History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Broadbridge, Lotta B., who owns and conducts Camp Bryn Afon, a girls' recreation camp on Lake Snowdon in Oneida County, was born at Marine City, Mich. She attended the grade and high schools of her native city and was graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with the class of 1906, after which she did social service work in Detroit, Mich., for seven years and was then grade principal of the Northern High School in Detroit for three years. in 1917 she came to Oneida County, purchased 70 acres of land on Snowdon Lake in the town of Stella Lake, and established the now nationally-known Camp Afon, which in equipment, plan of organization, and management is a model for its kind. All of the buildings were designed by Ralph ERMELING, Chicago architect. The main bungalow, which is 120 feet long, is built on a knoll at an elevation of 30 feet above the lake and commands a view of enchanting beauty. The living room of this building is 70x35 feet in dimensions, has a white maple floor, and is equipped with a piano and two large fireplaces, one at each end. The dining room, opening from this room, stretches to the rear and is a large airy room, with so many windows as it be practically out of doors; the floor of the dining room is elevated above that of the living room, and by a simple arrangement of screens this can be taken advantage of in arranging a stage perfectly adapted to theatrical productions and other entertainments. This building has a screened porch 54 feet long overlooking the lake, and is excellently appointed in every respect. The sleeping bungalows, called kiosks, are unique and attractive; the entire upper portion of each of these buildings is enclosed only by screen mesh, with swinging shutters, the overhanging eaves furnishing ample protection except in severe storms, when the shutters may be drawn; each kiosk accommodates seven girls and a counselor. The lake fleet at Bryn Afon consists of Sponsons, canoes of the Kineo model, war canoes holding ten girls each, row boat, fishing boats, and a sail boat. All the canoes were made especially for the Camp by the Kenneoec Canoe Company of Waterville, Maine; features of their construction include 24-inch decks, straight oak keels, and double bottoms. The Sponson type is non-sinkable and non-capsizable. With the ideal location of the camp and its many special features, there is everything here to contribute to a happy and safe out-of-doors vacation for the growing girl, to whom such an experience will mean so much both in the present and in the years to come. Here she will gain the glowing health that comes from exercise in the pure outdoor air; she will learn the poise and calmness of spirit which is the lesson of the forest to mankind; she will acquire the self-reliance that comes from living close to nature; and she will learn the meaning of real friendship of a sort that she can never know under the artificial conditions of conventional society. Among the activities that will fill her summer here with delight may be mentioned horseback riding, under the tutorship and supervision of a skilled riding master; swimming and all other forms of water sport, made doubly attractive by the fine beach and sheltered waters of Lake Snowdon, which is only three-quarters of a mile wide and a mile and a quarter long; tennis, with individual coaching and every opportunity to develop a high degree of skill; canoeing, including long canoe trips on the lakes and rivers of Northern Wisconsin, pitching camp in the open at night; instruction in wood lore and in arts and crafts, including lace making, weaving, and the designing and fashioning of articles of jewelry from the precious metals; dancing, with instruction three times per week in folk dancing, interpretive and social dancing; and delightful indoor evenings of games, and entertainments, etc. All the activities and routine of camp life under the close watchfulness of carefully-selected, experienced counselors each of whom is assigned to asmall group of girls; most of the counselors are college graduates, and all are of the very highest type of womanhood. The health of the campers is under the care of a skilled physician, a trained nurse, and a practical nurse, who are members of the staff and are on the ground at all times, and the preparation of all the meals is under the supervision of an experienced dietitian. As evidence of the wide reputation the camp has achieved, the following states have been represented here: Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, and California. In building up this place Miss BROADBRIDGE has brought credit to herself and to Oneida County. During the year 1923-24 she attended Oxford University in England; she has made a number of other trips to Europe, conducting parties of girls, and by training, experience, and personality she is thoroughly qualified for the splendid work she is doing at Camp Afon.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from page 227-228; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.

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