A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EARLY DAYS AT FIRPOINT
AS WRITTEN BY GARLAND AND ROBERTA SHINN
Dr. John K. Howard came to Glendale and acquired the two hundred and forty acres known as Fir Point (named after the nearby hill) sometime in 1914 or 1915. At that time it was a homestead with a house by the spring up the hill in back of the old boys dormitory where the tules grow. There was also at one time a cabin on the hill by the old out houses. There was another cabin on the upper slopes some distance above the present fire circle lived in by two Finnish people who had their own private sauna built over the creek. At one time there was a still for making moonshine way on top of the hill. This information and much of the following came from an interview with Mrs. Howard after the Howards had moved from Fir Point to the Sutherlin area north of Roseburg. Elsie Isakson and Roberta Shinn drove up and met with her for an afternoon and took notes on what she said.
According to Mrs. Howard, a Lumber Mill gave the homestead and land to Mr. Howard after the Mill had logged it. In 1915 Dr. Howard put up the logs for his home (now the lodge) and then returned to Arizona and married Mrs. Howard.
In 1919, they came back and lived in Glendale for the summers while Dr. Howard worked on the house. He paid $15.00 a thousand for knotty pine for the inside of the lodge because the less expensive board he had ordered burned in a fire. He paid for the fireplace with wedding fees he earned in Arizona where he pastored. He was a graduate of Trinity School of Theology in Texas.
In the fall of 1930, the Howards moved into their new home. He became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Glendale, Oregon. He was a man with a burden for children and young people and begin work right away to establish a Young People’s Bible Camp on his property. In 1931 they completed the dining hall multi purpose building (the Dining Hall today). Young people in Glendale peeled the logs for the building. That year, according to Mrs. Howard, they held their first Presbyterian Young People’s Bible Camp on this property.
George P. Martin, who served as an American Sunday School Union Missionary in Centralia, Washington, and in Southern Oregon, grew up in Rogue River, Oregon, where his family attended the Presbyterian church. Following are his “Early Fir Point Recollections.”
Four of us five Martin brothers, at different times, attended Fir Point Bible Conference.
Before Fir Point, Presbyterian young people for some years made their annual trek to
Rogue River, where several large tents were erected on the school grounds adjacent to
our little Hope Presbyterian Church which had a large Community Hall with kitchen
and dining accommodations. My oldest brother James attended there three summers,
but did not attend Fir Point. From Rogue River the summer Young Peoples Bible Camp
(YPBC) relocated at Fir Point. I am uncertain as to the exact year, Probably 1929-1930.
(according to Mrs. Howard it was 1931.)
Dr. Howard (Pastor of Glendale’s First Presbyterian Church), originally owned the
acreage known as Fir Point. He built with his own hands the log house where he and
his wife resided. His vision included a YPBC, and he began improving the grounds to
that end, constructing a log lodge with fireplace, kitchen, and dining facilities. The
Lodge would be used for meetings too. In fact it would become the center for much
activity. Besides the lodge there was a cabin (or two) for special guest speakers.
Campers arrived on Sunday afternoon, going home the following Sunday p.m. It was my
privilege to attend Fir Point three summers (1931-1933). I can still remember the big
tent raising event. When laid out on the ground the tent was forty feet long. When it was
raised and securely staked, it looked huge to this twelve year old farm boy. A similar
tent was erected at the opposite end of the grounds for girls. Toilet facilities were housed
in the ole’ time “out houses.” Conditions, admittedly, were quite primitive, but everyone
was willing to forego a few comforts—after all, this was camp, and we were expected to
rough it. In those days, we were not accustomed to “showering-down” every morning or
evening or both. Once a week was about the norm. If we all smelled alike there could be
no complaints!
Now, as to our daily camp schedule: At 6am the bugle boy would awaken campers with
the familiar sound of “Reveille;” at 10 pm he played “Taps,” which was the signal for
everyone to close their peepers. Between Breakfast and Dinner (the noon meal was then
called “Dinner,” the evening “Supper”), the pristine landscape filled with beautiful firs
canopied under clear blue skies, provided just the ideal environment for several hours of
Bible study. Occasionally the skies filled with clouds and poured down rain, sending
campers into the Lodge for Bible study.
At meal time someone would begin singing “Oh! Where has Ore-gone boys, Oh! Where
has Ore-gone? I ask you now as a personal friend, where has Ore-gone?” Then would
Come the answer, “She’s gone to O-kla-home boys, she’s gone to O-kla-home; I tell
you now as a personal friend she’s gone to O-kla_home.” Campers wouldn’t stop until
they made the rounds of all existing states. They also gleefully watched for campers to
unethically place their elbows on the table and then embarrass them by singing, “Take
your elbows off the table________________.” It was a lot of fun to sing that little
“ditty” to an unsuspecting member of the distinguished faculty.
At that time senior and junior campers all enrolled at the one camp , and everyone was
required to take his/her turn on the clean-up crew after meals. Campers names were
alphabetically announced at the end of each meal.
Following the noon meal, campers were required to nap for thirty minutes, after which
came recreation when we played softball, tennis (on dirt court), horseshoes, went hiking
on mountain trails and swimming. The pool at that time was quite small. I forget how
it was constructed.
