Catholic Telegraph
Friday, May 1, 1987


			    FORT SCOTT CAMP

Fort Scott Summer Camp is located in the northwest part of Hamilton
County, on the Big Miami River near New Baltimore approximately twenty
miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. Fort Scott was a pioneering venture -- the
first Catholic camp in the United States started under the auspices of an
archdiocese or diocese. This was begun in 1922. The name "Fort" was given
the camp because of the strategic terrain. Here, in the pioneer days of
America, Fort Hamilton, headquarters of General Anthony Wayne, was just
eight miles north at Hamilton, Ohio. And about the same distance south of
the camp site was Fort Harrison, at Harrison, Ohio.

The name "Scott" was the surname of Michael Scott, who emigrated to
Cincinnati from Baltimore in 1805, and was one of the first Catholics in
the Cincinnati area. He was the "happy Irishman" who invited visiting
missionaries to stay at his home and to offer the Holy Sacrifice of Mass
there, since there was no church in Cincinnati. Later he himself built the
first church which became the Cathedral upon the arrival of Bishop Fenwick
to Cincinnati in 1822.

			   New Site Chosen

The original camp site, in 1922, was located on Mt. Nebo Road, near
Cleves, Ohio. It consisted of about 82 acres and a few buildings, but it
was soon judged inadequate. There was little chance of getting additional
property and thus a new site, the present location, was selected in 1924.
Father Francis A. Gressle, Director of the Catholic Charities and founder
of the camp, purchased 131 acres from Ethel and John Schlemmer, and with
the help of dedicated seminarians and laymen, the work of the camp
progressed. In 1926, Father R. Marcellus Wagner was appointed director of
Catholic Charities and Fort Scott Camp. He held this position until his
death in 1959.

During the long administration of Monsignor Wagner, the camp experienced
great growth and development.

			   Chapel Dedicated

In 1935 the Chapel of St. Victor was completed. The architect of this
beautiful camp chapel was Edward J. Schulte, the nationally known
Cincinnati architect. St. Victor Chapel is the gift of the late Mrs.
Suzannah Walsh Hinkle, in memory of her son Victor Walsh.

Volumes could be written about the generosities of Mrs. Hinkle. She became
interested in Fort Scott around 1930 and provided the financial help to
Monsignor Wagner to liquidate debt, to renovate the camp buildings and to
build the mess hall and the infirmary.  For twenty years, until her death
in 1950, Mrs. Hinkle was the camp benefactor and guardian angel. It would
be difficult to total the amount of her financial gifts to Fort Scott
during this time. One thing we know; if the facilities at Fort Scott Camp
today are the best in the country, much of the credit must go to her
generosity and interest.

In 1936 Mrs. Hinkle proposed the idea of two camps, one for boys and one
for girls. Up to that time boys would camp for part of the summer and
girls for the rest, both using the same camp facilities. Additional
property was bought and a completely new camp for boys, similar to the
original camp, was constructed. This was dedicated in 1936 to the memory
of Mrs. Hinkle's son, William Sebastian Walsh. The original camp then
became the girls camp, and since 1936, Fort Scott has had two complete and
separate camps. The unique feature of this arrangement is that parents can
bring both their boys and girls to the same camp at the same time, if they
so desire.

In 1938 the entrance to Fort Scott took a new appearance with the
construction of the stone gatehouse. This was dedicated to the memory of
W.D. "Hogan" Morrissey, who directed boys' activities in the early days of
the camp from 1926 to 1936.

There was one year in the history of Fort Scott when the camp was closed
-- 1943. This was during the Second World War, and because of the
hardships of the time and the scarcity of manpower and supplies, it was
decided to keep the camps closed that summer.

In 1954, Father William L. Schroeder was appointed resident camp chaplain
to replace Father Carl J. Geers, who had held the post from 1950 to 1953.

			Enlarge, Remodel, Additions

In 1957 Monsignor Wagner, recognizing the age and condition of the cabins
in the girls camp, decided it was time to enlarge and remodel the camp.
Accordingly two new cabins were constructed that autumn, and an addition
was made to the girls directors cabin. Each year, as finances permitted,
more cabins were built.

