Entiat Valley Family Camp

Jubilee Highlights
from the 50th Anniversary Celebration (1978)

A look at the first ten years of our Camp Meeting History

written by Loma Cooper Yeager

As found in the original document

As Courtship precedes the Wedding, the organization and planning precede the Camp Meeting!

Four Old time Methdist Ministers were entertained in the Fred Cooper home at Conference time in September 1924. Two of these were Rev. J.A. Hill paster at Okanogan and Rev. Harry Fliesher pastor at Riverside. These men were instrumental, I believe, in the organization of the Okanogan County Holiness Association. Not long after their visit we were sent announcements of their meetings and also folders of their Camp Meeting an Conconnully. The Harry Johnsons had attended the Ferndale Camp and so several were innoculated with the Camp Meeting Desire.

In the Spring of 1927 some twenty-five or thirty people met at the Nazarene Church in Chelan for the purpose of organizing the Chelan County Holiness Association. Rev. E. C. Scotten was chairman of the meeting and the Charter (probably from the National Association) was read and approved bit by bit. Officiers were elected, Rev. Scotten, President, Mrs. Della Boycourt was secretary for the first year. The other officers are beyond recall at this time. After a "Basket Lunch" plans were formulated for holding a Camp Meeting in July 1928. Committees were appointed and the monthly meetings that followed, all brought the Camp plans forward.

Before any Camp THERE ARE ALWAYS WORK DAYS! The 1928 Camp found no tent was available for our dates. Undaunted, President Scotten and members and interested friends erected a fair sized woodshed like structure, referred to as a "Tabernacle". It was only a roof with a speakers' platform, with a wall of shiplap behind it to help amplify the sound. The seats were only planks laid across substantial framework. A Reed Pump Organ was loaned for the meetings and this was played by Miss Guinivere Hagerty, of Tacoma, one of the Dawson Party members. Revival Gems No. 2 was the song book used. These could be purchased for 10 cents each in any quantity. A few copies have survived until this time.

A cotton wood and a few Aspen trees and tents afforded some shade for the Cook house and diningroom and the "Workers" (The A.H. Hagertys, the Orland Tremains and a Mr. James Layde ("Lye dee") a civil war veteran who was an inspiration and blessing. The ground near the cook house was quite nearly level. The other tents were pitched above the road, wherever a bit of shade and as nearly level and rock free spot could be found. The Ralph Kelloggs had one tent and the Fred Coopers had two, one of which served to permit some to stay overnight, who otherwise could not have done so.

Camp opened July 4th with a 4th of July Picnic and get acquainted time. The first service was in the evening. The evangelist, Rev. F. R. Dawson, from Tacoma, provided the Book Stand. (I have the Bible purchased there).

Missionary Day Miss Mary A. Hill, veteran National Holiness Association Missionary spoke, and also introduced us to the Call to Prayer and the National Holiness Association Missionary Calenders, with the little oval pictures of about a dozen missionaries to China in an arch across the top of the Calender.

The Highlight of the Camp was the Fellowship Meeting following the breakfast on the 15th. After a time of rejoicing and blessing, the Tacoma friends packed and took their tearful leave of those who remained to dismantle the camp. With dismay we discoverd the Tremain family pet Sparky, a bulldog had been left behind. He boarded with the Cooper family until Mid-August when we took him to his owners who were attending the Free Methodist Camp at the McKinley HIll Grounds of the Tacoma Association.

The Entiat Friends Church changed pastors and anew president was elected before the 1929 Camp Meeting. Mr. Fred Cooper assumed the leadership and plans were being carried out the hold the second Camp Meeting at the old Kellogg Mill. It was a sturdy structure, but its former use left many problems in making it safe and ready. Because only at one corner was there a "walk-on" level of the ground. The rest of the mill was about one story off the ground. Hence it was felt that there should be chicken wire fencing around the structure to insure that, no child, or other person might fall "overboard" and be injured or possibly killed. There were no funds for that much chicken wire, and som much had to be done before the opening date! It seemed almost providental that the Forest Department closed the Area, due to the worst forest fire situation in Chelan County History.

The time for the opening of the Camp was so near at hand, and another Meeting Place had to be found quite suddenly. The Cooper Family attende dthe Gospel Tabernacle of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and in the desperate situation we were in, Mr. Cooper appealed to the Pastor of the church, and the board granted permission for the Meeting to be held there.

Two condemned old delapidated houses were rented, after permission for their use, from the City. The Health Dept. stipulated that the houses had to be thoroughly disinfected (which was perfectly obvious to all who saw them). After dousing and scrubbing them with heavy concentration of Lysole, they were fitted out to serve as the Cook House and diningroom and dormitories for the Camp. Ice boxes, beds, cooking utensils and dishes were loaned from the homes of the officers. Imagine the dismay when out of town friends came and asked to be entertained with your furnishings out on loan to the camp! Then of course after Camp the house had to be resettled. Such were the early day Camp Meeting circumstances.

