CHURCH: Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, Chapter 4, PA & NY Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 65-82 ________________________________________________ CARMEL GROVE 65 CHAPTER IV CAMP MEETINGS BINGHAMTON DISTRICT Carmel Grove PRIOR to the purchase of the grove at Hooper, camp meetings within the bounds of the present Binghamton District were migratory. In September, 1850, a camp meeting was held at Heart Lake, where one had been held several years before. In September, 1851, a meeting was held on Boswell Hill, near Union, and near Father Boswell's. This meeting was for the Newark District. In 1851 and 1852 meetings were held in the town of Conklin, Broome County, on land belonging to Thomas Bound, three miles north of Great Bend and two miles east of Conklin. In June, 1853, the camp meeting was held in Maine, nine miles above Union, on land owned by Mrs. Rhoda Lewis. In August, 1854, the meeting was held on land owned by Mr. French, near the church in Castle Creek. In September, 1855, September, 1857, September, 1858, and August, 1859, meetings were held at Kattelville, in the town of Chenango, on the land of Mr. L. Lewis, eight miles from Binghamton, and three from Chenango Forks. In September, 1861, a meeting was held at Vestal, on land belonging to Henry Mersereau, about three miles from the Union depot. In September, 1866, a meeting was held at Port Crane, on land of William Ogden. A meeting was held at Auburn Four Corners, in September, 1867, for Wyalusing District. In August, 1861 and 1862, meetings were held in Maple Grove, near the Methodist Episcopal church at Lymansville, for the Wyalusing District. This camp was located on the Wilkes-Barre and Bridgewater turnpike, about one mile from Lynn and four from Springville. A camp meeting was held in 1845 near Lynn, in a grove belonging to Sheldon Wilson. It does not follow that no meetings were held on years which are not mentioned above. We may have failed to get track of them. In those days camp meetings were literally camp meetings. Many inconveniences were suffered, but the results were glorious. It was a common thing to report over one hundred conversions as a result of a week or ten days' service. Dr. Peck mentions a 66 WYOMING CONFERENCE camp meeting of great power which he attended on Broome Circuit in 1816. At the ministerial meeting of Binghamton District, which was held at Whitney's Point in July, 1872, action was taken in favor of securing a camp ground for the district. A committee, consisting of H. R. Clarke, L. C. Floyd, J. N. Lee, L. C. Phillips, C. V. Arnold, Elmer Brigham, L. S. Smith, and George Craver, was appointed to look for a location and call a meeting for further CARMEL GROVE AUDITORIUM [photo] action. On August 5 a meeting was held in the Centenary Church of Binghamton. A grove in Kattelville, owned by J. N. Lee, a grove near Lisle, and the present ground had been visited. After some discussion relative to the desirability of the different locations the following committee was appointed with power to locate a ground and prepare for a camp meeting: H. R. Clarke, L. C. Phillips, C. V. Arnold, L. C. Floyd, A. J. Van Cleft, Asa Brooks, J. N. Lee, M. West, Elmer Brigham, and L. S. Smith. On the next day, August 6, the committee met at the present grove at eight o'clock A.M. After thoroughly viewing the grove the committee decided to purchase it, and H. R. Clarke and A. J. CARMEL GROVE CAMP GROUND 67 Van Cleft were appointed to negotiate for it. The committee leased the land of Mr. John Blakeslee for one year, agreeing to purchase it after the incorporation of the society at $175 per acre for twelve and a half acres. Preparations for a camp meeting were zealously pushed. The ground was cleared, fence built, a preachers' stand costing $270 put up, a spring of water was bought of Mr. Dewitt Dunning, a temporary boarding hall erected, auditorium furnished with seats, the grounds having been laid out by H. R. Clarke and L. C. Phillips. On the evening of September 10, 1872, the first camp meeting opened. During HOTEL, CARMEL GROVE ASSEMBLY, HOOPER, N. Y. [photo] the meeting several important committee meetings were held. On September 16 the name "Carmel Grove" was adopted by the committee. On Tuesday, the 17th, the first sale of lots occurred, when about one hundred lots were sold. Neri Pine, acting as counsel for the