History of Camp McFadden
By: Paula Carmack Denson, 2011
During the first ten years in the existence of Camp McFadden, located 8 miles east of Ponca City on land which was previously part of the Dan Kygar farm, at least five thousand Camp Fire Girls attended camp sessions. To approach the camp, visitors had to drive over rough dirt roads, often muddy with the torrential rain which sometimes fell during camping season. Often the campers were compelled to visit the 'Fraid Hole located under the camp's main office building when tornados roamed the area. There was a sense of happiness, creativeness, with sportsmanship and friendliness thrown in for good measure. Because of a talented group of directors and counselors, the Camp Fire Girls and Blue Birds experienced a time in their lives which was never forgotten.
There were many things which made the camp happen. Besides the initial gift of the camp to the girls by Mr. William H. McFadden, numerous individuals, civic clubs and the girls themselves made the camp a success.
This is the history of the camp to help us remember the many happy youngsters who came to enjoy its freedom, adventure, work and play, songs by the fire, and the beauty of vespers from Flag Hill.
According to a history left by Miss Hope Brown, first executive director of the camp, the Camp Fire Girls in Ponca had always gone camping since 1923 - but they had to take their tents, equipment, and all supplies every summer as they camped on the banks of the Salt Fork River. However, in March 1927, Mrs. Ignatia Marland Rittenhouse, sister to oil baron E. W. Marland and a frequent visitor to Ponca City, came to visit the Camp Fire office in Ponca City. She was an executive member of the Camp Fire Council of New York, and thus had an active interest in the welfare of all girls everywhere. Miss Brown expressed her wish to have a permanent camp. Soon after, Mrs. Rittenhouse, who had been a long-time friend of William H. McFadden, approached him about the possibility of creating a camp for the girls. A meeting with Miss Brown ensued and in a week's time, Miss Brown, Mr. Curt Hall, mayor of Ponca and father of Camp Fire, Mr. Dan Kygar, and Mr. McFadden began looking for an appropriate site. It was not long until they settled on a beautiful spot on the banks of the Arkansas River, eight miles east of town. Not many days later, sometime in early April, work began on the construction of the camp and while the workers labored, McFadden himself, with the assistance of Mr. Curt Hall and members of the Lion's Club went out and helped with the tennis court. By June 1st there were five cabins, each large enough to accommodate twelve girls. There was a dining hall, kitchen, director's office, a cyclone cellar, a temporary swimming pool, and a tennis and basketball court.
Many civic clubs were generous in gifting the camp. The Business Women's Club donated croquet sets and a bugle, the Twentieth Century Club donated tennis equipment, the Research Club gave archery equipment, and the University Women donated basketball equipment.
One hundred and fifty girls enjoyed the first three weeks of camp. There were three periods accommodating the girls of different ages. A Red Cross Life Saving examiner, dietician, two cooks and several counselors were on the staff, as well as Miss Hope Brown, the Camp Fire Executive and Director. Mrs. W. W. Vance served as the Camp Fire Council president with Mr. Curt Hall as vice-president and Mrs. George Niemann as secretary/treasurer.
The First camping season lasted from June 4th to August 20th, 1927. Many dramatic stunts were performed during evening camp fires and there were hikes, crafts, nature lore, archery and many other activities for the girls during that first summer.
The following year, again directed by Miss Brown, a staff consisted of Miss Ophelia Sims, Alta Thomas, Elsie Montgomery, Georgia Ball, Vivian Zerkle, Catherine Webb and Mrs. R. Ball. Mrs. W. W. Vance remained president of the Camp Fire Council. Mr. McFadden made an appearance in June and out of the respect for their benefactor, the campers were dressed in their service costumes. However, due to rain, the girls looked like "mud-dobbers" by noon. They had planned an 11:00 o'clock session to display their swimming skills, but Mr. Marland was delayed by the muddy roads. The result of the visit was new concrete sidewalks.
Visitors to this camp were some notable Ponca Citians, including Mrs. Frank Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Higdon, Mrs. George Niemann, Mrs. Collins (the mother or sister-in-law of the first Mrs. Marland), Mrs. Alcorn, and Mrs. Vance.
In June 1928, the cabins at the camp were named in honor of a counselor or someone who had been particularly active in Camp Fire work. The names chosen were “Vance” in honor of Mrs. W. W. Vance, president of the Camp Fire Council; “Headley” in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Headley and in memory of Margaret Headley who had died the year before; “Niemann” for Mrs. George Niemann, secretary/treasurer of the council; “Bogan” for A. L. Bogan; “McDowell” for Nate McDowell; “Rittenhouse” for Mrs. I.M. Rittenhouse; “Lucas” for Frank B. Lucas; and “Brown” for Hope Brown, executive. The bath and shower house was named “Sims” for the first swimming counselor. Other buildings of the camp were named for Curt Hall (dining hall), the father of Camp Fire in Ponca City; the recreation hall was named McFadden Hall; and the office was named for Dan Kygar, who owned the camp site.
