Fulton County GaArchives Bible/Church Records.....Mt. Gilead Campground, Ben Hill, S Fulton County, GA Copyright Yr 1924
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Shirley Holland sdholland@mindspring.com February 5, 2003, 9:19 am


Church Records.....Mt. Gilead Campground, Ben Hill, S Fulton County, GA  1924

Written by J. M. Baker, G son of Rev. J. M. Smith

Grandfather Smith also gave the gound, for a small
consideration,  in 1834 of 202 1/2 acres for camp
gound purposes. It was located next door to what was
originally "Wesley Chapel" later named Ben Hill
Methodist Church. It was on Fairburn Rd., North of
Campbellton Rd., S Fulton County, Ben Hill, GA. 

The
Cemetery for this church is located next door. 

The
grounds were lighted at night by bonfires built
around the camp.  The small plank tents of the
campers faced the arbor from all four sides. Later
more modern facilities were built by campers.   The
original Arbor was wrecked in 1886 by a heavy snow
storm.  

The Trustees sold a portion of the land and
with the proceeds built the present arbor,now 1924, 
Mr. J. G. Barrett the contractor 1887.  By 1924 it
had electricity.  Families built and maintained
summer cabins or tents on this property and came
each year to Camp Meeting.  This would last a week
and they would bring their cow with them for fresh
milk. They had great preaching and singing and many
souls were saved thru this coming together of
surrounding churches. It was the prayer of Rev.
Smith that this Camp Ground would bless many
generations to come, as it did, and that all would
appreciate what had been done by their ancestors.
Camp Meeting was held 2nd Sunday in August of each
year. 

Footnote: As a child we attended Camp Meetings at
this camp ground.  We lived close enough and had a
car so we did not maintain a facility there.  Many
people did and came each year for the week to visit,
rest and hear great singing and preaching.  The Camp
Ground is not any longer in existance and is in the
hands of the "Methodist Church Conference".  It most
likely will be sold along with the church as it is
also up for sale. Do not know what year it was
closed.   Year 2003  


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