In April 1936, the camp committee discussed a small piece of property that belonged to the D&M Railroad, which would cost $5.44 and back taxes of $800. It must have been purchased, because to this day the tracks can be seen on the back of the property, where the present owners hike during the fall.

In the committee minutes of October 1955, references were made about a piece of property owned by Mr. James Miller, who was willing to donate a lot at the corner of his property for the caretaker’s cabin at the east end of the property. They also questioned a cabin that lay at the foot of Chapel Hill that may have been built over the property line.

Another cabin had been built 15 feet from the camp property line and the owner was trying to sell it for $8500 unfinished or $9500 finished. There were concerns if it did not sell and was rented, it could be “disastrous” to camp.

There were two lots next to the camp and the committee met in September 1957 wondering whether to purchase them. The worry was whether the camp would continue to operate of families with sons moved into cottages on that property. They questioned whether the development threatened the future of the camp and how those issues would affect decisions made from a financial standpoint.

By October they had revisited this discussion of the life expectancy of the camp in reference to social problems near a girls camp if cottages were built too close. They decided not to buy the property, but began a plan for a stockade fence along the property line near the property in question on the east side of the camp.

The decision was made to build a fence that was either peeled log or board fencing and  would go up from the lake to 20 feet beyond the cabin that was near the property line. (Hirschfield’s provided the lumber at a cost of $215.)

More property was being considered in 1961. There was land for sale near Chapel Hill, and property on the northwest side of Loon Lake. In 1962, the committee considered twenty-three acres owned by Mr.Ira Schofield, which was for sale for $10,000. By December 1962, the land contract was drawn up and the land was purchased. In 1969 an additional sixty plus acres was purchased from John Webb for $300 per acre.

Minutes from the finance committee dated November 11, 1971 stated; “Camp Maqua is in trouble due to lower attendance at camp and two big payments on the property this year.” It was the beginning of the slide and it had been a concern of the committee in previous years.

What changes to the property were you aware of during your camping days?