A HISTORY OF THE ONTARIO DISCIPLE CONFERENCE GROUNDS
By Kenneth S. Wills
The Disciple Conference Grounds on Lake Erie south of Cayuga was purchased in 1953 because for most of the years since 1927 (Terrace Beach) our camps and conferences had been held in rented quarters and the conviction had grown that this work was important enough to be permanently housed. Many people were involved in this decision and in the fundraising but special thanks is due to Oliver McCully for promotion and general coordination, Ken Wills for planning and Dan Reed for advocacy in the Ontario Board and supervision of construction.
That fall, Mr. Reed led a small group from Toronto to cut a path through the underbrush, demolish the only building on the property, a dilapidated little ice-house, and open what is now the road to the central clearing where the dining hall stands. This was the first of the scores of workbees which have constructed and maintained the property.
A well was drilled at the west end of the clearing which, though successful, soon proved inadequate and we turned to the lake for water eventually developing the present system with pump located in the little building near the road and with a chlorinating system that requires constant attention.
The first camps were held there in 1954 using tents for sleeping but dining under our own roof with only crushed stone for a floor. By the next year the concrete had been run and a beginning was made on the cabins.
Experience at Normandale and elsewhere had taught us the disadvantages of dormitory accommodation so we turned to small cabins carefully designed for maximum use. They were set well apart in the woods three on each side to form a horseshoe with the dining hall at the top. They are L-shaped each consisting of three rooms all of which have outside doors. Two lower and two upper bunks were built in each of the back rooms and the front one left open to accommodate one, or at most two, cots. Thus each cabin houses up to ten persons each with his own “locker”. This plan is easily adapted to family camping but most often four campers sleep in each back room and one (or two) counselors in the front. Originally, a ring of outhouses was located at the fringes of the property behind the cabins. Traditionally, the east side has been used by woman and girls and the west side by men and boys.
The cook’s cabin with two bedrooms and a small living room was placed well away from the others for privacy. The kitchen was carefully planned with separate areas for storage, preparation of food, serving and clearing dishes. The two sets of swinging doors are intended to provide safe one way traffic to and from the dining area. The first “office” was the little room off the kitchen still used to store “tuck”. In the second or third year the fireplace was installed in the lounge.
The Administration Building, built last, was placed at the front for registration and was intended to house the Director, the Business-Manager-Caretaker and the Nurse and provide a sick bay and a cozy room with fireplace for faculty and other meetings. From the Director’s window most of the grounds is visible. In more recent years this building has been modified somewhat to provide more adequate accommodation for a full-time custodian.
All buildings are on concrete slabs. Some floors are better than others but all require plenty of dustbain. The horseshoe plan made it possible to build a central washhouse convenient to all. It was deliberately of concrete block construction with toilets, showers and wash basins enough to make for quick ablutions for a whole camp. All buildings were finished in natural cedar which, although it requires a great deal of varnish, adds greatly to the attractive appearance of the grounds.
A great deal of equipment has had to be secured, from walk-in refrigerator to piano, tables, chairs, benches, mattresses, dishes, etc. etc. War assets were helpful and all was acquired as reasonably as possible. Much kitchen equipment has been donated through the showers conducted every year or two. The old locomotive bell mounted on its stone cairn was a late addition. Repairs and improvements have been made by the churches over the years – even to the installation of new roofs after 25 years of service.
The loop in the road was intended for cars to pass and should not be used for parking. That is provided beside the cabins and at the front of the grounds. A 1981 development has been the installation of 12 trailer hook-ups with water and electricity. A new road makes for easy trailer turning and access to the dumping station beside the Administration Building.
With the emphasis on small group wilderness camping in later years the additional acreage at the back was purchased and trees set out there but the planting was not very successful. (Thanks to the mice!) This portion is leased for farming but is available as needed.
Recreational facilities are limited to a softball diamond, volleyball court and horseshoe pitch but there is plenty of space for any outdoor games. The north east corner of the original property has been reserved for an outdoor chapel. Of course, the trees have grown tremendously and we have always had plenty of them. Dead wood has given us an abundant supply for campfires and fireplaces – but it does have to be cut and piled. The woods have been thinned considerably to let in more sunlight and some lumber has been sold.
Unfortunately, our beach is stoney and the water shallow. We have experimented with boats and with an above ground swimming pool, through the generosity of H. Stainton, and serious consideration has been given to the installation of a permanent pool but original costs and especially maintenance costs discouraged this. The best solution is to take the campers to a private beach some distance east either by car or on foot. Campfires can be held on the beach or in the council ring between the wash house and dining hall.
From the very first the Ontario Board has administered this property through a “Conference Grounds Committee” chaired by Ken Wills for its first ten years and then by Tom Fountain and Elmer Stainton. Sometimes, as at present, responsibility has been divided between program and property committees since careful attention must always be given to maintenance.
Among directors of our earliest camps were: Markie Simpson, Helen DeWitt, Ina McCully and Ken Wills. They set high standards of program, curriculum and conduct which have been maintained by those who followed. It has been found necessary to employ custodians and cooks and sometimes life-guards and nurses but no directors or counselors have been paid, though sometimes their travel has been provided. Under the general policies of the committee directors are in complete charge during the camp for which they are responsible and it has been considered an honour to be selected for this very demanding but very rewarding work. Many of our present leaders were inspired by their camping experiences.
“Disciple Conference Grounds” was deliberately chosen as the name since it denotes ownership and purpose. Regularly each summer we have held young people’s intermediate and junior camps, sometimes a family camp, but the Conference Grounds has been used also for a great many men’s, women’s and young people’s retreats and as a central meeting place for our people. For years it served to accommodate All-Canada Planning Conferences and today our people in Ontario look forward to the annual Fellowship Sunday there. It is the only property wholly owned (and paid for) by our Ontario Churches through the Ontario Board and is looked upon with justifiable pride. Whenever we have not been using it between early spring and late fall it has been easily rented to other groups delighted to get it. It has also been made available to our churches for picnics, planning retreats, etc. Winterizing has been considered by the Long Range Planning Committee but these buildings were never intended for winter use and whether the additional expense would be justifiable remains to be seen. Recommended now is the construction of a shelter suitable for craft work and for picnicking in bad weather. As it is the Disciples Conference Grounds is recognized as one of the best campgrounds of its type anywhere to be found.
January 20, 1982 Kenneth S. Wills
