Retro Friday: Packing List

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know back in 1932 campers were asked to bring a dress suit to camp? Can you imagine our campers now having to wear a suit to church? Our campers typically wear khaki shorts and a polo to church but you will also see some in a t-shirt and gym shorts.

Campers were also asked to bring all of their sports equipment like tennis rackets and balls, baseball glove, etc. Now camp asks that campers do not bring their own sports equipment because we do not want it to get lost or ruined. We provide everything a camper could want or need in terms of sports equipment!

My favorites on this list are handkerchiefs, white ducks, and bathrobe. Does anyone know what a white duck is? I will give you a hint: it’s not an animal! Do you remember having to bring items like these to camps? Comment below and let us know! 


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Retro Friday: Baseball & Basketball

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know that Camp Ridgecrest baseball and basketball teams used to play outside games with Camp Blue Ridge, Chimney Rock Camp and the YMCA College of Blue Ridge? Two afternoons a week were devoted to campers that wanted to play baseball. Staffers would teach campers that wanted to learn or improve their game. Games were arranged for both younger and older campers. Camp Ridgecrest found that inter-camp games were very popular and our campers showed their spirit on the field.

For campers that wanted to play basketball they could hit the court on rainy days and in the evenings. Camp Ridgecrest campers also played in a sport league and arranged outside games with other camps.

These two pictures show campers in 1931 playing baseball and basketball. Can you imagine playing basketball in long pants and a belt? Though times have definitely changed with these two sports, we find that our campers still love baseball and basketball.

Do you remember playing baseball or basketball for Camp Ridgecrest against other camps? Tell us your stories below!


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Retro Friday: Camp Application

Posted by anthologycreative

This camp application for the 1932 season shows the simplicity of camp and life over 80 years ago. In 1932 camp tuition was $142. This application was to be filled out and mailed in with $10. Imagine all of the paperwork that the camp director and administration sorted through and filed.  The $142 tuition included everything for the full season, June 30-August 25, except laundry and horseback riding. Because of the relationship with the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board and because it was not operated for profit, Camp Ridgecrest offered maximum advantages at minimum cost, even 81 years ago!

The camp application was a simple one page that asked only basic questions. Now our application is all online to make it quicker and easier for the campers, parents and camp staff.Have you noticed that zip codes are not included on this application? They weren’t needed back then. This application also only asks two questions about the campers’ health. What do you think about this application? Do you remember filling out a paper application similar to this one? We’d love to hear your stories!


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Retro Friday: Rogers’ Retreat

Posted by anthologycreative

These pictures are taken from the 1960 brochure, camp’s 32nd season. Rogers’ used to be the campers’ lounge. It is the closest building to Lake Ridgecrest with an exceptional view! Rogers is a two story rock building with staff living quarters upstairs and a beautiful patio extending out to the lake. Downstairs there is a fireplace with chairs to relax. Campers can read, play chess or checkers, or use the prayer room for personal quiet meditation.

Now, Rogers’ Retreat is used as a staff lounge. A few of our female staffers live upstairs. Rogers’ is still the building with the best location – right on the lake. Campers are not allowed in Rogers’ Retreat except those campers being tapped out for the Little Chief test. The test starts with the charge being read in Rogers’ and staff gathering to give advice and pray for those Little Chief candidates.

Do you remember hanging out in Rogers’ when it was a camper lounge? Tell us your stories below! 


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Retro Friday: The Lodge

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know that Camp Ridgecrest for Boys used to have a building called “The Lodge”? When most people hear “The Lodge” they think of Camp Crestridge. However, this picture in the 1932 brochure shows one of the most central buildings in camp at the time. The Lodge was an eight room house. As you can see it was a two story house that had great porches where you could stand and see most of the activities going on around camp. The camp offices, nurses station and canteen were all located in the Lodge.

Camp has spread out more since 1932 and we now have separate buildings for all three of those things. The offices are now located across from the lake in what we call the “Lake Lodge”. In 2009 a new infirmary was built to better serve our campers in a more central location. Our canteen building, the “Depot” is the old Ridgecrest train station. The Depot is now in the location similar to where the Lodge was in the picture.

Do you remember the Lodge? We love to hear your stories about camp in past years. Comment below to tell us!


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Retro Friday: Canoeing

Posted by anthologycreative

Campers have enjoyed canoeing for many years at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. This picture is taken from the 1932 brochure. It shows four canoes racing down the French Broad River. Campers staying the entire camp season were given the opportunity to take a canoe trip. This trip was one of the high-lights of camp. It was a 60-mile overnight trip. The canoes and boys were transported by truck 30 miles from Asheville to their destination. The French Broad River where they were dropped off was not dangerous or deep but provided much excitement and thrills. The canoe trip also provided the boys with incomparable mountain scenery and a view of the Vanderbilt home and Biltmore Estate. Did you ever take a canoe trip with Camp Ridgecrest? Tell us about it below!


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Retro Friday: Swimming Pool

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know that Camp Ridgecrest for Boys used to have a swimming pool? This picture was taken from the 1933 camp brochure. As you can imagine, the swimming pool was a very popular place at camp. The schedule in 1933 was very similar to the schedule at camp now. The boys were given time twice a day for swimming. This picture shows a concrete swimming pool which was fed from the lake. The pool was a place for testing boys that learned to swim before camp and for teaching beginners. The campers were not allowed to swim in the lake until they had passed a rigorous test in the swimming pool first. Today this area is known as Apache circle. The cabin shown in the picture is cabin 1. Do any of you remember the swimming pool at camp? Comment below and tell us your stories!


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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!


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Retro Friday: Camp Gate

Posted by anthologycreative

Every opening day cars line up outside the gate and excited campers gather around eagerly waiting for the gates to open. This has been true for many years now. The top picture shows the entrance into camp in 1936. Back then, camp was from July 14 – August 25. Campers came for six weeks. Charles Burts was the director of Camp Ridgecrest for Boys at this time. He was the second camp director. The bottom picture shows the camp gate nearly 20 years later. The sign in the second picture is hanging in camp. Do you know where the sign is hanging now? Comment below and share any stories or facts about the different camp gates! We’d love to know!


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Retro Friday: Lakeside Dock

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know that Lakeside Chapel used to have a dock? This picture was taken in the mid to late 1960’s or early 1970’s. We know this because the boy sitting in the front left of this picture is wearing one of the jersey’s that camp used to have every year. The number on the back of the jersey corresponded with the year. This dock was most used by staff during Morning Watch. Our Lakeside Chapel now has a platform with a podium for staff to use during their devotions for Morning Watch. Take a look below to see what Lakeside Chapel looks like now compared to the picture above. Comment below to let us know if you remember when Lakeside had a dock!

 


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