Camp Tosebo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camp Tosebo
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Clubhouse
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 7228 Miller Road, Red Park, Michigan |
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| Nearest city | Onekama, Michigan |
| Built | 1914-1918 |
| Built by | Charles A. Anderson |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000644 |
| Added to NRHP | December 21, 2000 |
Camp Tosebo is a historic summer camp located on the south shore of Portage Lake in Onekama Township, Michigan. It was started in 1912 by Noble Hill. He was the headmaster of the Todd Seminary for Boys school in Woodstock, Illinois. Camp Tosebo was one of the first summer camps in the United States.
The camp's name, Tosebo, is a special word made from parts of the school's name: TOdd SEminary for BOys. It was also meant to sound like a Native American word. In 2000, Camp Tosebo was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place worth protecting because of its history.
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Camp Tosebo's Story: A Look Back
Portage Lake became popular in the 1840s. At first, it was known for sawmills and cutting down trees. But by the 1880s, people started coming for summer vacations. A place called Red Park Resort opened in 1895. It had a dance hall, which is now the Camp Tosebo Clubhouse.
Noble Hill, a leader in education, built a cottage nearby in 1901. He owned the Todd Seminary for Boys. By 1912, the Red Park area was not as popular. Other resorts were drawing people away.
How Camp Tosebo Began
Noble Hill opened Camp Tosebo in 1912. It was an extra program for his Todd Seminary for Boys school. The camp quickly became very popular. In 1914, Hill bought the old Red Park dance hall and the land around it.
He hired Charles A. Anderson to turn the dance hall into the main clubhouse. At first, the boys slept in tents. Later, small cabins were built for the younger campers. Camp Tosebo soon had many fun things to do. There were tennis courts, a place for arts and crafts, and shower buildings.
Famous Visitors and New Beginnings
A famous person who attended the Todd Seminary for Boys was Orson Welles. He was a well-known actor and filmmaker. In 1932, Orson Welles visited Camp Tosebo.
Noble Hill and his family kept running the camp for many years. His son, Roger Hill, and daughter, Carol Hill Taylor Fawcett, took over later. The Todd Boys School closed in 1954. But the camp kept going until 1962, when it was sold to new owners.
Camp Tosebo continued as a boys' summer camp until 1978. After that, it changed. Today, it is a resort where people can rent rooms. The camp's 56 acres (230,000 m2) property is wooded and beautiful. All the old buildings have been carefully fixed up.
What Camp Tosebo Looks Like Today
Camp Tosebo is in a lovely wooded area right on Portage Lake. It has an open field where the camp used to be. There are also many old buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The most important buildings are the Camp Tosebo Clubhouse, the Trunk House, and the Welcome House. Other buildings include a Shower House, a craft house, bunkhouses, and a boat house. There are also three more cottages.
The Clubhouse: Camp's Main Hub
The Camp Tosebo Clubhouse is a two-story building. It mixes different styles, like Arts and Crafts and Victorian. It has a special roof with a central tower. The outside is covered with wood siding. Much of the clubhouse was made from the old 1895 Red Park dance hall.
The main part of the clubhouse is about 40 feet by 60 feet. An extra part was added in 1912. In 1995-1996, a strong cement basement was built. The clubhouse used to have a dining room, kitchen, and recreation rooms downstairs. Bedrooms and bathrooms were on the second floor. Now, the upper floor has nine guest rooms and seven bathrooms.
Other Important Buildings
The Trunk House
The Trunk House was built in 1916. It is a two-story building with a hip roof. It is covered with horizontal wooden siding. The building is about 32 feet by 22 feet.
The Welcome House
The Welcome House is also known as the Fred W. Cron Cottage. It is a two-story cottage shaped like an "L". Fred Cron built this cottage in 1896. It was one of the first cottages at the Red Park Resort. Noble Hill bought this cottage in 1927.
