Where we were... ...Where we are
A Short History of Miller Lake
Miller Lake Baptist Camp
- The initial vision conceiving of a camp came from John Goetze.
- Summer 1957
Betty and Heinz Vogel found a property for sale at Miller Lake while camping there. That same summer, a delegation involving John Goetze, Eli Nickel, Helmut Krause, Br Vischnevski, and Br. Holtzaepfel visited the property.
- November 1957
A purchase was made from Curtis and Louis Corbetta who owned Summer House Camp. The property was for sale because the owner (Kurt) wanted to fund the building of a cottage. The purchase price was $2000. 10 Youth Groups from 10 churches contributed.
- Summer 61
First trees were cut down from the rock face to waterfront. All the trees were cut down in one day using only handsaws (no chainsaws!)
* Another weekend was used to clean up
* A bulldozer was hired to push the stumps out of the clearing
- 1961-62
Tin shed was built. Made almost exclusively of logs from the bush. Some lumber was bought for the flooring and roof slats. Completed in 2 weekends
- 1963
First Youngschar (Boys) camp
- 1964
The cottage was built. Prefabicated at a lumber yard in St. Jacobs where Andy Petz and John Meiszinger worked. Parts were delivered by truck and assembled on site. The cottage costed $700. But the siding costed another $1200.
- Many boys + girls camps
- 1972
Dining hall, kitchen, washrooms added
- 1974
Septic system + well installed
- 1979
Dorm extention - pre-fabricated in church parking lot and shell constructed on one long weekend
- 1988
First seniors camp
- 2000 - spring new winterized building begun
- 2000 - late fall septic tank and lines installed
- 2003 - Framing rooms downstairs
- 2003-07 - Vinyl siding, framing of upstairs rooms, internal development, decor
- Future Vision
A winterized building that will sleep up to 28 people with fully functioning Bathrooms and Kitchen facilities for 75 or more
To extend camping use season by providing a retreat environment durring off season times
Winter Weekend retreats (Young Family and Young Adults have already started)