On October 5, 1959, death claimed Monsignor Wagner. After thirty-three
years of devoted service to the youth of America, Monsignor was called to
his eternal reward. On the very day of his death, work begun on an
addition to the boys lodge which was to serve as the headquarters for camp
administration. This was dedicated to his memory the following summer,
when the camp began its first season under the direction of Father William
L. Schroeder, the former camp chaplain.

Father Schroeder continued the remodeling plans for the girls camp. In
1960 and 1961 six more new cabins were built -- three each year -- and in
1962 the St. Margaret Lodge was begun. This motel-type building replaced
four of the original cabins and the ancient lavatory facilities in the
girls camp. In the fall of 1963 the last four of the original cabins were
torn down.

In the spring of 1962 the riding stable was remodeled and given a new
roof. This was done through the kindness of Walter A. McDonald, a
long-time friend and benefactor of Fort Scott.

				Dr. Link

In 1960 Dr. Joseph Link ended his long and active career in camping. He
had come to Fort Scott in 1931, served the camp in various capacities, and
became the director of the boys camp in 1940. In 1943 he was called to
military service, returning to Fort Scott in 1948. In 1952, he left again
to accept a position with the State Department in Pusan, Korea. In 1953 he
returned to Fort Scott as camp administrator in which position he was able
to relieve Monsignor Wagner of many of his camp responsibilities.

During his years at Fort Scott, Dr. Link helped organize the National
Catholic Camping Association at a National Catholic Youth Convention in
Cincinnati in 1951 and served as Regional Director for several years. In
1957, he was elected vice president of this organization and in 1959 he
became National President of the NCCA. Dr. Link continues his interest in
Fort Scott today as a member of the Walter Schott Family Foundation, which
in recent years has been generous to Fort Scott with financial assistance.

From all that has been presented above, you can see the growth and
progress that Fort Scott has enjoyed over the 65 years of its existence.

				  Today

Today, on the Fort Scott grounds there are sixty-one buildings in addition
to the two swimming pools. The maintenance of these facilities is one of
the camp's chief concerns. When it was quite evident that a full time
resident caretaker was a necessity, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yearion moved in.
Much of the improvement in camp facilities can be attributed to his
resourcefulness, ability, and constant interest over the years.

		Medical Program, Food and Dietetics Program

The medical program at Fort Scott has always been of the highest caliber.
In the early days the medical program was handled by medical students and
a registered nurse with physicians such as Dr. John Danshy, Dr. Al Willke,
and Dr. George Kolb as consultants. During 1938, Dr. C. Richard Schroder
became the first full-time resident physician. Then in 1950 he returned as
resident medical director after serving as examining physician in the
intervening years. Today, each camper is completely covered by insurance
for accident and illness from the time he leaves home until he returns.
Camp insurance was begun at Fort Scott in 1946.

The food and dietetics program of a summer camp is of paramount
importance. The early days of the camp earned for Fort Scott an enviable
reputation for good food. Mrs. Bessie McNeal of London, Ohio, would come
to the camps each summer with her staff of trained cooks and serve her
famous Southern fried chicken with all the trimmings. Later, Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas January, Mrs. Dessie Matheny and Katie Tenger continued the high
standards of the other chief cooks. In 1953 Mrs. Velma Conrad became chief
dietitian, with supervision of both mess halls and kitchen. Rarely is
there a complaint about the quantity or quality of the food served at Fort
Scott.

			     Special Events

The custom of scheduling a special event each period during the camping
season may be traced back to the early days of camp. In 1925 the famous
Fort Scott Minstrels and Musical Show was begun by Father Al Griesinger.
Assisted by Dr. C. Richard Schroder and Dr. Joseph Link, he began a
tradition which has been handed down to the present time. Leading players
in the early days included such men as William J. Bien, Irvin Beumer, Dr.
Fred Droege, Rev. Erwin Bertke, Bob Sutthoff, Rev. Robert Suver, Rev.
Charles Blum, Lou Betz, Bob Kavanaugh, Dr. Don Vollman, Jim Arata, Harold
Link, Emmett Crowe, Paul Hallbach, George Ratterman and many others.

