|
|
Town of New Haven |
|
|
Dempster Camp Grounds |
|
|
|
1875 – 1975 1875 – June: Os. District Camp meeting committee agreed the site near Pulaski should be the spot. They rented 181/2 acres from S.O. Wilmarth and his two sisters for $80.00 a year. Ground was cleared & 100 tents set by August 25, 1875 & the first camp meeting was held. The attendance on Sunday was 3,500 people. 1876 – May: Agreed to purchase the property. Corporation was formed & Trustees were selected. There were District Stewards 1 from each district. August 29 – September 5 were the dates for Camp meeting. Railroad agreed to carry equipment for free. Fare from Demster to Dempster Camp Ground was $.40. Cost $321.50 in 1891 to build a barn for horses. Barn is totally gone so don’t know size or location. 1895 – New kerosene light installed. End of 25 years and large crowds still coming. Most meetings are held out doors. In bad weather they are held in tents. 1901 – August 16: Women’s Foreign Missionary Society formed. Had their first meeting that AM with Mary Scot Radley a former missionary from Lucknow India. In the afternoon the Women’s Home Missions met. 1905 – W.C.T.U. met – Women’s Christian Temperance Union. 1910 – 1912 – Besides the Tabernacle – 50 wooden cottages & 50 tent sites. 1924 – Mortgage was burned. 1st time out of debt. 1902 – Tabernacle was completed by Mr. Lattimore of Orwell at a cost of $1,340.42. Seated 800 in seats. Dedicated August 15, 1902 1910 – Sides of the Tabernacle were opened & poles to provide more space for people. Doors can be lowered in bad weather. 1907 – Veterans from 24th,94th,110th & 147th regiments met at camp ground for reunion. 1958 – Dining roof fell in with weight of snow. New roof installed. Cost $700.00. 1960 – Flush toilets were installed. Concrete block building was built for toilets, at a cost of $4,000.00. 1961 – Paid off money borrowed for toilets. 1964 – Lumber & cord wood sold to make money to install electric lights. 1970 – Water tank installed to furnish water to each camp so they could have bathrooms. Water & sewer lines being underground. |
|
Town of New Haven © 2004 Town of New Haven |