The evangelist for the second Camp, held in C.M.A. Tabernacle was Dr. O. G. Mingledorf. He was a Methodist Missionary who was a Dr., Dentist, and lawyer as well as an able evangelist. He had served in China during the Boxer Uprising. He told us of a time that he had experienced Angelic protection, when a mob tried to stone him. In addition to the protector's telling them that he was not a Frenchman, he discovered that the outline of his body was shown where the stones had hit all around him but missed by a "bare miss" mark. His sermon on the redemptive work of Christ wa sone we can't forget. After speaking of the miracles of His death, with the sound of the hammers driving the spikes dramatized by the evangelist's pounding his Greek New Testament with his fist, then after mentioning th power of the Resurrection he spoke of His Second Coming. He turned to a minister of the platform and asked, "Do you think that the Lord may come before this service is over?" The minister replied, "I think not." This was the Clincher for the message! "In such an hour as Ye think not, the Son of God Cometh!"

The Alternate Speaker was Miss D. Willa Caffrey, first woman licensed to preach under the Methodist Church, which honor was conferred on her during her time of service in Wenatchee, as Assistant Pastor of the First Methodist Church. The singing was led by Homer Bailey, a Church of God college student from Anderson, Indiana, who was a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cooper.

The Forest Service, having closed the Camp Meeting area in 1929, caused the Committee to seek a site for the Camp Meeting which would not be affected by the Forest Fire situation. Accordingly Mr. Cooper and the other officers gathered for prayer then went to the grounds and walked around the Dance Pavillion seven times and claimed it for the Lord. Then after another time of prayer they went to see the owner, who quite willingly rented it to them for $100.00 for ten days.

The Pavillion had beenin disuse for some time, and alot of heavy sweeping and mopping was needed to make the building ready for use. The grounds had to be cleared of Poison Oak and weeds. They were burned! Only Mr. Cooper was known to have to avoid the offensive shrub. He thought that if he did not touch it there would be no problem. To his dismay he found that the torturesome rash had almost covered his body and he was almost deathly sick! After earnest prayer the poison seemed to leave his body and he was able to help with further preparation and to carry on his duties during the camp.

A large Lone Pine tree cast a nice shadow and the cook house and dining room was located to take advantage of such coolness as its shade provided. Seat frames were loaned to us by the Wenatchee Park Department. Planks were laid on these and the 1"X4" boards were set into the back rest slots, thus affording quite comfortable seating, for the 1930 Camp Meeting.

The Evangelist that year was Dr. Edwart Mott, from Portland Bible Institute. Rev. D.H. Scott was song leader. Miss Viola Hass, a Christian and Missionary Alliance Missionary who went to China independent to help wherever needed, was the missionary speaker.

The Entiat Friends Church Pastor, Rev. Dillon Mills, was president for the Fourth Camp Meeting, also held at Edgewater Grove in 1931. Rev. George Bennard, well known Evangelist and author of the Old Rugged Cross, and Dr. Edward Mott of Portland Bible Institute (later Cascade College) were our speakers. Rev. George Warner and wife and Way Gem (Wilma Jean) were with us on Missionary Day, bringing reports from N.H.A. field in China.

A feature of the Camp Meeting was "Old Rugged Cross Night." Each verse was sung by a different person. The song leader sang one verse. The pianist and Miss Mildren Barns sang one verse as a duet. Rev. Bennare sang one verse and the audience. The verses were carefully rehearsed to be sure the time was exactly as written! Mr. Bennard also sang and rehearsed his verse with the pianist before that night. We were all amazed to find that only Mr. Bennard sand it as the general public sings it. We could only wonder what he thought of our singing it in the strict time as written.

For the next few years we had tent meetings, at first in Wenatchee and Pioneer Park. In 1932 Rev. W.E. Cox, field man for Portland Bible Institute (later Cascade College) was Evangelist. His wife helped with the music.

The Stevens School grounds was the Tent meeting location in 1933, with Rev. W.I. McGarvey Dist. Supt. of the Christian and Missionary Alliance as evangelist. Miss Della Brandenburg, a veteran missionary under N.H.A. spoke of the work in China that year on Sunday afternoon.