			  Fort Scott Marriages

In 1936, with the introduction of two camps operating at the same time,
associations and friendships began among the counselors and many of these
led to the alter and marriage. "Fort Scott marriages" include such names
as John "Pete" Monahan and Paula Freytag, Paul Trame and Laura Jane
Howard, James Warndorf and Sarah McHugh, Harold Link and Jeannette
DiGiovancle, Frank Dalton and Jean Martin, Louis Schroder and Jean Klott,
Lou Betz and Helen Mueller, Ed Heitzman and Kate Seitz, George Ratterman
and Ann Hengelbrok, Dr. Wm. Schrimpf and Margaret Freytag, James Weaver
and Jean Wathen, Martin Kuntz and Pattie Ewing, Richard Geiger and Jo Ann
Voss, Jack Torbeck and Mary Claire Leis, Jerry Devitt and Debbie Devanney,
Thomas Held and Jody Chinery, Rodney Johnson and Martha Schults, Dr.
Richard T. Wurzelbacher and Dotty Schmitt, Arthur Ney, Jr. and Marlene
Niklas, Gene Koesters and Alice Fox, Bernard Sinchek and Kathleen
McNamara, Paul D. Cain Jr. and Geraldine Roche, James Schwartz and Paula
Strunk, Doyle Brown and Shirley Fehr, Joen Frey and Barbara Cassady,
Richard Maginni and Jane Brockhaus, Richard Maley and Nacy Dixon, William
Muehlenkamp and Posey Romweber, Ron Nicolai and Lois Einhaus, Charlie
O'Leary and Jogi Baccioco, John Rolfes and Ellen Winter, John Stagnaro and
Nancy Rood, Jack Stutler and Eva LeRoux, Dr. Lee Vesper and Rose
Heiselmann.

			     Annual Reunion

To promote and continue the friendships and acquaintances of the past it
was decided in 1961 to begin an annual reunion of Fort Scott counselors
and staff members to be held after the camping season. A committee of
twenty met at camp one evening and began to search for names and
addresses. The annual reunion has become an important occasion in the
lives of former staff members and each year more than five hundred adults
and children are present for it. Today the children of many of these
former staff members are now campers. And many former campers are now
sending their children too. Former counselors and campers of Fort Scott
may be found today in all parts of the United States, and even in some
foreign countries.

And so today, the Fort Scott Camps are esteemed in the American Catholic
summer camping field and enjoy an enviable reputation for their staff,
program, activities and facilities. The primary purpose is the moral and
religious, spiritual, social, recreational and cultural development of the
boys and girls as well as their safety, welfare and interest. Every job is
important, whether it be in maintenance, administration or program, that
of helping to develop the character and personalities of young Americans.

During the years 1964-1978, with the majority of Fort Scott's major
building completed, the camp operated successful. A change in General
Directors following the 1972 camping season saw Rev. William Schroeder
retire and Rev. John Porter, the Director of the Catholic Youth
Organization (C.Y.O.) take his place. Under Father Porter's leadership
one-week camping opportunities became more widely available -- so that
more children would have the opportunity to camp and there was a
significant increase in the number of groups (parish, social and more) who
began to use the camp's fine facilities.

Also, in 1972, Fort Scott long time Maintenance Director, Mr. Charles
Yearion retired, after having served the camp since the 1940s. During the
summer of 1986, the late Mr. and Mrs. Yearion were remembered for their
long-time commitment to the camp with the dedication of the Yearion
Memorial near the roadway to the Fort Scott Farm and the Yearion Picnic
Grove. The excellent work maintaining the camp facilities continues today
under the dedicated talents of Mr. Edward Shannon. Time is taking its toll
on some of our fine facilities, but the grounds and buildings that are
used would be in a much different condition today if it were not for the
excellent care that they have been provided over the years.

The R. Marcellus Wagner Youth Lodge, of course, dedicated to the memory of
Monsignor Wagner was opened in June, 1978, allows the camp to provide
year-round opportunities for various school, parish, and organizational
youth and adult programs. Over 2,000 persons per year use the facility.
The modern facilities with fireplace, dormitory style rooms, and
fully-equipped kitchen, serve the needs of these organizations very well.
Funds for developing the lodge were received from many alumni, parents and
friends.

Rev. Len Wenke, Director of the Office of Youth Ministry, was appointed
Archdiocesan Director at the beginning of the 1985 season. At the same
time, the camp's Board of Directors developed out of the former Advisory
Board. The Board of Directors today works very close with the camp
leadership evaluating the camp's physical condition, programs, assisting
in funding and maintaining a sound financial base upon which to operate.