Upon conclusion of the afternoon’s recreation we would clean up for the evening. An old
fashioned long handled iron pump brought water up from a deep well, that along with
several wash basins took care of the perspiration. At 5:00 pm campers assembled out on
the hillside (“Inspiration Point”) overlooking the valley below for the Vesper service,
singing choruses and hymns with one of the faculty bringing a short devotional
Dr. Howard, as I remember him, was rather tall, stately and austere looking—a hardy
mountaineer type of man. On weekdays he dressed in common everyday workman
apparel. He alone was the camp’s maintenance crew. Occasionally he would speak to the
campers. Of course on Sundays he appropriately dressed for his pastoral responsibilities.
Campers were trucked into Glendale for the Sunday morning Worship Service. Fawcett,
Turnbull, Robinson, and Charlie Levis are a few of the men who encouraged and enriched
my young life with their ministry at Fir Point.
Since those early beginnings, Fir Point has become an oasis among the tall firs, enjoying
very modern conveniences compared to those of seventy years ago.
In 1932 the large dormitory for girls was built. It was then named Morgan Hall after a lady who was married at Fir Point. Also, according to Mrs. Howard, it was during this same year that men from Glendale came and constructed the old swimming pool just to the left of the road as you entered Fir Point. In 1933 a boy’s dormitory was completed and dedicated to Mr. Ingham, owner of the Dollar Lumber Company, who had donated toward its completion. Before building the pool, according to Mrs. Howard, the creek was dammed to form a lake, which filled nicely, but then washed out.
Dr. Howard was a man with missionary vision and held services in many surrounding communities on Sundays besides preaching at his own church. Some of these were Galesville, Starveout, and Tanner’s Grove (Azalea Grange). He tried to get to each one once a month.
Many Glendale town picnics and swimming parties took place at Fir Point, and many have reminisced about good times had at Fir Point. Because of the help many in the community had given Dr. Howard, Fir Point was looked on as a community asset.
At the same time that Dr. Howard was holding camps at Fir Point, the American Sunday School Union Missionaries who served in the Roseburg and Medford areas were holding camps and conferences in different locations which they borrowed or rented. D.D. Randall from Medford held camps at Copper, Oregon (now covered by Applegate Lake), and conferences in different area churches, the old Federated Church in Central Point in particular. On the Roseburg Field camps were held at Tyee and perhaps at other places.
In the early 50s, Missionary Art Kelstrup of Roseburg contacted Dr. Howard, and they began renting the facilities from him for ASSU camps. When Allen Hill came as missionary in the Medford area, he began taking young people from his Sunday schools to Fir Point to join these camps.
The Garland Shinns first came to Southern Oregon in February, 1959, to become area missionaries. A camp did not exist at that time on that field, so they took twenty-three young people and five staff members to Fir Point to join Glen Goddard (who was by now field missionary in Roseburg) in holding two weeks of camp at Fir Point which he had rented from Dr. Howard.
During that first week at Fir Point, Roberta Shinn was invited by Mrs. Howard into the Lodge at Fir Point to look at her lovely home which later became “The Lodge.” The Howards had built that and all of the other buildings at Fir Point which existed at that time. (Dining Hall with kitchen out back where dish washing room is now, two large dormitories, one smaller dormitory, two large outhouse restroom facilities and a cooks cabin {office now}). With the exception of the outhouse facilities, these were all lovely log buildings. Mrs. Howard took Roberta through her home pointing out hand braided wall-to-wall carpets, beautiful myrtle wood furniture Dr. Howard had made, hand carved wagon wheel light fixtures (not the ones now in place), and shared how much she loved her home, the conference site, and the trees. She also showed long chains that Dr. Howard carved in the winter from single blocks of wood with no breaks in the links in them. Behind their home, was a large garden and a family orchard. Behind the house stood a rustic shed, which was used as shop and garage. An old filbert orchard was where the ball diamond now is. A cement creek-fed cold swimming pool was to the left side of the road right after you enter the property. The campers called it “The Cement Pond.” The water leaked out as fast as it filled, and the water was always cold. Many campers remember early morning “Polar Bear Swims.”
That year the Shinns took Rhoda Martin Hunter (daughter of George P. Martin whose earlier memories are already included in this history) with them to Fir Point as a Junior camper. Following is a report of her memories of Fir Point.
As I typed the memories my Dad has of Fir Point, I couldn’t help but remember all the
wonderful memories of my own. I don’t get to Southern Oregon very often, but when-
ever I pass the Glendale exit, nostalgia sets in, and I look up into those hills and remem-
ber fondly the days of my youth. I can remember sitting in the outdoor chapel on logs,
and at that time, we could see I-5 through the trees.
I don’t remember a lot of details, but I know that my time spent there played a signifi-
cant part in my spiritual growth. Meal times were always such fun, Bible classes inte-
resting, and the evening vesper service so inspiring. I have fond memories of the
campfire and the sharing of testimonies under the beautiful starry nights.