association, secured the incorporation of the association by the Legislature on May 9, 1873. The following were the first board of trustees: H. R. Clarke, president; Judson H. Cook, vice president; L. C. Phillips, secretary; William N. Cobb, treasurer; A. D. Alexander, A. J. Van Cleft, D. D. Lindsley, L. C. Floyd, E. W. Brigham, Scott Harris, C. V. Arnold, N. T. Childs, J. N. Lee, Henry Wheeler, Martin West. The last-named was the first superintendent of the grounds. In the sum- 68 WYOMING CONFERENCE mer of 1873 the boarding hall was built, a building 64x24, 26 feet high, having three stories. In 1875 a camp meeting was held, designated "The Old Genesee Conference Reunion Camp Meeting," and was presided over by Rev. B. I. Ives, and was much enjoyed by the pioneers. This meeting commenced on June 29, and continued until July 4. On September 7 the regular camp meeting of the season commenced. A cottage for the presiding elder was built in 1881, and the bell purchased at a cost of $33.25. About 1892 a new auditorium was DIMOCK AUDITORIUM [photo] strongly talked, and in October of that year Rev. C. H. Newing, George E. Green, and H. F. Barrett were appointed a committee by the trustees to formulate plans and erect an auditorium before the next camp meeting. It was not accomplished. On August 13, 1895, the stockholders, in a meeting held in the Centenary tent, authorized the trustees to build a covered auditorium before another camp meeting. The trustees subsequently secured plans from Mr. Van Slyke, and let the contract to Baker & Weir for $1,444. The auditorium was dedicated in 1896, at which time about $800 was raised toward paying for it. In 1899 the Chautauqua idea was introduced, and has since become a very prominent feature of its annual program. DIMOCK CAMP GROUND 69 The grounds are sewered, and lighted by an acetylene gas plant, and have about fifty neatly arranged cottages. It is now costing about $2,000 annually to run the assembly. The plant is worth about $12,000, on which there is an indebtedness covering over one half of this amount. The present trustees are: A. J. Dibble, John Attridge, Frank M. Leonard, C. C. Barnes, A. W. Carley, Reed B. Freeman, William H. Bristol, Edward Harris, Albert H. Bixby, W. L. Pierce, Rev. John B. Sweet, D.D., Dr. George F. Hand, Hon. EPWORTH HALL, DIMOCK [photo] W. J. Welsh, A. A. Brimmer, J. H. Hover. Reed B. Freeman is president, Arthur J. Dibble, corresponding secretary; H. F. Barrett, recording secretary. Dimock This camp was located for the purpose of serving Wyalusing District. When the district was absorbed this camp came into the Binghamton District. At a camp meeting held near Meshoppen in August, 1873, Rev. I. T. Walker, G. E. Palen, and J. C. Brown were constituted a committee to locate and purchase a grove for camp meeting purposes. Paul Billings, O. W. Stanton, and D. Billings were 70 WYOMING CONFERENCE subsequently added to the committee. In May, 1874, this committee, after looking at several groves, settled upon the present one, which is located a few miles below Montrose, on the railroad leading from Montrose to Tunkhannock. In 1876 the land was purchased of Colonel Bailey, twenty-three and one tenth acres at $50 per acre. The first board of managers consisted of Rev. I. T. Walker, president; J. H. Weston, secretary; William H. Bloomer, treasurer; W. L. Thorpe, J. L. Race, G. T. Price, H. G. Harned, W. H. Barnes, G. E. Palen, A. G. Overfield, E. B. Gates, D. G. Bloch, J. G. Taylor, and W. B. Guile. The association has spent about $5,000 in improvements. There is a good boarding hall, preachers' stand, Epworth League hall, a hall for meetings in rainy weather, an unsurpassed spring of water. Drinking from this spring well repays one for a trip to the ground. The grounds are nicely graded, and are kept in good order. There are about one hundred cottages on the ground, usually occupied by a thousand persons. It is claimed that this camp retains more of the old-time fervor than any other within our bounds. Its history has been one of revival, year after year. The present board of managers are Rev. Joshua S. Lewis, president; D. A. Titsworth, vice president; D. Billings, secretary; F. B. Jewitt, treasurer; Cyrus Shaw, J. G. Taylor, T. C. Allen, George Candee, I. S. Tewksbury, James Kassen, Perry Sweet, G. H. H. Davis, Albert Overfield. HONESDALE DISTRICT Salem Camp meetings have been