Col. Roy Gilks of the Salvaton Army was Evangelist in 1934, with the tent once more in Pioneer Park. Two outstanding messages were, "The Lost Things" in Luke 15, and the sermon on "Ye are the Salt of the Earth" in which he gave an illustraton of a lumberjack who sustained an axe wound with the axe buried to the handle in his thigh. At his instructions his companions filled the wound with salt before he allowed them to start hauling him out of the woods and to the ferry landing to await crossing and care in a Seattle Hospital, where was told that the salt had been all that saved his life.

The missionary couple that year was the Andersons, Free Methodist Missionaries from Congo, I believe. They gave a message on preparation for worship, the day before, the day of worship. Pointing out that they should wash their clothing and dry them before wearing them, as this caused some of their sickness. They gave the message in African and them interpreted in English. It was most interesting! She also told how shocked the natives were when she walked across the Mission Compound without bringing an umbrella, on the day they met to pray for rain!

The 1935 Tent meeting was held but place is not remembered and no news item revealed where it was. It may be it was at Knapps Grove. Rev. Myron Boyde and Rev. F.R. Dawson (evangelsit for 198 camp) were speakers. Both were Free Methodists. Miss Clara D. Kortemaier, N.H.A. missionary just returned from China was missionary speaker.

Mr. Kellogg feels 1936 was the year that the grounds were purchased. Miss Gail Kaiser, outgoing missionary to China was Missionary Speaker that year. The other worker are not known. Miss Kaiser's autograph says "Wenatchee Camp Meeting."

Rev. Joseph Speaks was evangelist for the 1937 Camp Meeting, held at Knapps Grove. Rev. and Mrs. John Trachsel, missionaries from China spoke Sunday afternoon at the Camp. They were guests of Mrs. Trachel's uncle and aunt, the A. Camack family who still live in the Entiat Valley.

Rev. & Mrs. John Thomas were our workers in 1938 Camp. Miss Leona Aggola, veteran missionary under N.H.A. was missionary speaker.

A summation of the remaining 40 years will follow in another section. Miss Margaret Kellogg will provide that part of the history.

There have been a number of outreaches of the Camp Meeting. One that I have felt has been a lasting blessing is the Literature Ministry. Two tracts I received at Entiat Camp that have (There is a line missing here) Conscious." Through the years I have made several coppies of each to give to people needing encouragement. Copies can be made at 10 cents each.

There has been a Missionary Outreach of this Camp Meeting! The David Kellogg family under the Call of God, went to Africa and served four terms under World Gospel Mission in Kenya.

From the time of the purchase of the grounds, various improvements have been made. The first building was a cook house and dining room. This later became one of the dormitories. A second cook house and dining room served for several years and after the new and more commodious cement block dining room and meal preparation center was ready, the former dining room became the Children's Tabernacle. The lovely fireplace in the present dining room is dedicated in memory of Edna Kellogg and Mrs. Sylvan Davis.

Before there was a public address system for the Camp, a young man just out of H.S. decided that there should be a way for the cooks and those helping in the kitchen and dining room to hear the messages. Also amplification was needed to compensate for the roar of the river. So his graduation Webb Core Reel Tape Recorder plus all the shielded cable, and connections and permanent Magnat Speakers were fashioned to make a public address system of sorts. A speaker was placed in the kitchen, one in the cabin of Laura King, (she was recuperating from a heart attack). One also in the Wilber Brown Cabin as he too was likewise recuperating from surgery. So this was the fore runner of the present sound system.

Volunteer labor has made possible the Camp Meeting buildings and improvements through the years. Bro. Don Schmidt has serviced the refrigeration equipment for the Camp sice such equipment has been in use.

Emergency work from time to time had to be done. The Flood year of 1948 will serve to illustrate this. The river was a raging torrent! It gouged and tore away part of the bank under one corner of the Tabernacle.

At the time the channel of the river was much closer to the Tabernacle than it is now. Some men with vision and determination found ways to fill in the area where the present dining facilities and meal preparation center is, thus expanding and greatly enhancing the grounds and making more extensive facilities possible for the Camp Grounds.

After surveying the damage, it was decided that old automobiles filled with large stone could be used to satbilize the bank. Paul and Ralph Kellogg were standing on a rock filled old car and had just jumped ashore when a log, hurled like a huge projectile, struck the cable and the rock filled old car was swept along with the raging torrent.

Later an old Oil Drum was filled with rock and a jack was set atop the drum to jack up and stabilize the corner of the building whose support had been cut away.

The very lovely grass was only make possible by the efforts of the Kellogg brothers and possibly others who could help with hauling in countless numbers of loads of soil, to make possible planting of the grass to make the nice lawn we all enjoy NOW!

Donations of food have been a means of helping the Camp from its inception. At first a modest charge was made for meal tickets for the 10 days of Camp Meeting. This "modest charge" was made possible because donations of food were contributed to keep the cost down. This in turn made it impossible for some families who had made donations to puchase meal tickets for their own families. Their meals were done "camp fire style".