It was wonderful, dedicated people like the Shinns who made the camp such a grand
success. They were our “Mom and Dad” away from home! And the Shinn kids were
loved by all of us campers. I also remember fondly the days of Fred DeVos and the
Simer kids. Later as I began teaching summer DVBS, I remember returning to Fir
Point for a training session and having to tell a story and be critiqued by Dr. Peter
Becker. He gave me the ultimate compliment and said I “taught just like my father.”
The summers I taught DVBS were so rewarding and I often wonder about certain kids
I taught.
I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, Steve, and two children. Steve teaches
Business at Western Baptist.
In either 1960 or 1961, Dr. Howard sold the property, buildings, and all equipment to the Medford Monthly Meeting of Friends Church. The Friends Meeting at that time included smaller churches in Talent and Klamath Falls. They too had been renting from Dr. Howard. They made a commitment to Dr. Howard to never sell the property except for use as a Bible Conference Grounds. American Sunday School Union Camps directed by Glen Goddard, then missionary on the Roseburg ASSU field, continued at Fir Point renting from the Friends..
In 1960 the Southern Oregon Field began holding their own camps, renting “Camp Two” near Butte Falls from the Assembly of God Churches (who leased the old CCC camp). This camp was known as Willow Prairie Bible Conference. That summer Garland Shinn spoke at the ASSU camp at Fir Point for Missionary Glen Goddard.
The two camps continued in these locations until 1963. During that year the American Sunday School Union split the Roseburg field between the Eugene Field and the Medford Field and the southern area became known as the Southern Oregon Field. Missionary Goddard was transferred to Eastern Washington. Camps combined in 1964 and were held at Fir Point renting from the Friends Meeting. While the Friends owned Fir Point, they logged it extensively, improved fire roads, planted many trees (all those along the road to the chapel), built a new kitchen (part of the present kitchen), and built the restroom facility behind the dining hall.
One of the best things the Southern Oregon Field inherited in this division was Elsie Isakson (from Melrose Community Church) who had cooked and continued to cook for camps, putting in well over twenty years in this ministry. No camper will ever forget her cinnamon rolls, her tacos, pizza, or the love she showed to all. Her “Reunion Dinners” were an unforgettable way of dealing with leftovers as “friends who had met before got together again.” So many people from so many places helped in so many ways with the camps and work on the campground. The Shinns were thankful for each one.
Garland Shinn’s “Daily Detail of Missionary Work” for August 24, 1964, shows that the Shinns and Kenton and Betty Adams (then pastor of Forest Acres Community Church, Central Point), looked at a possible campsite to purchase, feeling that so much more could be done if the Southern Oregon Field owned its own camp. Both the Adams and the Shinns continued to have this vision, to pray much about it, and to look at other sites available mostly in the Tiller and Butte Falls areas.
During this time, in 1965, Garland needed a new tire (a frequent occurrence as he drove an average of 40 – 50,000 miles a year covering the field which extended from the ocean to the Oregon and Idaho borders and North to Bend and Burns.) He was sent by Bob Sanderson of Steve Wilson Company to Southern Oregon Tire and Supply Company to pick up a tire since none were available in the right size at Steve Wilson (an unusual occurrence). As Dick Krupp (who attended the Friends Church in Medford) changed Garland’s tire, Dick said, “We are thinking about selling Fir Point.” Garland questioned, “Are you serious?” Dick answered that he was pretty sure his church board was serious.
The “Daily Detail” shows that Garland then met with the Friends in regard to this on October 30, 1965. On November 3 he met with a lawyer about purchasing Fir Point. On November 4 a meeting of representatives of the various Sunday schools affiliated with the American Sunday School Union and representatives from Melrose and Pine Grove Churches (both of which had grown out of ASSU Sunday schools) took place at the Shinn home on Sardine Creek in Gold Hill. At that meeting they began to plan to purchase Fir Point. Feeling rather small for such a big undertaking, they were encouraged by Garland to realize that the twenty Sunday Schools and two churches included about 800 regular attendees which, if they were gathered in one location, would make them the largest church in the whole area. Lanny Parsons, a college student from Foots Creek Chapel and a former camper, had been fishing in Alaska and made the first donation giving his tithe from fishing toward the purchase of Fir Point. Others also gave generously.
After much prayer and consideration, an offer was made; earnest money of $500.00 was secured; and the purchase of Fir Point was begun. An agreement to purchase Fir Point for $29,000 was reached and they were given $500.00 then. In January of 1966 the Friends were given $4500.00 more (from a few loans and many small gifts), along with a note that they would be given $15,500 more on acceptance of title and delivery of deed on August 15. The Medford Monthly Meeting of Friends Church would then carry a mortgage on the property at 6% for ten years with interest to be paid semi-annually. The Friends at this time honored their commitment made to Dr. Howard years before to resell only to a Christian Camping Group although they could have sold the 240 acres for more on the open market.
In faith, the Friends allowed Steve and Helen Simer to move to Fir Point as caretakers in December of 1965 where they lived in the lodge and began to work hard to improve the grounds.