held in various places within the bounds of the present Honesdale District. Dr. Peck records a visit to a camp in Salem, in September, 1818, then on the Canaan Circuit: "We crossed Cobb's Mountain in a considerable company of men and women on horseback, led by our magnificent presiding elder on a mammoth horse. All in all it was a novel scene to us, and there was a sprinkling of romance in a train of travelers on saddles, composed of men and women, old and young, climbing the mountain and clambering over rocks, upon which the old Yankees trod when they first visited fair Wyoming, and upon which they dropped their sweat and tears as they fled from the murderous savages. Many of them crossed this mountain on foot, we were well mounted; they traveled in peril of their lives, we in safety. "The encampment was small, the ground rough, and the tents poorly built. Everything was rude and primitive; but God was SALEM CAMP GROUND 71 there. The work of awakening and conversion soon commenced, and the groans of the wounded and the shouts of the saved resounded through the forest of tall hemlock and beech trees. How many were converted we did not learn, but we were happy in subsequent years to find some who were there brought to God bright and shining lights in the Church." Camp meetings were held in September, 1859, August, 1860, and September of 1861 and 1862 on grounds owned by Mr. A. Butler, near the turnpike leading from Honesdale to Bethany, two miles from Honesdale and one from Bethany. During these four years over three hundred conversions were reported. In SALEM AUDITORIUM [photo] 1862 and 1863 camp meetings were held on a ground three miles south of Mount Pleasant. In September, 1867 and 1868, meetings were held on a ground about one mile from Thompson, toward Carbondale. In August of 1866, 1867, 1868, and 1870, meetings were held at what was then called Dunning's Station, now called Elmhurst, for the Lackawanna District. These meetings were held in a grove now owned by Mr. Rhodes, about a half mile from the station and on the left of the highway. The rear of the ground was on a high ledge overlooking the railway track, so that as a preacher stood in the stand passing trains seemed to be behind and nearly under him. This camp was called the Bethel Camp Ground. Several camp meetings were held at 72 WYOMING CONFERENCE South Canaan, in a grove not far from the parsonage. Meetings were held at Tallmansville in August, 1875, 1879, and 1880. One was held at Uniondale in August, 1885. The record of most of these meetings we have secured by consulting files of the Northern Christian Advocate. It is not presumed to be complete. With passing years, desire for a permanent location and more comfortable quarters manifested itself. At a District Conference of the Honesdale District, held in 1874, a committee was appointed for the purpose of locating a ground and organizing an association. Accordingly, the following brethren met at the SALEM BOARDING HALL Salem parsonage on November 2, 1874: Rev. S. F. Wright, Rev. W. G. Queal, W. D. Curtis, A. J. Andrews, and James Van Camp. Rev. S. F. Wright acted as chairman, and James Van Camp, secretary. Motion carried to proceed to incorporate, and that the board of trustees consist of five ministers and ten laymen. The capital stock was to be $1,000, divided into one hundred shares of $10 each, with a privilege to increase the stock to $10,000, but not to exceed that amount. James Van Camp was instructed to draw the articles of incorporation with S. F. Wright, W. G. Queal, A. J. Andrews, O. H. Pease, and Sanford Williams advisory committee. The articles of incorporation were properly drawn, passed upon by the court, and recorded on February 2, 1875. The first board of directors, or trustees, consisted of Revs. SIDNEY GROVE CAMP GROUND 73 S. F. Wright, W. G. Queal, H. M. Crydenwise, Stephen Jay, and Jonas Underwood, and laymen W. D. Curtis, Gilbert White, Sanford Williams, George Williams, J. H. Williams, A. J. Andrews, J. P. Mitchell, J. W. Bidwell, O. H. Pease, and James Van Camp. Of this board S. F. Wright was president, George Williams, vice president, James Van Camp, secretary, and W. G. Queal, treasurer. In February, 1875, six acres of land were bought of A. J. Andrews, and on May 20, 1895, four and a half acres more were purchased. Owing to this last purchase the association was put $300 in debt. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gillet, of Salem, gave the association $200. Subscriptions and collections added to that amount enough to liquidate the indebtedness, and build a much-needed preachers' stand. This was erected in 1901, Rev. E. A. Quimby, R. H. Simon, and H. B. Goodrich being the building committee. It cost $295, and was dedicated at the camp meeting of that year. The grove is about one half mile from Salem Corners, on the south side of the road. It has about twenty-five cottages, some of them being very respectable buildings, a large and commodious boarding hall, a store, a canvas tent which will seat four hundred people, and sufficient additional seating to accommodate one thousand people. The association has had open gates, fee at the gates, open and closed Sundays. Just now it is successfully running with gates closed on Sunday. The present board of directors is composed of Presiding Elder J. F. Warner, president; R. H. Simon, vice president; E. A. Quimby, secretary; H. B. Goodrich, treasurer; Isaac Barnes, Lewis Robacker, A. C. Howe, J. A. Yeager, G. H. Prentice, J. H. Powell, S. C. Simpkins, A. J. Simon, G. M. Bidwell, Mrs. Salinda Jones, Mrs. E. L. Stevens. ONEONTA DISTRICT Sidney Grove The present association accommodates Chenango and Oneonta Districts and is run jointly. We will first note the early camp meetings in the territory of each. Within the bounds of the present Chenango District the following meetings are known to have been held: At Guilford, on land of Daniel North, in June, 1848. In August of the same year a meeting was held on land of Dwight Ives, four miles north of 74 WYOMING CONFERENCE Oxford and four south of Norwich. In August, 1849, a meeting was held at King's Settlement, on land of M. C. Bar. In 1847 a meeting was held at North Afton, on land of Chauncey and Elijah Hyde, which resulted in over one hundred conversions. A meeting was held on the same ground in June, 1850. At this time this territory was in the Bainbridge Circuit. In June, 1851, a camp meeting was held between Plymouth and Smyrna, on the Stephen Anthony farm. In September, 1852, Bainbridge, Guilford, and Mount Upton charges united in holding a meeting at the Yale Settlement, eight miles east of Oxford, and six miles from Bainbridge. In June, 1853, a meeting was held on land of David SIDNEY AUDITORIUM [photo] Fields, six miles east of Norwich and three west of the Unadilla River, near the point where the Oxford and Norwich roads come together. In September of the same year, a meeting was held in a grove between Plymouth and Smyrna. Meetings were held on grounds of Otis Wiznor, five miles east of Norwich, on the road leading to Mount Upton, in August, 1857, September, 1858, August, 1859, and September, 1860. In September, 1861, a meeting was held at Guilford, on land of L. S. Manwaring, on the turnpike between Mount Upton and Oxford, two and a half miles from Guilford Center and one from Rockdale. Under the auspices of the Edmeston Methodist Episcopal Church a camp was held in August, 1864, on land of Nathaniel Aylworth, between Garrattsville and West Burlington. In August, 1866, a meeting SIDNEY GROVE CAMP GROUND 75 was held at Plymouth. In 1867, September, 1868, August, 1870, and August, 1871, meetings were held at Guilford, near Rockdale. This spot is frequently spoken of as "the old Rockdale ground." In September, 1867, a grove meeting was held at Chenango Forks, on the grounds of Dr. Carr. Camp meetings were held in several places within the bounds of Oneonta District. Meetings were held at Bowe Hill, a few miles above Laurens, in 1847, June, 1848, and June, 1849. Mrs. Palmer, of New York, known throughout Methodism as an advocate of holiness, was at the 1848 camp. About forty conver- SIDNEY BOARDING HALL [photo] sions were reported. Meetings were held at Fly Creek in 1852, June, 1853, August, 1854, September, 1855, July, 1860, and June, 1861. In June, 1856, a camp was held on George Teel's farm, two and a half miles west of Hartwick. In June, 1857, a meeting was held near South Hartwick. In June, 1864, a meeting was held on land of Mr. Wilsey, on Elk Creek, Westford charge, where a meeting had been held some few years previous. In 1865, and in September, 1866, meetings were held on a Mr. Shepard's land in Hartwick. In July of the same year a camp meeting was held on land of Squire Sprague, about four miles