Retro Friday: Spilman Lodge and Morning Exercises
Posted by phil
One of the things I love the most about camp is that some things seem to always stay the same. Well, almost the same. We have made some minor modification and improvements throughout the years, but we try to hold onto the tradition that has made so many experiences life changing. We have generations within some families that have all experienced a cool morning at Camp Ridgecrest doing a “morning exercise.” Granted, one generation was doing jumping jacks, while the next generation is doing finger push-ups.
Then we have an old picture of Spilman Lodge from about 1948. You can see the original cabins located behind Spilman Lodge on the right of the picture. And you can see part of “The Green House” on the far right (looks white). Originally B.W. Spilman’s Home, it became the camp office, with additional housing and even a barber shop. The Canteen now sits where The Green House once sat.
Also, it’s interesting that the Spilman Lodge picture has a one way street sign, pointing down hill. This is now the main entrance into Camp Ridgecrest!
If you know any additional info about these pictures or the buildings in them, please comment below!
Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Morning Exercises, Retro Friday, Ridgecrest Alumni, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Spilman Lodge
The biggest modification/improvement I notice is the addition of 4-square courts.
I am a fan of Retro Fridays..
The exercise picture is from about 1970. Leading the throng is Director Monroe Monk Ashley, and on his left Rick Johnson.
The footgear of choice in those days was a pair of red canvas Converse AllStars.
The canteen was purchased by Monk about the same year. It was the old train depot, in the way of improvements being made to Highway 70, now I-40.
The Green Lodge saw sevice as the Crafts Lodge in mid to late
60’s.
The cabins behind Spillman housed the Apache my first year 1965. They were razed a year later.