At the same time the purchase was being made, Fir Point Bible Conference was being incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Oregon. This was completed on January 13, 1966. At this time the Sunday school representatives were working on constitution and by-laws. Ned Nay was elected as corporation president, Garland Shinn as vice-president, Elward Smith as secretary, and Kenton Adams as treasurer.
In the meantime the Board was searching for a loan for the remaining down payment to the Friends for Fir Point. Don Myers of Riversdale Sunday School, through his Gideons association with Mr. Henry Kerr of Brookings, was able to secure a loan from Mr. Kerr.
The first part of January, 1966, just as the purchase was being completed a storm hit Fir Point and a tree caved in the roof of the girls’ dorm and the roof of the boys’ dorm. The Friends turned the insurance over to the new corporation. With volunteer labor the roofs were repaired and money was left to repay initial loans and to purchase badly needed new mattresses. How wonderfully the Lord provided!
February 5 of 1966 the Field began to use Fir Point with a snow party for all! Almost weekly Saturday workdays began that summer. Workers cleared brush, repaired the miniature golf course, put in new seating at Inspiration Point, and did much repair and maintenance. So many people from all of the Sunday Schools and churches helped, that it is impossible to begin to name them. Mention must be made of Glen Diller who did much painting and of Dick Holsinger who took care of all of the plumbing needs.
That summer ASSU camps were held with 299 young people at camp, not counting staff. Thirty-six decisions for Christ were made and Family Camp was attended by 135. Most of these campers came from the twenty-two Sunday schools on the field that year, and from Melrose and Pine Grove churches.
Records show that 657 young people in these twenty-two Sunday schools attended Vacation Bible School and 77 decisions were made for Christ that summer. The grounds were in use more of the time with rentals to other groups for eight weeks. A used trailer for the Simers to live was purchased to help in freeing up the Lodge for retreats.
During 1967, the Simers went to Bible School at Prairie Bible Institute, and Jim Arch began a brief stint as caretaker. Camps ended with thirty four salvation decisions and $33.01 in cash balance. The camp continued to be rented out to other groups.
1968 saw Melrose Church installing electrical hookups and spaces for trailers near the restrooms. Darrell Stanley brought his cat up and leveled the ball diamond and in front of the dining hall. Bob Dunn then seeded both areas. The new trailer area was a wonderfully appreciated thing for the Shinn family as they were then spending at least five weeks of every summer at Fir Point. This enabled their family to stay together in the new trailer park. Their four children loved their times at Fir Point both in camp and just being there with their parents. They have many great memories of good times had at Fir Point.
In 1969 a fund for a new chapel in memory of D.D. Randall was begun. Larry and Linda Swift moved into the trailer as new caretakers.
Construction of Randall chapel began on June 28, 1969 with eight men. Melrose Community Church provided plans and many workers. Don Myers oversaw construction (which he continued to do for years after.). During June, Elmer and Joy Baker and their three children moved to Fir Point to become the new caretakers. At that time Sunday School Union activities at Fir Point had increased with the holding of VBS teacher training, winter retreats, picnics, and four weeks of summer camp. That summer saw three hundred and six young people in attendance, not counting staff. One hundred and twenty were at Family Camp. 1969 also saw some logging done on the property by Tex Hardin, which helped toward retiring the Kerr note. An addition to the caretaker’s trailer was made to accommodate the Baker family better.
Reroofing the dining hall, putting in the ball field backstop and bleachers, planning the first A frame, and purchasing the county bridge (two neighbors helped pay for it, but Fir Point did the installation.), and finishing up the ball field in memory of Jerry Dunn took up much of the year of 1970. That spring saw building of cabinets and remodeling of the kitchen before camp began. Also that year four weeks of ASSU camp were conducted with 65 coming to Christ. The ball field was dedicated on May 30 at the annual Memorial Day picnic in memory of Jerry Dunn from Table Rock Sunday School who had gone to be with the Lord as a result of a farm accident. . By this time winter ASSU retreats at Fir Point were being held, and rentals to other groups had increased. That spring the grounds were used by the ASSU for a Missionaries’ Conference with district ASSU missionaries from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon attending..
The next year, 1971, saw much work completed on Randall Chapel and A frame number two built. That summer saw a total enrollment of 666 at Fir Point for ASSU camps including staff. Twenty-seven decisions were made for Christ. In September of that year, Garland and Roberta Shinn resigned as missionaries with the American Sunday School Union, a very painful experience for them as they left friends and moved to Onecho Bible Church in eastern Washington so that they could spend more time with their family. (Garland was at that time away more and more of the time serving the then largest field in the District..) The summer of 1972, Pastor Dale Cundall of Pine Grove Church directed the camps. The next year Curt and Mary Ellen Christian came on field as missionaries and have ably carried on the camping ministry, and very ably the development of Fir Point into the wonderful facility it is today.
We are very grateful that the Lord enabled us to be a part of the history of Fir Point. We remain amazed at and very thankful for all that God has done in making it possible. We are also thankful for the many, many wonderful and faithful folk who gave and worked and ministered to make the purchase, maintenance, and improvements at Fir Point possible. We are most thankful for all of the young people who found Christ as Savior there. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to bless and use Fir Point in the years ahead in an even greater way!
History submitted by Roberta Shinn, February 6, 2003.
