C'mon guys, let's take a hike! Grab your backpacks and canteens-put on your walking shoes, and let's go.
We'll muster at the Methodist Church mid-town. Fremont and 44th is the address. This church was organized in 1853, with the first pastor being John Ware Dow. At that time they held services in the Dow log cabin and the J. Gillespie barn. The barn was located across from the church's parking lot where the tennis courts are. In 1857 the Bohanon's donated the land at 44th and Fremont and the first church was built in 1879. The present church was rebuilt in the same location.
We're all here now, so let's start the hike by going across the parkway to the road that crosses the railroad tracks to Bryant Ave. Then let's go north on Bryant to 49th. See Bohanon Park, katty-corner from here. The land for this park was provided by the city to the park board in 1935.
Now let's walk east until we come to what used to be Hopewell Hospital. It was built in 1908 by the city health department to care for chronic incurable tuberculosis patients. In 1912 it was renamed Parkview, after being enlarged. When the Glen Lake Sanatorium became available in 1924, Parkview served as a charity hospital and convalescent home staffed by General Hospital. In 1960 the Baptist Society purchased it for a senior citizen's residence.
Cast your eyes to the area behind, toward 50th. That is where the Minneapolis Workhouse used to be. If you squint a little, you may see the residents returning from the nearby limestone rock quarry at 40th and Lyndale. That is where they worked long ago.
Going on now, we shall continue south on Lyndale to the bridge that crosses over Shingle Creek. Do you see any fish? I think I do. Let's follow the creek eastward until we arrive at what looks like ruins beside the creek and near the creek mouth. You may have guessed this is where the ruins of the original Shingle Mill built in 1853 by Rufus Farnham are. The shingle mill had actually been made into a flour and grist mill in 1859 after being sold to David Morgan. What is partially visible might be the foundation of the flour mill rather than the shingle mill.
The flour mill, itself, was quite big for its day-30 ft. by 40 ft. and two stories high. It had an output capacity of 100 barrels a day. A dam had been built for the water wheel which powered two runs of grinding stones. In 1872 Msrs. Oswald and Bengenheimer bought the mill and named it "Oswald's Flour Mill." The final owner was G.A. Haertel, Sr. when the mill burned down August 16, 1890.
Well, enough of that. Have a swig of water and let's hike back to the heart of Camden. That is where Washington Ave., Lyndale, 42nd Ave. and Webber Parkway all intersect. Now, if you like, we can take a hike to Webber Park and see the library and swimming pool, but instead, let's go the other direction. We all know it was in 1909 that Charles C. Webber donated money for building the swimming pool and 1910 that the Webber family donated money for the library.
From where we stand we can look up Lyndale toward 41st and see where the old #20 Fire House stands. The Fire House was built in 1894 and is the oldest existing building in the heart of Camden. The rigs at first used to be horse drawn. The floor of the building was made of planks held together with pitch and wooden pegs. The present #20, since 1963, has been located near Shingle Creek Dr. and Humboldt Ave.
Who wants to hike up Washington Ave. to see what we can find? At 3907 Washington Ave. is the Farrell House. This is where the town lamplighter lived. Farrell would set out every evening with horse and wagon, carrying 200 square boxes filled with kerosene. These were individually lit as he placed each one on a lamp post. This he did seven days a week for eight years. How faithful and diligent he was!
A little farther from that is the Rufus Farnham house at 3939 Washington Ave. N. You remember he was one of the first settlers in Camden, coming from St. Anthony. How wonderful that the house is still there. It looks a bit lonely and forlorn, though.
Well, that's about it. Time to go home, my feet are tired and we've walked enough for one day. So, back to the church we go. It was a good hike!
Note - By now you have guessed this is not a recent hike! It took place in March, 1976, by Scoutmaster George L. Miller's Boy Scout Troop #188, which was sponsored by North United Methodist Church. George is the son of Mrs. Eila Spriestersbach Miller, a long time Camden resident, and this information came from her. The Boy Scout hikers were sketched by former Camden resident, Bill Jackman, who has written a booklet about his memories of growing up in Camden. I shall be quoting some of his memories at a later date.