeks, and Florence E. Whitney. In those days,
E. Torch Lake Drive passed right in front of the stone pillars
which marked the entrance and continued north to a crossing over
Merry Brook. The old right-of-way is easily found today. There
are printed hereabouts maps of this area which are designed to
look 100 years old. And along the shore of Torch Lake you will
find both Hayo-Went ha (1904) and Camp Wanalda identified. A
copy of that map still hangs in our old camp office."
___as told by Dan Boone 2004
The Eders, from
Cincinnati, purchased the camp in 1933. They also owned a
boys' camp which became known as the brother camp and was called
Fairwood. Cap Eder invested his time and effort running Camp
Fairwood, while Mrs. Eder ran Four-Way Lodge.
Since it began as
Four-Way Lodge in 1933, the camp embraced a strong
philosophy which would foster the physical, intellectual, and
spiritual growth of the young women who came its way. This was
accomplished not only through positive adult leadership from the
owners, administrative staff, enthusiastic cabin counselors and
activity instructors, but also through special events such as
trips, vespers, practice in Indian Lore, special theatrical
productions, cabin projects or competitions, and free time to
bond with friends, just to mention a few. Running a camp
with creativity and vitality is a never-ending challenge. When
it was passed on by the founders to new owners in 1961, the
Boones were determined to preserve all the old traditions. And,
with the transfer of ownership, came a youthful enthusiasm to
become more involved in the day to day runnings of the facility.
It was not unusual to see Dan strolling the grounds appraising
building conditions with the maintenance man or Kay patrolling
the cabin line after taps to catch a prank in action. And, three
little Boone children thrown into the mix, made it possible for
young campers to connect directly with the owners.
The many activities
available at Four-Way Lodge were the traditional summer
camp offerings as well as emerging sports that were gaining
popularity in the everyday world at the time. Torch Lake,
eighteen miles long and from two to three miles wide is one of
the most beautiful crystal clear lakes to be found anywhere. It
is understandable that water sports played a prominent role in
the lives of every camper. But, Four-Way was a riding camp too.
The expert instruction and fine stable there, resulted in an
outstanding record of developing excellent horsewomen. Many of
these girls, in fact, had since proven their skill in horse
shows throughout the country.
The Four-Way family
was comprised of four different age classifications, all
containing several cabin groups. There was also a very
popular Junior Counselor program where girls who had just
graduated from high school had the opportunity to work at camp
under the watchful eyes of all senior staff. This would help to
sharpen their leadership skills while those seasoned mentors
could encourage them to bridge the gap from camper to counselor.
Leadership and understanding, guidance and moral character were
qualities demanded of every Four-Way staff member.
As time passed, it
was becoming evident that traditional summer camps nationwide,
were suffering because of rising operating expenses and were
presented with growing liability. It was also a time when
specialty camps were starting to come into their own and
competing for a share of the marketplace. So, regretfully, it
was announced that the last season would be the summer of 1971.
Since this time, the Boones have maintained their private year
round residence at the camp, although the grounds themselves
have been greatly reduced. As with so many beautiful parcels of
property in desirable locations, developers have made their
presence known. However, if you were to take a stroll around ,
you would definitely be able to visualize where the boundaries
were for that Sunday 'Capture the Flag" game, where the
playfield and riding rings were...even though camouflaged in new
vegetation....the stable area where it's adorned with a newer pole
building, and the swimming area where many of the rocks had been
cleared to make wading easy on young feet. I'm not sure, but I
bet you could even take a swim to some old boat moorings and
find a weighted anchorage and an old chain attached. And, if you
close your eyes tightly you may even see, Winkin', Blinkin',
Nod, white, yellow, and green boats, with a U-shaped pier, a
couple swim platforms, and a floating raft. Ah, the days! |