north of Fly Creek. In July, 1867, a camp meeting was held on land of Ebenezer Cronkite, one half mile west of Milford village. Meetings were held in McClure Settlement, on Sanford Circuit, 76 WYOMING CONFERENCE three and a half miles west of Deposit, in September, 1862, and September, 1863. McClure was then on the Honesdale District. The Sidney Grove Camp Meeting Association was organized in 1874, and held its first camp meeting in August of that year. The articles of incorporation are signed by the secretary of New York State, the charter coming from the Legislature. By the act of incorporation the association shall have nine trustees, who shall have power to purchase and convey real estate and care for the special and general interests of the association. The trustees are elected by the board of district stewards of Chenango and Oneonta Districts - the association being run by the two districts jointly. The officers are elected at the annual meeting of the trustees, which is held in June. The first real estate purchased was ten acres located about three quarters of a mile below Sidney, with a highway leading from the ground to the public highway. The ground is upon a tableland about one hundred feet above the valley, and so near the New York, Ontario, and Western and the Delaware and Hudson Railroads as to easily accommodate the two districts. After a few years' experience it seemed desirable to have additional land. Accordingly, ten acres more were bought, joining the first purchase on the west. The auditorium has an acre in it, around which are located the cottages, which number forty-five. The association has expended about $10,000 in a boarding hall, lodging hall, tabernacle, stand, sexton's house, barn, and other improvements. The first purchase of land cost $2,500, the second $1,000, thus making the total value of association property $13,500. It is supplied with an excellent spring of water. The grove, water, and scenery are admired by all who visit the grounds. Many have been converted here, and the influence of the annual meetings has been widely felt. OWEGO DISTRICT Here, as in the other cases, we have gleaned advertisements and reports of camp meetings from our Church papers, and find that camp meetings were held in various places on the district. We have no doubt there were other meetings held. In September, 1831, a camp meeting was held on what is now the Tracy farm, just below Apalachin, at which J. W. Hewitt was among the converts. Camp meetings have been held in several places within the SIDNEY GROVE CAMP GROUND 77 bounds of this district. In September, 1848, and in June, 1849, meetings were held between Spencer and Van Ettenville, near the turnpike. In September, 1850, a meeting was held on the farm of Mr. Eben Lake, in Fairfield, town of Candor. In August, 1852, and again in September, 1853, meetings were held three miles southeast of Speedsville and ten miles north of Owego, on the West Owego Creek. During the years 1856, 1857, 1858, and 1859 meetings were held on grounds of Mr. Loring, one and a half miles from the depot in Candor. This place was known as "Bethel Forest." In 1854 and 1860 meetings were held near Waverly. The encampment was about one mile from the village and known as Mount Encampment. In 1860 fifty-five conversions were reported. Successful meetings were held in September, 1869, August, 1870, and August, 1871, at Lime Hill, on the Wyalusing charge. The camp was located on land of Charles Sumner, an uncle of Rev. J. B. Sumner and an exhorter for many years. It was in an oak grove one half mile west of the old stage road from Tunkhannock to Towanda, and about four miles north of Wyalusing, on top of the hill before going down to Rummersfield, in Wyalusing township. It was inaugurated by Revs. P. R. Tower and J. B. Sumner, who were pastors of Wyalusing at that time. The presiding elder, Rev. D. C. Olmstead, was invited to take charge of it, and the next year it was adopted by the district (Wyalusing). This spot was not central enough. Bunnell Hill, one mile from Meshoppen, was chosen as a proper location, and meetings were held here from 1871 to 1874. In August, 1859, and again in August, 1860, meetings were held on land of Isaac Ford, two miles south of Le Raysville. In the summer of 1865 when the Rev. George Porter was presiding elder on Owego District, A. D. Alexander, pastor at Spencer, and