Methodist

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Methodist Church

Methodist Campgrounds

1859

02 03 The revival in the Methodist Church still continues with unabated zeal and fervor WD

05 12 Methodist Church enlarging house of worship; some thirty-five feet will be added to the length of present building WG

1860

02 23 Rev. N. J. Aplin, donation visit for WD

1902

03 14 The fine audience that gathered in the Methodist church Tuesday evening to hear Mrs. Florence D. Richards' lecture on temperance, listened with the deepest attention as the lady spoke of the evils of the saloons, and of the work of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, or Organized Mother-love, as the union is sometimes characterized. Mrs. Richards is a forcible, eloquent speaker, and easily carried her audience with her, moving it to laughter or tears as she passed from wit to pathos. Her visit was greatly encouraged and strengthened the local union, which is more than ever determined to keep on in the work for "God, and Home, and Native land." WG

1909

02 12 Unveiling of likeness of Jonas Stahl, who, for thirty years was the inspiration of the Methodist Church and Sunday school WG

Methodist campgrounds

Watertown Daily Times, 08 08 1992

Last month's announcement that Don and Nerina Grinwald were donating the 11 acre parcel of land adjacent to Milford Street Park brought back memories of the old Methodist campgrounds to some long-time Watertown residents.

The campgrounds were located on the parcel which the Grinwalds purchased and are donating to the city for park expansion.

One of our regular readers told us her family farm was located next to the campgrounds, and she remembered the operation quite well.

She said back in about 1910 there was a family by the name of Dahms who had a cottage on the site of the campgrounds. She said the family stayed there all summer long and then returned to their home in the fall.

She said the Methodists had a week-long camp at that location each year, in June. The camp basically consisted of a tabernacle in the center and was surrounded by probably a dozen cottages for sleeping quarters. On one end was the dining room.

Each of the cottages were named after a city in Wisconsin. Among the names were Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Wausau, Columbus, Juneau, Beaver Dam and several from Milwaukee.

There was nothing modem about the cottages. They were up on stilts and had no water or rest room facilities. T he second floor was for sleeping quarters.

The tabernacle floor was dirt. All it had inside was benches for participants to sit and a stage of sorts on one end.

She said in the winter all of the units had the windows and doors boarded up until the warmer weather of the next year.

She recalled that back in about 1950 she and her husband returned to visit the old campgrounds and found the buildings in a state of disrepair.

She said the tabernacle was still standing and upon entering it she found a box full of old Methodist hymnals on the stage. She kept one as a memento and has it to this day.

She also recalled many groups used the campgrounds after taking a train trip to Watertown. She said they would come up from Johnson Creek and other cities along the Chicago and North Western line and then have a parade-like walk out to the campgrounds. Often the trains would be met by wagons pulled by horses.

Another Watertown resident, Orv Wesemann, told us a bit more information about the camp. He said it was back in 1949 that he made arrangements with Rev. Don Standard, pastor of the local Methodist congregation, to purchase two of the cabins for $400 each.

Wesemann said he razed them and used die wood for construction of his home on Ninth Street.

He also recalled that one of the primary reasons the camp was closed was the state's insistence that plumbing be installed in the cottages. He said the Methodists decided instead to commit funds to other camps which were located along lakes, etc., for more recreational opportunities.

The Methodists, he recalled were not the only group to use the site. Many churches of other denominations used the site for their summer picnics as well.

So, after many years as a campgrounds for people in the area, the old Methodist property is being returned from private ownership back to the public domain.

TLS

Text COPYRIGHTED by the Watertown Daily Times

1910

02 12 Lectures on use of ardent spirits WG