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 […]
Tom “Pops” Watson
Aladdin–The Preferred Builder
Pictorial: Aladdin Homes – Bay City, Michigan : Bay-Journal The Aladdin Company from Bay City was the primary builder of the huts or cabins, but it is unclear whether the lodge was built by the same company. Founded by brothers W.J. Sovereign, O.E. Sovereign and Charles Munro in 1906, it was a pioneer for mail […]
Onto The Property–
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 […]
Donors And Volunteers–
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 […]
Post-Camp Clean-Up–
A copy of the revised edition of the “Notes Regarding Closing Camp Maqua” for the season, dated 1954 and updated from August 1950, listed the elements required to successfully close up camp. The surplus food, that was unopened and would not keep until the following season, had to be returned. The kitchen had to be […]