The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-05
CAMP WANAMASSA
The Picturesque Sea Side
Resort of the Y. M.
C. A.
RELIGION AND RECREAT ION.
I
Jersey City People Prominent in.
the Enterprise = Church
Matters of Interest.
AND RECREAT ION.
RELIGION
snecfal TO The jersey ctr ve.g,.

AsBURY PARK, Aug. 5, 1893.-If you
leave the train at the North Asbury Park
station you will be see. on the opposite
side OF the track, u large sign bearin g the
legend: "Wanamassa Y. NJ. c. A.Camp,"
and q hand pointing up the road. Ii you
are curious enough to want to know
what sort of o place a Y. NJ. G.. A. camp
is you will either jump into one Of the
rickety c~arry-alls that do duty here as
stages, or start on foot in the direction
indicated on the sign board, and, after
proceeding about a mile along al pleas
antly shaded road, you will come to one
of the most beautiful of the many beau
tiful spots in this ueighborhood.
Somehow or other the impression has
gotten abroad that the camp Is name ed
after John Wauamaker, the patron saict
of the last administration, and that he
gave the grounds TO the association.
Such, however, is not the case. The OIL
GERS of the association declare that the
truly good John had nothing to do with
founding the camp and as far as they
know never heard of 1t. The name Wan
amassa is that of an old Indiau chief VINO
once owned all the land hereabouf. and
decided 1t to the white man w hundred
and eight years ag0. 1t tradition Is to be
believed, Wanamassa ran a ummer re-
0OA1l " . WV
stands, and tomahawked every outside
bother who attempted to sell fire water
on the grounds. u compelled every
brave, squaw aud papoose TO be OH the
beach by ten o'clock when the pine Knot
lights were extinguIshed by the mighty
Chief Bigwind. 1t is this tradition. it
is further said, which makes Brother
Bradley so sensitive about being called
Founder Bradley.
THE DONORS OF H GROUND.
Through successive snap games on The
Indians AUG proper conveyauces bv one
white maj to another, the property
finally became vested in the Stout family,
aud two members of that clan w. Is. u
J, 9. w. kaye The camp ground TO the Y.
Nj. G. A. The grounds CONSIST of Two
plots comprising fifteen acres, which are
separated by Duel Lake. one of the most
picturesque aud attractive OF tho many
indentatiuns The Oeeau makes III our
coast. The larger portion of the grounds
is covered with Il natural growth OF pine
and oak, and it is always cool aud shady.
whether me wind blows from the laud
or the sea. The camp ground
proper Is Il plot of eight acres
beautifully shaded, and affords ample
room for campers. Tue tents are all
c~ommodious, aud a number of them are
so arranged That small families can be
admirably accommodated. Elch has u
fly to protect it from rula aud tb1ckiy
painted floor. There are 100 of these
tents laid out in streets. each 12x14
feet in size, with the floor well up Irom
the ground so as to avou the da mpness.
They are all comfortably turn shed aud
arranged to accommodate foul persons
each. The family tents are II short dis
lance from the main body, aud III every
respect well equipped tsr family Use.
There IS an abundant supply OF fresh
water, and the sanitary arrange ments
nave been provided for on scieutiic
lines.
RECREATION AND RELIGION.
Religion, as one would naturally sup
pose, IL BY no means The sole oUJsct Of
the amp healthful recreation Is eu-
| couraged and the aim of the undertake nV
is as much 10 produce heaIthful uoIiss as
souls. The lake il stocked with gamey
fisn aud IL affords excellent sport for the
angler. Facilities for rowing and sailing
are of the best. and there are plenty OF
boat at the disposal of the visitor.
Steam launches are provided to Whisk the
/ campers down the lake TO the bathing
beacn or board walk. There IS u large
reading and correspondence room, bowl
ing alleys and a well-equfpped gymn8-
SUM. These are all situated on The ath-
letfc grounds, which occupy almost all Of
one Of the plots. They contain baseball
| diamonds, lawn tennis courts, croquet
grounds, running track. bicycle track aud
IL grand stand capable of seating q large
number Of people, ali OF which is under
the care OF a competent physical direc-
tors.
There are several buildings on the
ground, the most noticeable Of which is
the large auditorium i'll which lectures
and sermons are delivered and religious
services are held. 1t will seat 1000 peo-
people, and is constructed entlrely of
IRON. II mas an iron truss roof supported
| by iron columns, without I'M posts be-
tween the speaker aad his audience. The
officers of the association have an execu-
tive residence. and there is a large execu-
tive office building containing reception
room. directors parlor. offices for The OFF,
GERS, a large reading room and postofice.
The grounds. which are valued at
$50. 600, are owned by the State %organizx-
lion OF the Y. NJ. G. A. Last year the
| association obtained q loan of $40, 900 from
he Mutual Life of New York, and with
thatssum improved the grounds. Among
the officers of the III which has
charge of the camp are men well known
in Jersey City. Arthur Lucas, formerly
Secretary of the Y. M. G. A. of Jersey
City is Associate Secretary aud Supertn-
tendent. William E. Drake is one of
the Camp Committee, and Director
Elijah S.. Gowles of the Board of Educa-
tion is one of the trustees. The privi-
Ieges OF the amp are not confined to
members of the Y. NJ. G. A., but any
young man may avail himself OF this op-