Over the years, Camp Coleman has been more than a camp for me- it's my work, it's my home, and, sometimes, it's my life. It has allowed me to grow in ways I never would have without it and I'm glad to finally give something back. Camp Coleman's history has always been elusive, at least, to me, and now it can be shown.
If I could have done this differently, I probably wouldn't have procrastinated so much. There were some resources I could have tapped into if I had thought about it and if I had more time. It's like that old saying that's only annoying because we know it's true, "Hindsight is 20/20."
I hope that by reading this blog you will learn a little more about this wonderful place that has affected so many people, including myself.
May 14, 2009
Interview
SUMMARY: For my interview, I called Debbie Tews of the Wayfarers. She told me that she moved here in the 80's, and that I should talk to Glenda Cook, who turned out to be very helpful. I asked Ms. Cook what the original units were. She told me that they were Treetops, Petaf Glen (Both units built for tents), Peter Pan (Now Sherwood), Treasure Lodge (which has been demolished), and Merry Men (Now only used for storage). I also asked her about Virginia Stockham, who the unit Virginia is named after. She related to me a long story which eventually told me that Mrs. Herbert Stockham (not necessarily Virginia) had donated the extra building materials from the construction of their house and helped to pay for the assembly hall and kitchen. She raised the money herself, which was very unusual for that time period.
RESPONSE: Ms. Cook filled in a lot of blanks for me. I wish I had more questions to ask, but those were the only real, glaring holes in my information. She told me much more than I could have asked for. Essentially, she gave me the history of Camp Coleman before it was Camp Coleman. It is kind of long, but I think it is important to include the story she told me: A woman named Winnefred Collins, who was the head of the Jefferson County Girl Scout Council Finance Committee and Treasurer, realized the need for a camp. A friend of hers in Chicago told her that if she cold raise $500 in 3 months, he would match it because, of the 545 girls in the Girl Scout program at the time, 208 of them were in Tennessee. She contacted Mr. Crawford, a relative of Juliet Gordon Low's (the founder of Girl Scouts) and a prominent figure in the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, who gave $300 to the cause. She was talking to three very "civic-minded men" who were friends of hers and said, jokingly, that she would donate $50 if each of them would donate $50, giving her the extra $200 she needed. They agreed. Another council member found a piece of land at a reasonable price that would be a good place for a camp, but to get it they needed to act soon, and yet they only had $1,000. They inspected it, found it a suitable place for a camp, and bought it on good faith. When they found out that they needed $12,000 to buy the camp and build facilities, the plans almost collapsed. So, to cut down on costs, they built tent platforms instead of actual cabins or huts, but that still wasn't enough - they still needed $6,000 just for the assembly hall and the office, not including the well, kitchen, platforms, etc. The Community Chest, now called United Way, eventually gave them permission to ask their friends to help with funding. They asked the council members to each raise $25, which caused many of them to resign. That was when Mrs. Herbert Stockham stepped in. In the three years it took to get the camp out of debt, Mrs. Stockham raised 3/4 of it. Is that an amazing story or what??? It may not seem as impressive, but you have to remember that women, at this point in history, had just barely broken out of the "Suzy Homemaker mold". This was an amazing feat for her! Also, money then was different from what money means now. This is the era of silent, black and white movies that you paid a nickel to see! So, if a nickel ($0.05) is equal to the $8.00 you pay to see a movie today, then that would make the $12,000 equal to about 1 million, 920 thousand ($1,920,000) dollars today (if my calculations are correct, which they probably aren't).
