Buildings and Property

Additions To The Property–

Published on by Kathy Baker

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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.

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Onto The Property–

Published on by Kathy Baker

road to camp

Early photographs and postcards of Camp Maqua leave the viewer with the feeling that the property was a beautiful lakeside setting, but had very few trees. In later years, the trees matured with birch, oak, pine and other varieties creating a beautiful forested landscape.

A letter in the archival files from the State of Michigan Department of Conservation in Lansing, dated January 14, 1925, agreed to furnish 2,000 White Pine trees and 2,000 Norway Pines for the property. The letter also stated if more were needed, they would be amenable to providing additional pine trees.

The only other mention of trees on the property in the minutes was in 1963 when the caretaker agreed to check into timber cutting on the swampland of both the old and new property. (Forty-five additional acres had been purchased that year.) The estimate was $1,000-$1,500, but it was unclear if they were paying for it to be cut, or receiving payment for the timber.

The roads were always a constant source of maintenance and concern. As early as 1933 the minutes stated a need for improvements to the road into camp. For $35, they contracted someone to grade, crown and provide drainage in the low places. Other mentions of the road included adding gravel when needed.

Over the years not only the entrance of the road changed, but so did the signs. According to many of the women who were interviewed, the road came in from the east side of the property that wound around the curve of Putnam Rd. and cars entered at the back of the property.

Later the road entrance was moved to Putnam Road at the south end of the property, which was closer to the lodge. The first reference was in 1955, as the minutes stated a discussion held by the camp committee about the road, and a motion was made to build it. A letter in the files from 1956 offered $600 toward the road from Mr. Miller, but “ the board was not inclined to accept that offer or the possibility of leasing property between his and the camps”.

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Wants And Needs–

Published on by Kathy Baker

The upkeep of the buildings on the property were vitally important from a safety standpoint. Trees that grew too close to the buildings had to be removed when the branches and roots interfered with the tile fields or roofing. The roofs of the lodge, brownie and bunkhouses were a constant item of repair. Storms caused wind damage and girls caused their own with over use of doors and windows. Screening was a close second for upkeep on all the bunkhouses.

Jennifer Fenton recalled the weekends in the seventies when her family would help out. With her mother on the YWCA board and her physician father also donating his time, they painted cabins to get the camp ready for the next season. “We would take over the kitchen with our United Methodist church group, which we called the tent and trailer group. We communed with nature,” she laughed.

Waterfront enlargement, moving the boats in front of Dutton, brush cutting, dock painting, raft installation, and Infirmary painting were all projects that needed constant attention. The rifle range, benches and the cross on Chapel Hill were on the list again in 1971. Upkeep of a camp was a never-ending project, with a never- ending need for funds to cover the expenses.

There were no minutes for camp meetings in the later years, but a Camp Maquois repair list was left for the spring of 1977 in the files. It was nearing the end of an era for the camp and list was extensive. The fire marshall wanted all the fire extinguishers to be replaced with the type ABC and all the exit doors to be re-hung to swing in the direction of “egress to open out”, with a non-locking type of lock from the egress. The knobs had to be operable from the inside by a single motion, as in a panic bar push or a single doorknob turn. Six-inch high exit signs had to be installed above the doors. Flammable liquids had to be removed from the boathouse and an electrical inspection was needed.

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Donors And Volunteers–

Published on by Kathy Baker

Without the donors and volunteers, camp would have never survived. Camp committee minutes in the fifties included references to roof and hut repairs, toilet seats, kitchen necessities and a new cook stove. A washing machine had been donated to the camp in 1954, but “another list of wants and needs was to be posted on the bulletin board, in hopes that other individuals would contribute”.IMG_0465_2

Sometimes the repairs had to wait until the ground frost was thawed, (such as the well), and sometimes the items were beyond repair, (such as the sailboat), which was sold in 1954. New tents, bedspreads, paddles, and the lists were endless, In the late fifties there was not enough money in the treasury, so each member of the committee was asked to bring in a dish towel, campers were asked to bring their own canoe paddles and old bedspreads instead of new ones were hunted down.

In the late fifties, caretaker Tom “Pops” Watson was building a new raft and submitted bids for a shed to be built. Sails, riflery and archery equipment had to be procured from the Yacht Club and Rifle and Archery clubs, as well as a piano tuner, bullets, ping pong balls, and food supplies. Goodeynes appeared to be the favored store for many of the camp’s purchases.

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“Camp Maqua Revisited”

Published on by Kathy Baker

IMG_5796Over the years-and there’ve been many since then, At least once a summer I reminisce when, My friends and I would pack up our trunks, and come to this place and Pick out our bunks. “What do you want” bottom or the top? Nobody really cared, We were there, up for the dare, And ready for fun–nonstop! Revelry in the morning—raising the flag, and maybe a bra or 2, Then choosing of activities, Oh soooo many, What’s a girl to do? Arts & Crafts, canoeing, or maybe learn to shoot a gun, Swims in the lake, (don’t forget the buddy system) or stepping on a snake, Or riding a horse, and the singing of course. WHATEVER you chose–it was FUN! I never minded the food too much, I’ll eat pretty much anything to this day, But I do remember a food fight HAHA Much to the directors dismay. The infirmary, the brownie, nature hut and yes, camp store, Our cabin with the little shelf, that held our toothpaste and more, Thad we’d use, when we found an empty space to write our names upon the Rafters, A reminder to all, that we were here, And to all who would come soon after. But the Lodge was my most favorite place, with the cookies and if lucky–mail, And everywhere you looked a smiling face—attached to a pig or pony tail. That place where we got our bellies fed, Sang silly songs that got stuck in our head, Then reluctantly trounced off to bed—Taps and giggled until the last goodnight was said…..Then did it all over again. These are just some snip its of my Camp Maqua memories, With a big heartfelt THANK You to Kathy for allowing this possibility, to go back in time–once again. <3 Written by Ann Niegarth Laskowski as she returned for the Centennial Reunion

Work Weekends At Camp–

Published on by Kathy Baker

IMG_0031Yearly inspections were mandated by the state of Michigan, and many of the reports indicated nothing but excellent comments and ratings. Caretakers, committee members and volunteers worked tirelessly to keep the camp in good shape.

Notes in the camp committee minutes outlined many trips scheduled in the spring before each session to work on maintenance. In 1933 the improvements for the camp included new signs, posts under one hut, repairs to benches over the boat- house, one new raft and three boats required repair. In 1958, it was the weeds in the swim area, which I’m sure was a yearly chore. In the early sixties, it was Chapel Hill that required attention.

The caretakers were responsible for contacting contractors for larger projects, such as road grading and large mowing. Often work-related projects were adopted by church groups, Ki-West Kiwanis and the National Building Trades Union, which required “male assistance” for some of the heavier jobs.

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