J. M. Grimes, pastor at Van Ettenville, and several laymen planned a camp meeting at Spencer. John A. Nichols, an enterprising business man of Spencer, erected tents, built a large boarding and lodging house, and leased the grounds to the newly formed association for five years. The lease was subsequently extended and a covered auditorium built, and the grounds fenced and improved. The camp was located in the western part of Spencer, in what is now called Seeleytown, close to the Lehigh Valley Railroad depot. The ground was level, nicely shaded, and well supplied with water from driven wells. The first meeting was held in August, 1865. The meetings became very popular, were largely attended and productive of much good. On August 13, 1881, when cottagers were moving in, preparatory to the camp meeting, fire 78 WYOMING CONFERENCE broke out in the cottage of the presiding elder, Rev. Y. C. Smith. His family had been on the ground several days. Mrs. Smith was alone in the cottage when some live coals accidentally fell from the stove through the cracks of the floor into the dry leaves underneath. Flames rapidly spread, and were soon beyond control. The preachers' stand, auditorium, chapels, and sixty-five cottages were all destroyed and never rebuilt. The boarding hall stood apart, and was not destroyed. It is now used as a glove factory. During the later years of the ground's history great WYOMING AUDITORIUM [photo] temperance rallies were held there, such men as Neal Dow, Colonel Bain, Governor St. John, Francis Murphy, and others, speaking to thousands. Since the burning of the buildings a number of parties who used to attend camp meetings there now go to Carmel Grove and Dimock. WYOMING DISTRICT Before the opening of the present camp ground on Wyoming District camp meetings were held in various places. September, 1825, a meeting was held in Truxville, on land owned by Jacob WYOMING CAMP GROUND 79 Rice, father of Rev. C. L. Rice. This meeting was of extraordinary interest and power, and was spoken of for many years afterward as "the great camp meeting." Meetings were held on Northmoreland Circuit, on land owned by George France, three miles back of New Troy (Wyoming) in August, 1847, and again in 1851 and 1852. The first camp resulted in fifty conversions. A meeting was held one mile and a half north of Providence, near Leach's coal bed in August, 1849. There were between forty and fifty tents on the ground. A meeting resulting in one INTERIOR OF WYOMING AUDITORIUM [photo] hundred and fifty conversions was held in September, 1851, on the farm of Mr. Knowlton, four miles west of Wyoming. Meetings were held in a grove owned by Samuel Durland, four miles from Wyoming and one and a half miles from Carverton, in August, 1853, September, 1856, August, 1858, year of 1865, August, 1866 and 1867. In August, 1859, a meeting was held on the Lackawanna, near Pittston. Meetings were held on Everhart's Island, near Pittston, in August, 1860, September, 1862, and August, 1863. A meeting of the ministers and laymen of Wyoming District was held in Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church on June 28, 1871, for the purpose of canvassing the question of a camp meet- 80 WYOMING CONFERENCE ing association for the district. R. H. McKune acted as chairman and C. A. Ward, secretary. The sentiment was in favor of purchasing ground and organizing an association at once. On motion of Dr. George Peck a committee was appointed to negotiate with Mr. Burgess for the purchase of land lying about three miles from Wyoming, this location having been favorably mentioned by Revs. Joseph Madison and S. W. Weiss. The committee consisted of Dr. George Peck, chairman; Revs. A. C. Bowdish, W. J. Judd, I. T. Walker, L. C. Floyd, F. L. Hiller, O. M. Martin, Joseph Madison, J. C. Leacock, and the following laymen: R. H. McKune, P. Pettebone, B. G. Carpenter, B. D. Beyea, and I. D. Shoemaker. On June 30, the committee met of the ground suggested. After careful examination of the ground, the committee met in a convenient spot and spent an hour in prayer and song. Fifty acres were offered the committee at $80 per acre. A business committee consisting of P. Pettebone, B. D. Beyea, R. H. McKune, B. G. Carpenter, I. D. Shoemaker, E. D. Wilson, and Jacob Rice was appointed, with power to act, and requested to report to the next meeting of the preachers of the