The farmhouse on the shores of Loon Lake was the first structure used as the main building in the summer of 1924 when the Camp Maqua property was purchased.

“Dutton was a farm house on the property, and this was used the first and second years and about twelve girls could be accommodated at one time, with a staff of three. The screened porch (which was added in 1940) was used for indoor activities, and the cooking was done in the same building”, according to a note in the archives.

There were a few discrepancies in the notes as to year the upstairs porch was added to Dutton, but it provided sleeping quarters for the director and the nurse and at one time the dietician.

A few tents were set up for the first campers. Miss Helen Graves, secretary of the Girl Reserve Department of the YWCA was the first camp director and Mrs. E.B. Perry was the camp chairman.

Margaret Dahlem was one of the original campers in the twenties and recalled the nurse’s first aid room was near the kitchen in the lodge during her stay. Beverly Schlatter, who had camped in the mid forties, recalled a tent/cabin, which appeared to be a temporary structure, and was located down the hill from the lodge. “It was used as the Infirmary and it was about 50-60 ft. from the lodge between the craft hut and the lodge. The nurse dispensed meds or we went there if we were ill. I remember I had to go twice a day to get my meds for some reason.”

“Miss Buckwalter suggested Dutton be used as a health unit and a hut built for counselors a small distance away—her report stressing the need and why—for an arrangement of this kind,” said the 1936 report, The lower floor was turned into the health unit, where girls with minor illnesses were treated. It was a topic that the camp committee discussed every spring for several years in their committee minutes.

Camp committee minutes from 1958 suggest there were complaints about the administration of the camp medical system for a few years, so it was suggested that physical exams be given by physicians at camp and to allow more time for private appointments. By October of 1959 the Social Welfare Department suggested Dutton be replaced.

On October 5, 1960, the camp committee minutes had recommendations from the State Welfare Board that a new Infirmary must be built. Bids were taken for an Aladdin ready-cut building 20’x26’. It was time for a new structure!

A letter from the Aladdin Company dated April 14, 1960 and addressed to Mrs. Berven and the Camp Maqua Committee expressed the opinion that the Fort Hope #2 Aladdin Vacation Home would “suit your needs very well”, with minor changes. Priced at $1407, the home could be shipped directly to the site and a discount of $233 would be applied if a concrete slab was used.

Dutton was badly in need of repair, even if it was not to be used as the infirmary. Along with details for the “hospital” or infirmary, Mr.Tom Watson had written to Mrs. Berven in May 1960 with a request to raise the kitchen in the aging building and level it. “This is the worst part of Dutton”, stated Mr. Watson.

His quote for $250 did not include the material, which would include joists and new flooring. The front porches were also in need of repair, which he thought could wait till spring, but he mentioned making a new stairway outside. The letter was clear in its intentions. A decision had to be made fairly quickly.

There were many additional notes in the file with references to Dutton, but they were undated. “Dutton—maybe can be “timbered up”, “front end not too bad; porch alone is shifting; needs new steps outside to second floor—useable, but rickety.” A small pencil drawing of Dutton illustrated that work could be done at the back of the cabin with a tile field eliminated.

A letter to the camp committee, (written before the November 1960 meeting), was written by Mrs. Clarence Weber. She, along with Mr. Allenspach, and Mrs. Herter, went to camp and returned with slides on repairs. They were concerned about many of the items listed, but mostly about the shortfall in funds. Rummage sales, donations from friends and free labor were all part of their backup plans to raise money painlessly.

The Aladdin floor plan was in hand for the Infirmary, with a quote of $1778.40, which included screen doors and windows. The plan was to begin building in the spring after deer season, and would be situated near the tennis courts. Mr.Tom Watson received a letter from Virginia Weber about drilling the well, along with a sketch for the placement of the tub and shower with hot water!

Dutton would now become the nature center, and by May of 1961, the Infirmary was completed. Photographers showed up in March to record the ongoing building for a full-page spread in the society section.

.Were you at camp when the new Infirmary was built? What do you remember about the structure called “Dutton”?