A group of men and women were to go to camp June 11, 1934, to clean and open Maqua, according to minutes and ledgers of the camp committee. Following the opening, “The Cigar Factory Girls” were to spend a weekend vacation at camp with a lifeguard on June 18. Camp was to open on June 27, but the counselors and other staff were up there ahead of opening day on June 23 of that summer.
“The committee agreed to allow fifteen business girls to attend Camp Maqua as a weekend trip with a charge of twenty-five cents per girl”, noted the minutes from May 22, 1936. By February 1937, the camp committee discussed keeping the camp open for families after season.
Minutes stated the camp was used for a conference from Michigan Sate University in 1941. By 1957, the camp committee was pondering how to rent the camp to school groups off-season when the lodge and cabins were not winterized.
By 1958 the Bay City Council of Churches and the Sterling High School Band utilized the camp. The band was charged $225 and they had to provide their own Red Cross certified lifeguard and prepare their own meals. It was mentioned in 1959 that the profits were increased by renting to these extra groups, and the structures did not “lie dormant” with no-one using them, so it was in the best interest financially to figure out the best plan.
The camp committee agreed on June 20, 1962 to run a blind ad in the Bay City Times stating that the camp could be rented by responsible parties for groups during the month of August. Various churches used the camp for their retreats in the early sixties, as well as the Oscoda High School band, and the Young Adult Group (the Y-Teens) with payment around $380. There were also mentions of exchange students participating in camp activities though the Council of Churches in the later sixties.
The Camp Maqua committee met on January 15, 1964 and one of the main topics concerned “Family Camp”, which started August 15-24 and was limited to ten families. The fee structure was $50 for adults 17 and older; $30 for children 5-16 inclusive; and $10 for children 4 and under. The camp investigated the type of insurance required for this type of camping and medicals were required. At the end of this camp experience, a letter arrived to the camp committee from Wayne State University in August regarding the creation of a family camp at Maqua.
Other mentions of rental were in 1971, when the Live-Y’ers used the camp and Peace River Lutheran Chruch from Rhodes, Michigan used the property and facilities for $400 and $10 per cabin. The committee restricted the use of boats and campers were restricted to the field, most likely in part to liability with water safety.
The entries found in some of the archival scrapbooks at the Great Lakes Bay Region YWCA in Bay City held pages of articles referring to the Girl Reserves and Business and Emplyoyed girls who would rent Camp Maqua off-season, as well as many other organizations.
GIRL RESERVE SCRAPBOOK- JUNE 15-17 1928
“YWCA Setting Up Conference Held at Camp Maqua Saturday”
They had a tour of the camp and a program to discuss Girl Reserve with their first- time volunteers.
GIRL RESERVE SCRAPBOOK- 1928
“Girl Reserves of Central Mi At Camp Maqua”
A weekend conference was held.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- AUGUST 1929
“Y.Y.C.A. Will Reserve Ten-Day Period at Maqua for Matrons”
“Employed Girls and School Girls Will Also Be Cared for by Camp Staff”
Two rooms that had been furnished within the lodge were to be reserved “for matrons who are seeking a few days of vacation beside a quiet lake surrounded by forests and hills” from August 21-31 at Camp Maqua. They were able to boat, swim, study nature here, and arts and crafts. The staff constructed of Miss Marie Limberger, Camp director Miss Frances Luibrand, and the camp nurse.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- AUGUST 1929
“Camp Maqua Has Capacity Number for Coming Week”“68 Campers Enjoy Loon Lake: 26 Girls Come From Other Towns”
Miss Frances Luibrand and Mrs. George Dent accompanied 58 campers by bus to meet up with the 10 other girls who were already at camp. Two business girls were also joining for a week.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- 1929
“Girls May Earn Camp Expenses; Employed Women Are Aided”
Marie Limberger, health educator director at the local Y and also camp director at Maqua, had openings for girls to work at camp. Two guest rooms were also available with special rates to any “employed girl” who has the opportunity to take advantage of camp programs.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- AUGUST 1929
“Maqua Campers Pack Gala Days With Merriment”
“Junior High School Period Open with Capacity Crowds”
Sixty-seven campers of junior high school age never lost their enthusiasm “despite the throes of heat which had made Bay Cityans groan during the latter card of the week.”
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- JUNE 1930
“YM Camp Maqua to be opened for summer”
There were three periods- June 25 to July23 for grade school girls, July 23 to August 20 for junior high girls, and August 20 to 27 for older girls. There were special accommodations for employed girls, who were allowed to spend time during the summer. Marie Limberger (who was the YMCA health director) was the camp director.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- 1930
“Detroit Girls to Join Campers at Maqua For Week”
Camp programs were planned for 45 high school senior girls from Detroit.
ARCHIVAL SCRAPBOOK- 1930
“Camp Maqua to Close Tomorrow”
“Season for Loon Lake Lodge Ends; Business Girls Return”
Twenty girls took advantage of the camp, which closed the season, Miss Gertrude secretary of the business and industrial girls association and camp cook closed camp.
GIRL RESERVES SCRAPBOOK
“Past Week at Maqua Camp Replete With Activities”
Business girls had taken over the camp and hut chiefs were elected. (They decided the rules for campers) They enjoyed stunt night, a Pirate Ball, and a hike to Long Lake-“cooking their food over stoves and a wig warm fire”.
“A moonlight dip attracted al the campers who shivered but liked it. Some of them have shivered for other reasons that week- one of them in the discovery of a mouse by a fierce pirate who screamed in a way in which no fierce pirate should scream. Another pirate shamelessly fled, but peace was returned by the drowning of the rodent through the combined efforts of hut four.”
Were you aware of other organizations using Camp Maqua off-season?