AS WRITTEN BY GARLAND AND ROBERTA SHINN
Dr. John K. Howard came to Glendale and acquired the two hundred and forty acres known as Fir Point (named after the nearby hill) sometime in 1914 or 1915. At that time it was a homestead with a house by the spring up the hill in back of the old boys dormitory where the tules grow. There was also at one time a cabin on the hill by the old out houses. There was another cabin on the upper slopes some distance above the present fire circle lived in by two Finnish people who had their own private sauna built over the creek. At one time there was a still for making moonshine way on top of the hill. This information and much of the following came from an interview with Mrs. Howard after the Howards had moved from Fir Point to the Sutherlin area north of Roseburg. Elsie Isakson and Roberta Shinn drove up and met with her for an afternoon and took notes on what she said.
According to Mrs. Howard, a Lumber Mill gave the homestead and land to Mr. Howard after the Mill had logged it. In 1915 Dr. Howard put up the logs for his home (now the lodge) and then returned to Arizona and married Mrs. Howard.
In 1919, they came back and lived in Glendale for the summers while Dr. Howard worked on the house. He paid $15.00 a thousand for knotty pine for the inside of the lodge because the less expensive board he had ordered burned in a fire. He paid for the fireplace with wedding fees he earned in Arizona where he pastored. He was a graduate of Trinity School of Theology in Texas.
In the fall of 1930, the Howards moved into their new home. He became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Glendale, Oregon. He was a man with a burden for children and young people and begin work right away to establish a Young People’s Bible Camp on his property. In 1931 they completed the dining hall multi purpose building (the Dining Hall today). Young people in Glendale peeled the logs for the building. That year, according to Mrs. Howard, they held their first Presbyterian Young People’s Bible Camp on this property.
George P. Martin, who served as an American Sunday School Union Missionary in Centralia, Washington, and in Southern Oregon, grew up in Rogue River, Oregon, where his family attended the Presbyterian church. Following are his “Early Fir Point Recollections.”
Four of us five Martin brothers, at different times, attended Fir Point Bible Conference.
Before Fir Point, Presbyterian young people for some years made their annual trek to
Rogue River, where several large tents were erected on the school grounds adjacent to
our little Hope Presbyterian Church which had a large Community Hall with kitchen
and dining accommodations. My oldest brother James attended there three summers,
but did not attend Fir Point. From Rogue River the summer Young Peoples Bible Camp
(YPBC) relocated at Fir Point. I am uncertain as to the exact year, Probably 1929-1930.
(according to Mrs. Howard it was 1931.)
Dr. Howard (Pastor of Glendale’s First Presbyterian Church), originally owned the
acreage known as Fir Point. He built with his own hands the log house where he and
his wife resided. His vision included a YPBC, and he began improving the grounds to
that end, constructing a log lodge with fireplace, kitchen, and dining facilities. The
Lodge would be used for meetings too. In fact it would become the center for much
activity. Besides the lodge there was a cabin (or two) for special guest speakers.
Campers arrived on Sunday afternoon, going home the following Sunday p.m. It was my
privilege to attend Fir Point three summers (1931-1933). I can still remember the big
tent raising event. When laid out on the ground the tent was forty feet long. When it was
raised and securely staked, it looked huge to this twelve year old farm boy. A similar
tent was erected at the opposite end of the grounds for girls. Toilet facilities were housed
in the ole’ time “out houses.” Conditions, admittedly, were quite primitive, but everyone
was willing to forego a few comforts—after all, this was camp, and we were expected to
rough it. In those days, we were not accustomed to “showering-down” every morning or
evening or both. Once a week was about the norm. If we all smelled alike there could be
no complaints!
Now, as to our daily camp schedule: At 6am the bugle boy would awaken campers with
the familiar sound of “Reveille;” at 10 pm he played “Taps,” which was the signal for
everyone to close their peepers. Between Breakfast and Dinner (the noon meal was then
called “Dinner,” the evening “Supper”), the pristine landscape filled with beautiful firs
canopied under clear blue skies, provided just the ideal environment for several hours of
Bible study. Occasionally the skies filled with clouds and poured down rain, sending
campers into the Lodge for Bible study.
At meal time someone would begin singing “Oh! Where has Ore-gone boys, Oh! Where
has Ore-gone? I ask you now as a personal friend, where has Ore-gone?” Then would
Come the answer, “She’s gone to O-kla-home boys, she’s gone to O-kla-home; I tell
you now as a personal friend she’s gone to O-kla_home.” Campers wouldn’t stop until
they made the rounds of all existing states. They also gleefully watched for campers to
unethically place their elbows on the table and then embarrass them by singing, “Take
your elbows off the table________________.” It was a lot of fun to sing that little
“ditty” to an unsuspecting member of the distinguished faculty.
At that time senior and junior campers all enrolled at the one camp , and everyone was
required to take his/her turn on the clean-up crew after meals. Campers names were
alphabetically announced at the end of each meal.
Following the noon meal, campers were required to nap for thirty minutes, after which
came recreation when we played softball, tennis (on dirt court), horseshoes, went hiking
on mountain trails and swimming. The pool at that time was quite small. I forget how
it was constructed.