RESPONSE: Ms. Cook filled in a lot of blanks for me. I wish I had more questions to ask, but those were the only real, glaring holes in my information. She told me much more than I could have asked for. Essentially, she gave me the history of Camp Coleman before it was Camp Coleman. It is kind of long, but I think it is important to include the story she told me: A woman named Winnefred Collins, who was the head of the Jefferson County Girl Scout Council Finance Committee and Treasurer, realized the need for a camp. A friend of hers in Chicago told her that if she cold raise $500 in 3 months, he would match it because, of the 545 girls in the Girl Scout program at the time, 208 of them were in Tennessee. She contacted Mr. Crawford, a relative of Juliet Gordon Low's (the founder of Girl Scouts) and a prominent figure in the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, who gave $300 to the cause. She was talking to three very "civic-minded men" who were friends of hers and said, jokingly, that she would donate $50 if each of them would donate $50, giving her the extra $200 she needed. They agreed. Another council member found a piece of land at a reasonable price that would be a good place for a camp, but to get it they needed to act soon, and yet they only had $1,000. They inspected it, found it a suitable place for a camp, and bought it on good faith. When they found out that they needed $12,000 to buy the camp and build facilities, the plans almost collapsed. So, to cut down on costs, they built tent platforms instead of actual cabins or huts, but that still wasn't enough - they still needed $6,000 just for the assembly hall and the office, not including the well, kitchen, platforms, etc. The Community Chest, now called United Way, eventually gave them permission to ask their friends to help with funding. They asked the council members to each raise $25, which caused many of them to resign. That was when Mrs. Herbert Stockham stepped in. In the three years it took to get the camp out of debt, Mrs. Stockham raised 3/4 of it. Is that an amazing story or what??? It may not seem as impressive, but you have to remember that women, at this point in history, had just barely broken out of the "Suzy Homemaker mold". This was an amazing feat for her! Also, money then was different from what money means now. This is the era of silent, black and white movies that you paid a nickel to see! So, if a nickel ($0.05) is equal to the $8.00 you pay to see a movie today, then that would make the $12,000 equal to about 1 million, 920 thousand ($1,920,000) dollars today (if my calculations are correct, which they probably aren't).
May 7, 2009
Live Interaction
SUMMARY: At Camp Coleman, there are signs near most of the units relating that paritcular unit's history and, for some, legends. For my live interaction, I walked around Camp and read those signs.
RESPONSE: I found that most of the signs say what "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" said, but some were different. The sign for Robinhood said the same thing as "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" but in a different order and with some different wording. For example, "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" states, "[Robinhood] was renovated in 1992 including new exterior siding, new sills, new screening, and new roof." The sign near Robinhood bears no mention of this fact. I guess the people who were deciding what to put on the signs thought that it wasn't important.
RESPONSE: I found that most of the signs say what "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" said, but some were different. The sign for Robinhood said the same thing as "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" but in a different order and with some different wording. For example, "About Camp Coleman: History 1925 - 1995" states, "[Robinhood] was renovated in 1992 including new exterior siding, new sills, new screening, and new roof." The sign near Robinhood bears no mention of this fact. I guess the people who were deciding what to put on the signs thought that it wasn't important.
May 3, 2009
Camp Coleman Collage
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The logo for Camp Coleman is the three pinecones. Each picture is of Camp Coleman, some new and some old.Apr 20, 2009
Apr 2, 2009
Map of Camp Coleman
SUMMARY: “Camp Coleman” is a map of Camp Coleman. At the far left are the canoes. Across the road stands the Juliette Low Hall, and across from that is the flag pole and Archery Shelter. Down from the flag pole is Outlook Inn and Central (in that order). Just across the road from Central is the Memory Lodge and Trading Post. Below those stands Dogwood. Upward and slightly to the right is the Pool and Pinetree, above which is Robinhood and Adirondacks. Above Adirondacks is Merry Men, then Sherwood. To the left of Sherwood is OGU, and to the right is Sunset Point. To the immediate right of Sunset Point is Suicide Slide. Below Suicide Slide is the Upper Arena. On the far right of the picture are the stables. Below the stables and to the left is Virginia.
RESPONSE: I like the map- it’s very creative and colorful. However, the Juliette Low Hall is definitely NOT nearly directly in front of the canoes (coming from someone who has had to hike from one to the other with a bunch of 8-12 year old girls in tow), it's actually much closer to the Swinging Bridge. Also, Fairy Rock (which is depicted as directly below the canoes) is a lot closer to Memory Lodge than the Juliette Low Hall. In addition, Suicide Slide is actually on the other side of Sunset Point.
"Camp Coleman." Map. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. Girl Scouts of America..
