Camp Webb History in Wautoma

See historical documents from Camp Webb.

Pullman Car 1967

In the late 1960's, a Pullman train car and a caboose took up residence in the camp's back 40. The photos were submitted by Keith Orr. You can see the full sized, quality pictures by becoming a registered user of the site.
Caboose 1967
Rope bed

In the late 1960’s, Wilderness was a canoe trip unit and the campers cooked in the unit an slept in rope beds they built themselves.

Platform Tents

Campers first stayed in the 'small' cabins, then platform tents, then cabin shells.

Cabin Shell

In 1960, Mrs. Edith Cantwell approached her old friend, Fr. George Bersch who was serving as Vicar of Holy Innocents, Nashotah and Director of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee's camping program, then located on the Nashotah House Grounds, about selling Woodcraft Camp, near Wautoma, which she had operated for almost 20 year. After being offered the property by Mrs. Cantwell, in 1960 Bishop Donald Hallock and the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee bought the property for $65,000 in 1960.

During the 1960's, many improvements and donations were made to breathe new life into the facility. Old motel rooms were salvaged and moved onto the land for staff housing. Platform tents were checked out, and new canvas purchased. The altar was put into place with a foundation stone found in a farmer's field near Sussex (and hauled to camp in the back of a pick-up truck). The bell from a closing Catholic church was hauled up from Milwaukee (again, in the back of a pick-up truck) and hoisted, by hand, onto a platform to call campers and staff to meals.

The years saw many improvements while maintaining the rustic nature of the entire property. Such improvements included building secure maintenance and storage buildings (1970's), replacing platform tents with enclosed cabin shells (1980's), the building of year-round cottages (1980's), a modern, year round dining-hall/multi use facility (1980's), and an outdoor pavilion and fireplace (1990's). There were also many other upgrades to the facility over the years.

The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee ceased operations of Camp Webb at the Wautoma site in 2008.

Camp Webb Directors (note, some dates have not been verified)

Board Members

1963

    
  • Robert Prosser, Chair
  • Gil Girdauskus
  • Joseph Blair
  • Dr. John Schroeder
  • Miss Sue Simmons
  • Mrs. Hugh Pillsbury
  • Phil Dressler
   
     
Camp Fees

1963

    
$35.00 ($10.00 Deposit)    
     

 

See the history of Woodcraft Camp.

This page will be updated with other stories and timelines. If you have information to submit, please email us.

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