During each camp session, a special evening was set aside for visitors who watched the girls perform water pageants, handicrafts, folk-dancing, and other activities. During 1928, there were 387 girls attending the camp, and those voted as the best all-around campers had their names engraved on a silver loving cup. During these camps, the dietician would supply underweight girls with extra milk and crackers at a regular hour each afternoon.
Hiking, cooking over the campfire, archery, evening stunts, and vesper services were a big part of each camp. Each summer, the campers were visited by Mr. McFadden.
In the following years, the routine remained the same except for 1930 when there was no organized Camp Fire Camp in McFadden due to the financial depression which had forced the curtailment of Camp Fire expenditures. Miss Hope Brown, executive director, was terminated due to the lack of funds.
By 1932, the camp was back up and running under the direction of Mrs. Lou B. Paine. Mrs. Roy Williams was the president of the Camp Fire Council and Margaret Kygar was the Ponca City executive. Earlier in that year, a national training course was held at McFadden, and Miss Ruby Lattimore and Eldora DeMots from the New York office were in charge. Many guardians came from Texas and all over Oklahoma for four days of training.
In 1933, campers came from Ponca City, Nowata, Blackwell, Enid, Okmulgee, Oklahoma City, and from towns in Kansas including Coffeyville, Galena, and Augusta.
Mrs. Dorothy Showell was the president of the Camp Fire Council in 1934 with Mrs. Lou B. Paine still serving as director. Mrs. Paine’s husband worked at the camp as a horseback riding and swimming instructor.
By 1935, Miss Reo Johnston came on board as the director of the camp. L. L. Davis served as president of the Camp Fire Council with Robert E. Clark as the chairman of the camp committee. The sponsors for the camp were the Business and Professional Women’s group of Ponca City. In 1936, Johnston, Davis, and Clark remained with their duties. During this year, Mr. McFadden supplied a water pump and engine but the well went dry. A new well was made in a better location soon after. Mr. McFadden also supplied a straightened, well-graveled and oiled road during this time.
Following the first ten years, the original camp continued to host Camp Fire Girls. Later, when the Kaw Dam and Lake were seen to become a real possibility a group of citizens worked with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to move one or two of the existing cabins to a new location approximately two miles north of the original camp. Since that time and up until the early 1990s the camp was run by Camp Fire. Camp is now a multi-use recreation area under the direction of Directer Rachael Shoptese and a volunteer board of directors.
The camp includes the lodge, cabins, RV hookups, a ropes course, canoe and fishing ponds, and hiking trails. It is available for rental by other camps and groups such as families, companies, and church and youth groups who wish to use it for reunions, meetings, camps or other activities.
There were many things which made the camp happen. Besides the initial gift of the camp to the girls by Mr. William H. McFadden, numerous individuals, civic clubs and the girls themselves made the camp a success.
This is the history of the camp to help us remember the many happy youngsters who came to enjoy its freedom, adventure, work and play, songs by the fire, and the beauty of vespers from Flag Hill.
According to a history left by Miss Hope Brown, first executive director of the camp, the Camp Fire Girls in Ponca had always gone camping since 1923 - but they had to take their tents, equipment, and all supplies every summer as they camped on the banks of the Salt Fork River. However, in March 1927, Mrs. Ignatia Marland Rittenhouse, sister to oil baron E. W. Marland and a frequent visitor to Ponca City, came to visit the Camp Fire office in Ponca City. She was an executive member of the Camp Fire Council of New York, and thus had an active interest in the welfare of all girls everywhere. Miss Brown expressed her wish to have a permanent camp. Soon after, Mrs. Rittenhouse, who had been a long-time friend of William H. McFadden, approached him about the possibility of creating a camp for the girls. A meeting with Miss Brown ensued and in a week's time, Miss Brown, Mr. Curt Hall, mayor of Ponca and father of Camp Fire, Mr. Dan Kygar, and Mr. McFadden began looking for an appropriate site. It was not long until they settled on a beautiful spot on the banks of the Arkansas River, eight miles east of town. Not many days later, sometime in early April, work began on the construction of the camp and while the workers labored, McFadden himself, with the assistance of Mr. Curt Hall and members of the Lion's Club went out and helped with the tennis court. By June 1st there were five cabins, each large enough to accommodate twelve girls. There was a dining hall, kitchen, director's office, a cyclone cellar, a temporary swimming pool, and a tennis and basketball court.
Many civic clubs were generous in gifting the camp. The Business Women's Club donated croquet sets and a bugle, the Twentieth Century Club donated tennis equipment, the Research Club gave archery equipment, and the University Women donated basketball equipment.