Upon conclusion of the afternoon’s recreation we would clean up for the evening. An old
fashioned long handled iron pump brought water up from a deep well, that along with
several wash basins took care of the perspiration. At 5:00 pm campers assembled out on
the hillside (“Inspiration Point”) overlooking the valley below for the Vesper service,
singing choruses and hymns with one of the faculty bringing a short devotional
Dr. Howard, as I remember him, was rather tall, stately and austere looking—a hardy
mountaineer type of man. On weekdays he dressed in common everyday workman
apparel. He alone was the camp’s maintenance crew. Occasionally he would speak to the
campers. Of course on Sundays he appropriately dressed for his pastoral responsibilities.
Campers were trucked into Glendale for the Sunday morning Worship Service. Fawcett,
Turnbull, Robinson, and Charlie Levis are a few of the men who encouraged and enriched
my young life with their ministry at Fir Point.
Since those early beginnings, Fir Point has become an oasis among the tall firs, enjoying
very modern conveniences compared to those of seventy years ago.
In 1932 the large dormitory for girls was built. It was then named Morgan Hall after a lady who was married at Fir Point. Also, according to Mrs. Howard, it was during this same year that men from Glendale came and constructed the old swimming pool just to the left of the road as you entered Fir Point. In 1933 a boy’s dormitory was completed and dedicated to Mr. Ingham, owner of the Dollar Lumber Company, who had donated toward its completion. Before building the pool, according to Mrs. Howard, the creek was dammed to form a lake, which filled nicely, but then washed out.
Dr. Howard was a man with missionary vision and held services in many surrounding communities on Sundays besides preaching at his own church. Some of these were Galesville, Starveout, and Tanner’s Grove (Azalea Grange). He tried to get to each one once a month.
Many Glendale town picnics and swimming parties took place at Fir Point, and many have reminisced about good times had at Fir Point. Because of the help many in the community had given Dr. Howard, Fir Point was looked on as a community asset.
At the same time that Dr. Howard was holding camps at Fir Point, the American Sunday School Union Missionaries who served in the Roseburg and Medford areas were holding camps and conferences in different locations which they borrowed or rented. D.D. Randall from Medford held camps at Copper, Oregon (now covered by Applegate Lake), and conferences in different area churches, the old Federated Church in Central Point in particular. On the Roseburg Field camps were held at Tyee and perhaps at other places.
In the early 50s, Missionary Art Kelstrup of Roseburg contacted Dr. Howard, and they began renting the facilities from him for ASSU camps. When Allen Hill came as missionary in the Medford area, he began taking young people from his Sunday schools to Fir Point to join these camps.
The Garland Shinns first came to Southern Oregon in February, 1959, to become area missionaries. A camp did not exist at that time on that field, so they took twenty-three young people and five staff members to Fir Point to join Glen Goddard (who was by now field missionary in Roseburg) in holding two weeks of camp at Fir Point which he had rented from Dr. Howard.
During that first week at Fir Point, Roberta Shinn was invited by Mrs. Howard into the Lodge at Fir Point to look at her lovely home which later became “The Lodge.” The Howards had built that and all of the other buildings at Fir Point which existed at that time. (Dining Hall with kitchen out back where dish washing room is now, two large dormitories, one smaller dormitory, two large outhouse restroom facilities and a cooks cabin {office now}). With the exception of the outhouse facilities, these were all lovely log buildings. Mrs. Howard took Roberta through her home pointing out hand braided wall-to-wall carpets, beautiful myrtle wood furniture Dr. Howard had made, hand carved wagon wheel light fixtures (not the ones now in place), and shared how much she loved her home, the conference site, and the trees. She also showed long chains that Dr. Howard carved in the winter from single blocks of wood with no breaks in the links in them. Behind their home, was a large garden and a family orchard. Behind the house stood a rustic shed, which was used as shop and garage. An old filbert orchard was where the ball diamond now is. A cement creek-fed cold swimming pool was to the left side of the road right after you enter the property. The campers called it “The Cement Pond.” The water leaked out as fast as it filled, and the water was always cold. Many campers remember early morning “Polar Bear Swims.”
That year the Shinns took Rhoda Martin Hunter (daughter of George P. Martin whose earlier memories are already included in this history) with them to Fir Point as a Junior camper. Following is a report of her memories of Fir Point.
As I typed the memories my Dad has of Fir Point, I couldn’t help but remember all the
wonderful memories of my own. I don’t get to Southern Oregon very often, but when-
ever I pass the Glendale exit, nostalgia sets in, and I look up into those hills and remem-
ber fondly the days of my youth. I can remember sitting in the outdoor chapel on logs,
and at that time, we could see I-5 through the trees.
I don’t remember a lot of details, but I know that my time spent there played a signifi-
cant part in my spiritual growth. Meal times were always such fun, Bible classes inte-
resting, and the evening vesper service so inspiring. I have fond memories of the
campfire and the sharing of testimonies under the beautiful starry nights.
