Retro Friday: Fidelis Hall
Posted by anthologycreative
Fidelis Hall, better known as the “Shack” served Camp Ridgecrest for Boys well for many years. It was already on the property, being used by the Conference Center, when Camp Ridgecrest for Boys was started. Prior to 1942, when Spilman Lodge was built, the Shack was the camp’s only indoor recreation center. After Spilman was built for a dining hall, the Shack was used as staff meetings, indoor games, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics and the Sunday worship services. A movie screen rolled down from the ceiling at one end of the hall to make an ideal camp theater. This building was centrally located at the time. Now, this building would be located below the tennis courts on the grassy area by the barn, near the front gate. This picture was taken from the 1960 brochure of Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. The “green” outside the hall and surrounding the flagpole served as the site for Retreat and flag-lowering ceremonies each day at dusk. Do you remember the Shack? Comment below and tell us your stories!
Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Retro Friday, Ridgecrest Summer Camps
The Shack was the first place I played Ridgecrest Dodgeball. Not being very athletic, I lingered behind everyone else, along the back wall. Not really a good strategy, as one muscular JC powered a dodgeball that smacked me on the forehead and knocked me into the back wooden wall. I finished my first RD game with two pump knots on my head!
I remember attending church services in the shack, attending retreats in front of the shack, and playing dodge ball. Is the picture taken during the first or second summer session? I was a Ridgecrest camper during the second summer session of 1960 and I may be in the picture. The attire at that time was green shorts and white Ridgecrest Tee shirts.