One hundred and fifty girls enjoyed the first three weeks of camp. There were three periods accommodating the girls of different ages. A Red Cross Life Saving examiner, dietician, two cooks and several counselors were on the staff, as well as Miss Hope Brown, the Camp Fire Executive and Director. Mrs. W. W. Vance served as the Camp Fire Council president with Mr. Curt Hall as vice-president and Mrs. George Niemann as secretary/treasurer.
The First camping season lasted from June 4th to August 20th, 1927. Many dramatic stunts were performed during evening camp fires and there were hikes, crafts, nature lore, archery and many other activities for the girls during that first summer.
The following year, again directed by Miss Brown, a staff consisted of Miss Ophelia Sims, Alta Thomas, Elsie Montgomery, Georgia Ball, Vivian Zerkle, Catherine Webb and Mrs. R. Ball. Mrs. W. W. Vance remained president of the Camp Fire Council. Mr. McFadden made an appearance in June and out of the respect for their benefactor, the campers were dressed in their service costumes. However, due to rain, the girls looked like "mud-dobbers" by noon. They had planned an 11:00 o'clock session to display their swimming skills, but Mr. Marland was delayed by the muddy roads. The result of the visit was new concrete sidewalks.
Visitors to this camp were some notable Ponca Citians, including Mrs. Frank Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Higdon, Mrs. George Niemann, Mrs. Collins (the mother or sister-in-law of the first Mrs. Marland), Mrs. Alcorn, and Mrs. Vance.
In June 1928, the cabins at the camp were named in honor of a counselor or someone who had been particularly active in Camp Fire work. The names chosen were “Vance” in honor of Mrs. W. W. Vance, president of the Camp Fire Council; “Headley” in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Headley and in memory of Margaret Headley who had died the year before; “Niemann” for Mrs. George Niemann, secretary/treasurer of the council; “Bogan” for A. L. Bogan; “McDowell” for Nate McDowell; “Rittenhouse” for Mrs. I.M. Rittenhouse; “Lucas” for Frank B. Lucas; and “Brown” for Hope Brown, executive. The bath and shower house was named “Sims” for the first swimming counselor. Other buildings of the camp were named for Curt Hall (dining hall), the father of Camp Fire in Ponca City; the recreation hall was named McFadden Hall; and the office was named for Dan Kygar, who owned the camp site.
During each camp session, a special evening was set aside for visitors who watched the girls perform water pageants, handicrafts, folk-dancing, and other activities. During 1928, there were 387 girls attending the camp, and those voted as the best all-around campers had their names engraved on a silver loving cup. During these camps, the dietician would supply underweight girls with extra milk and crackers at a regular hour each afternoon.
Hiking, cooking over the campfire, archery, evening stunts, and vesper services were a big part of each camp. Each summer, the campers were visited by Mr. McFadden.
In the following years, the routine remained the same except for 1930 when there was no organized Camp Fire Camp in McFadden due to the financial depression which had forced the curtailment of Camp Fire expenditures. Miss Hope Brown, executive director, was terminated due to the lack of funds.
By 1932, the camp was back up and running under the direction of Mrs. Lou B. Paine. Mrs. Roy Williams was the president of the Camp Fire Council and Margaret Kygar was the Ponca City executive. Earlier in that year, a national training course was held at McFadden, and Miss Ruby Lattimore and Eldora DeMots from the New York office were in charge. Many guardians came from Texas and all over Oklahoma for four days of training.
In 1933, campers came from Ponca City, Nowata, Blackwell, Enid, Okmulgee, Oklahoma City, and from towns in Kansas including Coffeyville, Galena, and Augusta.
Mrs. Dorothy Showell was the president of the Camp Fire Council in 1934 with Mrs. Lou B. Paine still serving as director. Mrs. Paine’s husband worked at the camp as a horseback riding and swimming instructor.
By 1935, Miss Reo Johnston came on board as the director of the camp. L. L. Davis served as president of the Camp Fire Council with Robert E. Clark as the chairman of the camp committee. The sponsors for the camp were the Business and Professional Women’s group of Ponca City. In 1936, Johnston, Davis, and Clark remained with their duties. During this year, Mr. McFadden supplied a water pump and engine but the well went dry. A new well was made in a better location soon after. Mr. McFadden also supplied a straightened, well-graveled and oiled road during this time.
Following the first ten years, the original camp continued to host Camp Fire Girls. Later, when the Kaw Dam and Lake were seen to become a real possibility a group of citizens worked with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to move one or two of the existing cabins to a new location approximately two miles north of the original camp. Since that time and up until the early 1990s the camp was run by Camp Fire. Camp is now a multi-use recreation area under the direction of Directer Rachael Shoptese and a volunteer board of directors.
The camp includes the lodge, cabins, RV hookups, a ropes course, canoe and fishing ponds, and hiking trails. It is available for rental by other camps and groups such as families, companies, and church and youth groups who wish to use it for reunions, meetings, camps or other activities.