|
In 1948 the
Minnesota District
of the American
Lutheran Church (ALC)
authorized the
purchase of 144
acres on Shakopee
Lake and Warren Lake
northwest of Onamia,
MN. Dr. Arthur
Braun, advisor to
the Luther League,
led the charge in
creating a camp for
the youth of the
American Lutheran
Church. Braun was
assisted by Rev.
William Tinge, Rev.
Otto Herder, and
Rev. Paul Bredow.
Plans for the
development of the
camp were made by
the Nichols firm of
Site Planners and
Architects who also
assisted in the
planning of the
State Capitol
approach and the
campus of the
University of
Minnesota. The
original property
was quite rustic and
had a primitive log
barn, a farmhouse,
and included
wetlands and swamps.
The camp adjoins
Mille Lacs Kathio
State Park,
established in 1957,
which created a
10,500 acre outdoor
resource along the
Rum River next to
the camp. The
natural history of
the area includes
over 4000 years of
continuous Native
American history.
The site bears
historic landmarks
from Minnesota
history including
logging booms and
stagecoach trails.
The area was also
prominent in the
maple sugar era of
this heartland
region.
Clearing of the
grounds and
construction using
volunteer labor
supplied by churches
was started in
1948. Friendship
Hall, the first
building, was
dedicated in July
1949. The facility
served as a meeting,
program, and worship
center, and was also
used as a dining
hall. Lodging was
first provided in
temporary Army
barracks.
Electricity from the
REA was first
installed in October
of 1951.
On May 29, 1948, the
camp came under the
dedicated leadership
of Bill and Iona
Knoll. Their duties
included property
management, camp
record keeping and
food service; all
the necessary
behind-the-scenes
activities required
for a well-run
camp. The first
camp program was
held that summer.
Eventually, youth
camps, leadership
schools, district
conventions, mission
weeks, family camps
(1952), senior adult
camps, a Lutheran
World Federation
gathering (1957),
and men and women's
auxiliaries were all
hosted at the camp.
In 1949, Friendship
Hall was dedicated
"to the memory of
the young people who
have given their
lives to their
church and
country". Lakeview
and Pine Needle
dormitories were
added in the early
fifties, with a
third dormitory
called Woodland
completed in 1954.
An eight-unit motel
for families, staff,
and campers was
built and completed
in 1959.
An attractive
Fireside Circle with
a large memorial
cross was completed
and dedicated on
June 26, 1959, the
10th anniversary of
the camp programs.
The name, "Memorial
Camp", expressed the
district's desire to
dedicate this camp
to the memory of the
young people who had
given their lives in
service to their
church and country.
Braun Chapel was
dedicated on July
30, 1961, in honor
of the camping
leadership provided
by Dr. Arthur Braun,
the District
President and Board
Member.
In August 1963, a
modern home
providing a new
residence for the
camp manager was
completed at the
entrance to the
camp.
On June 15, 1970,
Camp Logos, owned
and operated by the
Minneapolis
Conference Camp
Association, merged
with American
Lutheran Memorial
Camp. Canoe trips
on the St. Croix and
small group camping
programs continued
at Camp Logos until
June 18, 1984, when
the Southeastern
Minnesota District
of The American
Lutheran Church
(TALC) sold the
property to Taylor
Properties.
The construction of
an all-season
retreat center began
in August of 1970.
Completion and
dedication took
place on October 22,
1972. With the
completion of this
building, the camp
began a year-round
retreat program,
expanding the
ministry of the camp
to all seasons of
the year.
In May 1971, Pastor
William E. Vogel was
called to serve the
camp association,
which now owned both
Camp Onomia
(American Lutheran
Memorial Camp at
Onamia) and Camp
Logos (the
wilderness property
located on highway
70 and the St. Croix
River). Pastor Bill
and his wife, Helen,
served the camp
until retirement.
In March 1975, the
American Lutheran
Memorial Camp
(Onomia & Logos)
became owned and
operated by the
Southeastern
Minnesota District
of The American
Lutheran Church. A
primary reason for
ownership by the
district was to
provide a firm
foundation for the
financial needs of
the camp. A
significant debt
from the
construction of the
Retreat Center
required a broader
financial support
base. The district
appointed a camp
board to manage the
affairs of the camp,
and under its
leadership, the camp
continued to
progress. An
additional 80 acres
were added to the
camp in 1980. And
in 1987, the
mortgage on the
retreat center was
paid and the camp
became debt free.
Many new programs
were added to the
camp during these
years. Mike Francis
became the full time
program director in
1980. In 1985, a
Minnesota
Elderhostel program
was introduced.
With the formation
of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in
America, the
ownership of the
camp was transferred
back to an
association of
congregations. The
member congregations
are located in five
of the six synods in
Minnesota. The
ownership and
operation of the
camp through the
association began on
January 1, 1988.
The camp's name
permanently became
Camp Onomia and the
first annual meeting
of the new
association was
October 10, 1987.
Reprinted from
The Camping Movement
of the American
Lutheran Church:
Volume 2. By
Ralph Yernberg.
Pages 19-21.
|