It was wonderful, dedicated people like the Shinns who made the camp such a grand
success. They were our “Mom and Dad” away from home! And the Shinn kids were
loved by all of us campers. I also remember fondly the days of Fred DeVos and the
Simer kids. Later as I began teaching summer DVBS, I remember returning to Fir
Point for a training session and having to tell a story and be critiqued by Dr. Peter
Becker. He gave me the ultimate compliment and said I “taught just like my father.”
The summers I taught DVBS were so rewarding and I often wonder about certain kids
I taught.
I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, Steve, and two children. Steve teaches
Business at Western Baptist.
In either 1960 or 1961, Dr. Howard sold the property, buildings, and all equipment to the Medford Monthly Meeting of Friends Church. The Friends Meeting at that time included smaller churches in Talent and Klamath Falls. They too had been renting from Dr. Howard. They made a commitment to Dr. Howard to never sell the property except for use as a Bible Conference Grounds. American Sunday School Union Camps directed by Glen Goddard, then missionary on the Roseburg ASSU field, continued at Fir Point renting from the Friends..
In 1960 the Southern Oregon Field began holding their own camps, renting “Camp Two” near Butte Falls from the Assembly of God Churches (who leased the old CCC camp). This camp was known as Willow Prairie Bible Conference. That summer Garland Shinn spoke at the ASSU camp at Fir Point for Missionary Glen Goddard.
The two camps continued in these locations until 1963. During that year the American Sunday School Union split the Roseburg field between the Eugene Field and the Medford Field and the southern area became known as the Southern Oregon Field. Missionary Goddard was transferred to Eastern Washington. Camps combined in 1964 and were held at Fir Point renting from the Friends Meeting. While the Friends owned Fir Point, they logged it extensively, improved fire roads, planted many trees (all those along the road to the chapel), built a new kitchen (part of the present kitchen), and built the restroom facility behind the dining hall.
One of the best things the Southern Oregon Field inherited in this division was Elsie Isakson (from Melrose Community Church) who had cooked and continued to cook for camps, putting in well over twenty years in this ministry. No camper will ever forget her cinnamon rolls, her tacos, pizza, or the love she showed to all. Her “Reunion Dinners” were an unforgettable way of dealing with leftovers as “friends who had met before got together again.” So many people from so many places helped in so many ways with the camps and work on the campground. The Shinns were thankful for each one.
Garland Shinn’s “Daily Detail of Missionary Work” for August 24, 1964, shows that the Shinns and Kenton and Betty Adams (then pastor of Forest Acres Community Church, Central Point), looked at a possible campsite to purchase, feeling that so much more could be done if the Southern Oregon Field owned its own camp. Both the Adams and the Shinns continued to have this vision, to pray much about it, and to look at other sites available mostly in the Tiller and Butte Falls areas.
During this time, in 1965, Garland needed a new tire (a frequent occurrence as he drove an average of 40 – 50,000 miles a year covering the field which extended from the ocean to the Oregon and Idaho borders and North to Bend and Burns.) He was sent by Bob Sanderson of Steve Wilson Company to Southern Oregon Tire and Supply Company to pick up a tire since none were available in the right size at Steve Wilson (an unusual occurrence). As Dick Krupp (who attended the Friends Church in Medford) changed Garland’s tire, Dick said, “We are thinking about selling Fir Point.” Garland questioned, “Are you serious?” Dick answered that he was pretty sure his church board was serious.
The “Daily Detail” shows that Garland then met with the Friends in regard to this on October 30, 1965. On November 3 he met with a lawyer about purchasing Fir Point. On November 4 a meeting of representatives of the various Sunday schools affiliated with the American Sunday School Union and representatives from Melrose and Pine Grove Churches (both of which had grown out of ASSU Sunday schools) took place at the Shinn home on Sardine Creek in Gold Hill. At that meeting they began to plan to purchase Fir Point. Feeling rather small for such a big undertaking, they were encouraged by Garland to realize that the twenty Sunday Schools and two churches included about 800 regular attendees which, if they were gathered in one location, would make them the largest church in the whole area. Lanny Parsons, a college student from Foots Creek Chapel and a former camper, had been fishing in Alaska and made the first donation giving his tithe from fishing toward the purchase of Fir Point. Others also gave generously.
After much prayer and consideration, an offer was made; earnest money of $500.00 was secured; and the purchase of Fir Point was begun. An agreement to purchase Fir Point for $29,000 was reached and they were given $500.00 then. In January of 1966 the Friends were given $4500.00 more (from a few loans and many small gifts), along with a note that they would be given $15,500 more on acceptance of title and delivery of deed on August 15. The Medford Monthly Meeting of Friends Church would then carry a mortgage on the property at 6% for ten years with interest to be paid semi-annually. The Friends at this time honored their commitment made to Dr. Howard years before to resell only to a Christian Camping Group although they could have sold the 240 acres for more on the open market.
In faith, the Friends allowed Steve and Helen Simer to move to Fir Point as caretakers in December of 1965 where they lived in the lodge and began to work hard to improve the grounds.
At the same time the purchase was being made, Fir Point Bible Conference was being incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Oregon. This was completed on January 13, 1966. At this time the Sunday school representatives were working on constitution and by-laws. Ned Nay was elected as corporation president, Garland Shinn as vice-president, Elward Smith as secretary, and Kenton Adams as treasurer.
