Historical Information
In 2007, we celebrated 85 years of camping!
Click here to download a PDF of the article, "85 Years of Camping."
Click here to download a PDF of a timeline of important events in camp history.
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| The dress code has changed a bit since then... | Campers at Keewadin in the '20s |
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| Loading EVERYTHING up to go home! | Campers at Keewadin in the '20s |
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| Camp Keewadin near Annapolis MD | Camp is a kick in the pants! |
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| The first shelters at Catoctin, 1959 | Dining on the porch of the Lodge, Catoctin 1959 camp season |
A Brief History of old Opequon Quaker Camp (now Shiloh)
These are pictures of the facilities at the old Opequon Quaker Camp (which is now Shiloh) from the mid and late 80's. During these years the camp was operated on a flood plain on the Pidgeon Farm near Clearbrook, VA. The site was referred to as Opequon-on-the-Flood-Plain or "down the hill." This might be confusing because we now operate another camp (called Opequon) "up the hill" from the site pictured here. Too confused? Read the history section. If you were at Opequon during these times, you'll never forget it. Here are some pictures to jog your memory.
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| This is a photo of the dining pavilion looking toward the kitchen. The pool is to the left. | This is the firecircle as seen from the path approaching it. |
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| This the new kitchen that was built on the Opequon site in the 1980s. | This was the bathhouse. Much of it would wash away during the spring and had to be rebuilt in time for camp. The telephone pole structure built to the left of the Guys side was intended to help anchor it during the spring flooding. |
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| These are photos of the tarps under which everyone at camp lived. Rest period was never hotter. | |
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| This is a photo of the Opequon dam taken from above. | Tubing! |
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| This was one of two tipis that were set up at camp every year. These moved to Shiloh and used for a couple more years and then retired. | This is a photo of the big dead tree that stood in the middle of the tarp field, mocking us with no shade. There was a camp story about a witch who stole children who was buried beneath it. |
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| Pictured above are Ruthann Andrews who was the camp nurse for many years and Sue deVeer who directed Opequon/Shiloh from 1987 to 1995. | |
More about Opequon: The summer camp that would become Opequon (and subsequently Shiloh) was first held in the summer of 1977 at the Glaydin School near Lucketts, Virginia, and directed by John Sexton. Three one week sessions were offered. Camp was held here for one more year in 1978, and then in 1979 moved to the Pidgeon farm near Clearbrook, Virginia (up the long driveway--the same site as the present-day Opequon Quaker Camp). In 1979 John Sexton, John Huffman, and Sheila Bach directed camp. In 1980, it was Sheila and John Sexton. In 1981, just Sheila. The black and white photo is a very old photo of the front gate that led up the steep driveway to camp. It is much more grown up today. From 1982 to 1986 Michael DeHart (now the director of Thornton Friends School) directed Opequon. From the beginning, the Opequon site was shared with a camp operated by the Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Clearbrook, Virginia. Grace and BYM each operated our summer camps there for part of the summer. As demand for camp within BYM grew, it became clear that we needed to expand the summer session. Unfortunately, there was only so much summer to go around and in order to grow we had to move.
BYM engineered a short move down the hill to the site pictured in photos at the top of this page in time for the summer of 1987. Prior to 1987 the flood plain site was used as a public family campground. (Remember the postcard that looked like it pictured a young Dave Gregal holding a fish? It was a postcard advertising the family campground. The text on the back read: Caught beside Campsite No. 5 at Opequon Creek Family Campground...) Anyway, tarp structures had to be built, the kitchen (which had formerly been the general store for the family campground) had to be expanded and the dishwashing "cage" added, a pavilion built, and "improvements" made to the bathhouse. Despite the lack of trees, camp did have a pool which helped campers and staff keep cool.
This modest site taught us that camp is about people, not place.
We last had camp at this site
in the summer of 1991. After this, camp moved to it's present site
at Shiloh Quaker Camp near Stanardsville, Virginia and opened in time for
the summer of 1992. The flood plain site on the Pidgeon farm has
been used mainly for grazing cattle since that time. There was a
trailer on the property that was used as an infirmary. Not long
after we moved camp to Shiloh, a small plane crashed into it and it was
destroyed. Many of the original buildings on the flood plain Opequon site are falling
down or are completely gone. In 2001 when a new infirmary was
being built at Shiloh, we asked the Pidgeons if we could use some windows
out of the old kitchen at Opequon. All the windows in the infirmary
at Shiloh came out of the old kitchen. |
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| Candle boats and peace lanterns were often floated in the pool. | |
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| Campers and staff at Opequon attended Meeting for Worship at Hopewell Centre Meeting near Clearbrook, VA. Folks at the new Opequon continue this tradition and add a lot to life of the Meeting. | Longtime Music Director, Christian Myers (R) and dedicated maintenance man Glenn Rhinesmith (L). The table above now lives on the back porch at Shiloh. It was built with timbers from the Eller's barn (see Steve Eller below). |
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| Bob Pidgeon standing by the pool with longtime Assistant Director, Steve Eller. The historically Quaker Pidgeon family helped establish Hopewell Center Meeting. Bob's son Dan now manages the family farm. In retirement, Bob is a potter and works with campers at Opequon digging clay from the river, building, throwing and firing pots. | Amy and Ethan Williamson, former Teen Adventure Co-directors, lounging atop the roof rack on the van at Opequon. |
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| Slim Harrison has been telling stories and calling square dances for camp for many years. Pictured here: Tamar Charry (in purple), Adam Durek (shirtless), Josh Riley (in maroon shirt), Brook Woods-Lonergan (in white), Jordan Swank (yellow hat), Slim Harrison (with drum). This photo was likely taken in 1989 or 1990. | The porch at Hopewell Center Meeting |
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| Former Opequon/Shiloh Director Sue deVeer sitting at the firecircle. Also pictured: (L to R with many left out), Lynn Overman, Alex Greenshields, Rob Schnable, Monrovia VanHoos, Maurita Ardike (?), Dana Kirkpatrick, Asha Confer, Annie McGarrah, Sue deVeer | The famous Opequon Campgrounds Postcard from when the site was a family campground. |
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If you have anything you'd like to submit, send an e-mail to Jane Megginson, Camp Administrative Secretary or just send it to:
Camp Administrative Secretary
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Camping Program Office
413 S West End Ave
Lancaster PA 17603
717-481-4870
Anything you submit can be returned.
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A NOTE ON OUR PROGRAMS:
Our goal is to foster the kind of self-esteem that facilitates spiritual growth. Opportunities for such growth are created in the process of supporting campers through challenging experiences. Success in negotiating rapids or exploring artistic creativity offers a deeper strength from which to accept the challenge and risk of turning inward toward the Light. Typically, a camper goes home a more competent, confident person whose spiritual roots have deepened and whose ties to the broader Quaker community have strengthened.