As the years have come and gone, a large number of Camp Meeting attendants have gone from our midst. I will not attempt to name them all, but will name a few that are greatly missed:

Mrs. Theo King (Laura) who has been goven several years but her faithful praying for the Camp services doubtless made possible greater liberty to seek the Lord. Prayer warriers are sorely needed today! Let us fill the Gaps that are needing to be filled in the Hedge where faithful ones have been called home.

Mrs. Lily Brown, a worker who will be remembered by many of the youth and children to whom she ministered, as well as her many friends who greatly miss her.

Mrs. Edna Kellogg who faithfull helped her husband in his responsibilities is likewise greatly missed.

Mrs. Sylvan Davis, another faithful one who is greatly missed. She and Edna were honored by dedication of the fireplace in their memory, a Plate on the fireplace honors their memory.

On the page that follows a list of the Charter Members, as near as we can recall them is given. Also we have listed some of the names of people who attended the Monthly Meetings and Early Camp Meetings. Many of them are no longer with us and many we are unable to recall.

May God bless the memory of all who have gone to be with the Lord, and may the Lord keep us faithful who remain. Let us faithfully pray one for another and admonish one another as we see the day of our Lord's return is drawing near!

We believe the following are the Charter Members who started the Chelan County Holiness Association, and laid the plans for the first Camp Meeting.

Rev. & Mrs. E.C. Scotten, Chairman Pro Tem of the meeting and upon organization of the group was elected first president. Mr. & Mrs. Baycourt (Della Boycourt was the first secretary). Edna Kellogg succeeded her as secretary a year or two later.

Other charter members were: Mr. & Mrs. Fred Watchman, Mr. & Mrs. H.S. Spray, May Sherman, Mr. & Mrs. T.I. Jones, M. & Mrs. John Lundquist, Mr. & Mrs. Harry Johnson (only known surviving Charter Members), Mr. & Mrs. Testor, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Cooper.

Here are some of the names of those who attended the monthly meetings and the early day Camp Meetings.

Rev. D.A. Cihagen and wife (F.M. Pastor) Mrs. Alice Caswell, pastor of the Gospel Tapernacle of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Wenatchee, Rev. Dillon MIlls and wife Fern, Friends Church in Entiat, Mrs. Ida Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Edd Hall, Mrs. Tom Cannon, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Truckenmiller, Mrs. Dora Martin, Mrs. Grace Jarman, Mr. A. H. Cady, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Hanson, Mr. Herman Olson, Miss Gladys Redding, who married Mr. Olson, Mr. George East & wife, Mr. and Mrs. Guy McMullen, who were Mrs. Corlys Hubbard's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Jake Bwibie, Mr. & Mrs. W.I. Brannin, Mr. & Mrs. Willard Hoyle, Mr. & Mrs. D.M. Simmions, Ralph Endfield and his mother, Lake Endfield and Helen his wife, Rev. Cay and wife from Trinidad F.M. Church, the Joseph Squires, the McKees, Mr. & Mrs. Hans Peterson (builder of the Tabernacle) Mr. W.E. Morton, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Nelson, Miss Jessie McCormick and Miss Olive Morton (later Mrs. Jake Weibie) Mr. Williams, a man of small stature who loved to testify and shout with joy! The Jesse Yeager family, Mr. & Mrs. MacDonald, Mr. & Mrs. Theo King, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Kellogg, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Kellogg, Mr. & Mrs. Roy Lenheat, Mrs. Mattie Starling, Capt Murtaugh and wife, S.V.A. Major Reimel and wife, also S.V.A. The Gustove Palms, and a host of the children of these families. This is only a representative list. The Camp registers, carefully kept for years were lost due to the death of the Secretary for many, many years, Mrs. Alice Hadley, whose name and her husband Harry should be included in the list above.

Other names not found here are not willfully deleted, but we have had to try to recall from memory, and some are beyond recall. This brief setting forth of some of the early day happenings is far from a complete or comprehensive history of this first ten years of the Camp meeing history. We have tried to tive a little concep of how different thigs were in those days! As faulty as this compilation is, it is hoped that it may be a blessing to some who remember the early years, and that it may be bring some encouragement to those who are only familiar witht eh more recent Camp Meetings.

An opportunity will be given for all who have other recollections to turn then in and further information can be added to this Album of Camp Meeting Information.

May God Bless All who have had a part. Let us pray that they Word of God sown in hearts may bring help and deliverence as we pray restoration to those who need to be restored,

Sincerely Yours in Christian Fellowship,
/s/ Mrs. Paul Yeager
(Loma Cooper Yeager)