In the meantime the Board was searching for a loan for the remaining down payment to the Friends for Fir Point. Don Myers of Riversdale Sunday School, through his Gideons association with Mr. Henry Kerr of Brookings, was able to secure a loan from Mr. Kerr.
The first part of January, 1966, just as the purchase was being completed a storm hit Fir Point and a tree caved in the roof of the girls’ dorm and the roof of the boys’ dorm. The Friends turned the insurance over to the new corporation. With volunteer labor the roofs were repaired and money was left to repay initial loans and to purchase badly needed new mattresses. How wonderfully the Lord provided!
February 5 of 1966 the Field began to use Fir Point with a snow party for all! Almost weekly Saturday workdays began that summer. Workers cleared brush, repaired the miniature golf course, put in new seating at Inspiration Point, and did much repair and maintenance. So many people from all of the Sunday Schools and churches helped, that it is impossible to begin to name them. Mention must be made of Glen Diller who did much painting and of Dick Holsinger who took care of all of the plumbing needs.
That summer ASSU camps were held with 299 young people at camp, not counting staff. Thirty-six decisions for Christ were made and Family Camp was attended by 135. Most of these campers came from the twenty-two Sunday schools on the field that year, and from Melrose and Pine Grove churches.
Records show that 657 young people in these twenty-two Sunday schools attended Vacation Bible School and 77 decisions were made for Christ that summer. The grounds were in use more of the time with rentals to other groups for eight weeks. A used trailer for the Simers to live was purchased to help in freeing up the Lodge for retreats.
During 1967, the Simers went to Bible School at Prairie Bible Institute, and Jim Arch began a brief stint as caretaker. Camps ended with thirty four salvation decisions and $33.01 in cash balance. The camp continued to be rented out to other groups.
1968 saw Melrose Church installing electrical hookups and spaces for trailers near the restrooms. Darrell Stanley brought his cat up and leveled the ball diamond and in front of the dining hall. Bob Dunn then seeded both areas. The new trailer area was a wonderfully appreciated thing for the Shinn family as they were then spending at least five weeks of every summer at Fir Point. This enabled their family to stay together in the new trailer park. Their four children loved their times at Fir Point both in camp and just being there with their parents. They have many great memories of good times had at Fir Point.
In 1969 a fund for a new chapel in memory of D.D. Randall was begun. Larry and Linda Swift moved into the trailer as new caretakers.
Construction of Randall chapel began on June 28, 1969 with eight men. Melrose Community Church provided plans and many workers. Don Myers oversaw construction (which he continued to do for years after.). During June, Elmer and Joy Baker and their three children moved to Fir Point to become the new caretakers. At that time Sunday School Union activities at Fir Point had increased with the holding of VBS teacher training, winter retreats, picnics, and four weeks of summer camp. That summer saw three hundred and six young people in attendance, not counting staff. One hundred and twenty were at Family Camp. 1969 also saw some logging done on the property by Tex Hardin, which helped toward retiring the Kerr note. An addition to the caretaker’s trailer was made to accommodate the Baker family better.
Reroofing the dining hall, putting in the ball field backstop and bleachers, planning the first A frame, and purchasing the county bridge (two neighbors helped pay for it, but Fir Point did the installation.), and finishing up the ball field in memory of Jerry Dunn took up much of the year of 1970. That spring saw building of cabinets and remodeling of the kitchen before camp began. Also that year four weeks of ASSU camp were conducted with 65 coming to Christ. The ball field was dedicated on May 30 at the annual Memorial Day picnic in memory of Jerry Dunn from Table Rock Sunday School who had gone to be with the Lord as a result of a farm accident. . By this time winter ASSU retreats at Fir Point were being held, and rentals to other groups had increased. That spring the grounds were used by the ASSU for a Missionaries’ Conference with district ASSU missionaries from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon attending..
The next year, 1971, saw much work completed on Randall Chapel and A frame number two built. That summer saw a total enrollment of 666 at Fir Point for ASSU camps including staff. Twenty-seven decisions were made for Christ. In September of that year, Garland and Roberta Shinn resigned as missionaries with the American Sunday School Union, a very painful experience for them as they left friends and moved to Onecho Bible Church in eastern Washington so that they could spend more time with their family. (Garland was at that time away more and more of the time serving the then largest field in the District..) The summer of 1972, Pastor Dale Cundall of Pine Grove Church directed the camps. The next year Curt and Mary Ellen Christian came on field as missionaries and have ably carried on the camping ministry, and very ably the development of Fir Point into the wonderful facility it is today.
We are very grateful that the Lord enabled us to be a part of the history of Fir Point. We remain amazed at and very thankful for all that God has done in making it possible. We are also thankful for the many, many wonderful and faithful folk who gave and worked and ministered to make the purchase, maintenance, and improvements at Fir Point possible. We are most thankful for all of the young people who found Christ as Savior there. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to bless and use Fir Point in the years ahead in an even greater way!
History submitted by Roberta Shinn, February 6, 2003.