RESPONSE: I like the map- it’s very creative and colorful. However, the Juliette Low Hall is definitely NOT nearly directly in front of the canoes (coming from someone who has had to hike from one to the other with a bunch of 8-12 year old girls in tow), it's actually much closer to the Swinging Bridge. Also, Fairy Rock (which is depicted as directly below the canoes) is a lot closer to Memory Lodge than the Juliette Low Hall. In addition, Suicide Slide is actually on the other side of Sunset Point.
"Camp Coleman." Map. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. Girl Scouts of America.
Camp Traditions
SUMMARY: “Camp Traditions” is self-explanatory – it is about the traditions at Camp Coleman. The Flag Ceremony is held before breakfast and supper, and the campers are not allowed to talk until the ceremony is over. Fairy Rock is a short way away from camp and legend holds that the rock is home to tiny fairies. Suicide Slide is a trail that, according to camp legend, was created by the last bear in Camp Coleman as he was being chased away by the scouts. His name was Old Scar, and he leapt off the edge of a steep hill at the top of Camp Coleman – his plight created a trail that campers love to hike. The Docks is actually an old water pumping station, but it makes the campers wondered about “the reasons for a dock on the tiny Cahaba River.” These are just a few of the many camp traditions listed.
RESPONSE: This source talks about the hike to the caves, which are just off of camp property. It says, “The entrance is small and located at the bottom of the cave. Once inside, the cave is large enough to hold and entire troop and a crack in the ceiling permits light to enter.” They should probably note that the guide needs to enter the cave first and check for snakes, mountain lions, and other wildlife. I personally have a friend who tried to enter the cave a few years ago and was about to put her hand on a ledge when she heard a hissing sound. It may have been a mountain lion or a rattlesnake, but she didn't stick around to find out (and I can't say I blame her).
"Camp Traditions." Camp Coleman Seasonal Camp Staff Training Manual. 1995.
RESPONSE: This source talks about the hike to the caves, which are just off of camp property. It says, “The entrance is small and located at the bottom of the cave. Once inside, the cave is large enough to hold and entire troop and a crack in the ceiling permits light to enter.” They should probably note that the guide needs to enter the cave first and check for snakes, mountain lions, and other wildlife. I personally have a friend who tried to enter the cave a few years ago and was about to put her hand on a ledge when she heard a hissing sound. It may have been a mountain lion or a rattlesnake, but she didn't stick around to find out (and I can't say I blame her).
"Camp Traditions." Camp Coleman Seasonal Camp Staff Training Manual. 1995.
Mar 6, 2009
About Camp Coleman: History 1925-1995
SUMMARY: “About Camp Coleman: History 1925 – 1995” is the best and, as far as I know, longest record of the history of Camp Coleman and its facilities. The 140-acre lot that is now Camp Gertrude Coleman was purchased by wheat was then the Jefferson County Girl Scout Council, with wa expanded in 1958 and renamed the Cahaba Girl Scout Council. The camp was named in honor of Gertrude D. Coleman, who was the first commissioner of the Jefferson County Council and had passed away in 1924. Camp Coleman was founded in 1925. This source recounts the individual histories of the units, cabins, buildings, and other facilities as well.
RESPONSE: At one point, “About Camp Coleman: History 1925-1995” states, “Behind the flag pole, the round pavilion serves as a picnic shelter for troops and as an after meals gathering place during resident camp.” This resource needs to be updated. The pavilion mentioned in the quote is now the archery shelter and has been for as long as I’ve been going to Camp Coleman (I went to Camp for the first time in 1999). There is also a new unit, called Lower Merry Men, a new addition to the barn, a new porch on Robinhood, etc.
"About Camp Coleman: History 1925-1995." Camp Coleman Seasonal Staff Training Manual. 1995. 117-120.
RESPONSE: At one point, “About Camp Coleman: History 1925-1995” states, “Behind the flag pole, the round pavilion serves as a picnic shelter for troops and as an after meals gathering place during resident camp.” This resource needs to be updated. The pavilion mentioned in the quote is now the archery shelter and has been for as long as I’ve been going to Camp Coleman (I went to Camp for the first time in 1999). There is also a new unit, called Lower Merry Men, a new addition to the barn, a new porch on Robinhood, etc.
"About Camp Coleman: History 1925-1995." Camp Coleman Seasonal Staff Training Manual. 1995. 117-120.
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