district. This meeting was held in the Hyde Park Church (Simpson) on July 10, 1871. At this meeting the original camp meeting committee was enlarged so as to include every preacher on the district and one layman for each charge. At this meeting attention was called to the Sutton farm, adjoining the Burgess farm, which could be had for $4,000, and contained sixty-seven acres. On July 12 a large number of the general committee met at the farms, looked each over thoroughly, and by ballot decided to purchase the Sutton farm. An executive committee was then appointed to purchase the ground and fit it up for a camp meeting to be held in the fall. This committee consisted of Revs. George Peck, D.D., chairman, F. L. Hiller, A. C. Bowdish, Joseph Madison, and the following laymen, R. H. McKune, I. D. Shoemaker, P. Pettebone, and B. D. Beyea. A committee consisting of Dr. Peck, Joseph Madison, and S. W. Weiss was appointed to arrange for time of the first camp meeting. The executive committee located the camp on the northeast side of the public highway, and secured Mr. S. Jenkins, of Wyoming, to survey and lay out the ground. Joseph Madison and E. D. Wilson were directed to oversee and secure the preparation of the ground for the camp meeting. It was thought desirable to sell one thousand shares of stock in the association. A canvass of the district resulted in selling five hundred and eighty-four shares at $10 each, the holder of each share being a stockholder. Subsequently five WYOMING CAMP GROUND 81 hundred additional shares were sold. On August 14, 1871, the stockholders met in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wyoming. At this meeting it was resolved that the association be called "The Wyoming Camp Meeting Association." Payne Pettebone was elected president, B. D. Beyea, treasurer, and G. B. Kulp, secretary. Revs. F. L. Hiller, A. C. Bowdish, and L. C. Floyd, with the following laymen: E. D. Wilson, B. G. Carpenter, and Richard Jones, were elected directors of the board. The presiding elder of the district was made a member of the board, ex officio. WYOMING BOARDING HALL [photo] The first camp meeting held on these grounds was in August, and the boarding hall was a tent, as were the accommodations for persons attending the meeting. On August 19, 1871, the directors constituted G. B. Kulp and Revs. L. C. Floyd and A. C. Bowdish a committee on charter. G. B. Kulp drafted the charter. This charter, with by-laws, was subsequently adopted by the board of directors, and the charter was granted by the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania April 8, 1872. Rev. George Peck, D.D., being the corporator, it devolved upon him to name the first board of managers under the charter. This he did on April 24, 1872. Revs. A. C. Bowdish, F. L. Hiller, I. T. Walker, R. W. Van Schoick, and the following 82 WYOMING CONFERENCE laymen were his appointees: Payne Pettebone, B. D. Beyea, Richard Jones, George B. Kulp, B. G. Carpenter, and E. D. Wilson. These parties met and elected Mr. Pettebone president, Dr. Peck vice president, G. B. Kulp secretary, and B. D. Beyea treasurer. Since then the managers have been elected annually by the stockholders. From time to time, as the association has grown, new buildings have been erected. The present lodging house was the first boarding house erected. In 1884 the present boarding house was erected at a cost of $2,464, and the first boarding house transformed into a dormitory at an expense of $500. In 1891 the present pavilion, which seats one thousand people, was erected at a cost of $735. There are sixty cottages now on the ground, which average much better than the mass of camp meeting cottages. In June, 1895, twenty-three cottages were destroyed by fire. The following is considered a fair estimate of the financial standing of the association: Real estate, $4,000; improvements on the grounds, $4,000; water works, $3,000; preachers' stand and fixtures, $910; boarding house, $2,562; furniture, $1,413; dormitory, $2,464; grocery, $748; ice house, $137; pavilion, $735; total, $19,969. Several issues of bonds have been made during the history of the association to meet the needs of the association. At the present time there is an indebtedness of $2,500 in the form of bonds. During the time Dr. Hard was presiding elder on the Wyoming District the assembly idea was introduced for several seasons.