Hopewell History
Era of Hopewell Presbyterian Church before the camp started (109 years).
1839 -Hopewell Presbyterian Church was organized as a mission of Oxford Presbyterian Church.
1843 -Land was conveyed to Hopewell Church by George McFarland, July 8.
-The first church building was built of logs.
1866 -A new church building was built near where the log church stood.
-Land was deeded to Hopewell Church by R.H. Kimmons, June 21. (A three-room schoolhouse for ages 6-16 was located beside the church where the current Health Center is located.)
1876 -Hopewell church was in the bounds of Presbytery of North Mississippi.
Camp Hopewell Established: Volunteer Leadership for Development & Program. (First 20 years)
1949 -Hopewell Presbyterian Church donated the first 10 acres of land to the Presbytery for use as a youth camp. The manse was used as the first residence for girls.
-Cabin 1was built as a boys resident cabin. (It was later named in honor of Howard McCorkle).
-Cabin 2 was built. A 4-hole outhouse served the cabin. Showers were under the kitchen.
-The dining hall was built and named in honor of Rev. and Mrs. John L. Edwards who promoted the development of the camp and did much of the actual building. The buildings cost $5,000.
1950 -The old school house was taken down.
-The Jot-Em-Down store was built using material from the schoolhouse. The store was used to sell snacks to campers.
-The Staff Cabin was built south of the church where the Health Center now sits.
-The Prayer Chapel was built as a memorial to Mary Pearl Commer, president of the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship.
1951 -J.B. Green Pavilion was built and named in honor of Rev. Green’s help in developing Hopewell as a camp.
1957 -100 acres was purchased from H.C. and Catherine McCorkle ($3,750).
196? -The Old Monroe mission site, which had been used as a camp for the Presbytery since the 1940’s, was closed to shift support to Hopewell.
1961 -Cabin 3 was built and named in honor of Rev. Millen Looney who was serving as pastor of the Hopewell Church.
-Cabin 4 was built and named for Hugh L. Kimmons who was serving as a Deacon and died June 26.
-Realignment of the Synod of Mississippi established the first Presbytery of St. Andrew.
-Cabin 2 was named in honor of Mr. Saunders who had been an Elder in the Hopewell Church.
1969 -Rev. Denton O’Dell became the first full time director of Camp Hopewell.
-The swimming pool was built from the St. Andrew Development Fund. This is near the site of the old Hopewell manse that had been torn down earlier.
1970 -Jessie and Lou Bergeron were resident caretakers until 1975 and lived in a trailer between the pavilion and the dining hall.
-Hopewell became accredited by the American Camping Association.
1971 -The Craft Hut was built and named in memory of Edwin Moak, Presbytery Youth Council moderator.
1973 -Renovations to the dining hall included: winterization and the addition of bathrooms and a walk-in refrigerator. (The outhouse behind dining hall was abandoned.)
1974 -Only five active members remained at Hopewell Presbyterian Church with meetings once each month since 1952.
1976 -A residence for the Site Manager was built. (Later this building was used as the Staff House, until it was torn down in 2004)
-Cabin 6 was built using the 1974-75 Camp Hopewell Sunday offerings.
-Robert Carson served as caretaker and Fay Carson was registrar.
-Camp for youth with diabetes was started by Dr. George Burghen, Mary Elizabeth Burghen, Robert “Bob” and Mary Beth Trouy, and Becky Winsett.
1977 -Staff Cabin was moved to its present site north of the dining hall.
-The Health Center was designed with help from the Burghens and Trouys, and then built. The building was paid for by a major personal donation, special offerings from “Camp Hopewell Sunday”, Women of the Church “Blessings for Others Fund” and others.
-The outpost (Adventure Camp) bathhouse was built and dedicated in memory of Davis Earl Nash, Sr. and Davis Earl Nash, Jr.
-10 services of worship were held at Hopewell Church with an average attendance of 16.
1981 -Hopewell Presbyterian Church was dissolved after 143 years of service.
-The Activities Building (later named O’Dell Hall) was built overlooking the lake.
-Camper age lowered from 3rd grade to 2nd grade.
1983 -The two branches of the Presbyterian Church which split during the Civil War were reunited into the PC(USA).
1984 -Chris Carlson became resident manager and served until 1990. Chris’s wife, Dawn Miller, was involved in the camp ministry, especially related to environmental concerns.
-The Staff Lodge was built by Wil Howie and friends in memory of Robert O’Dell. (Now being used as the Nature Center)
-Summer camp attendance hit an all-time high of 656 campers.
-About 5 acres of land on the SE corner of the property were sold to Robert Carson.
-11.8 acres were purchased from Nevin and Margaret Grace Jones giving access to develop the Adventure Camp area. (See SAP minutes Oct. 1, 1985)
1986 -The Presbytery of St. Andrew, Presbyterian Church US, and Mississippi Presbytery, United Presbyterian Church USA were formally reunited January 16. (10-1-86 David Snellgrove became Executive Presbyter and Treasurer)
-The Activities’ Building was named “O’Dell Hall” in honor of the years of service by Rev. Denton O’Dell, CCD.
1989 -6.6 acres of land north of the ball field was from D.H. Wells’s estate.
-A new program progression was established: Discovery (ages 7-9), Explorer (ages 10-12) and Adventure (ages 13-15).
-The caretaker’s residence was renovated and used as a staff house during summer and retreat guests other months.
1991 -Treehouse was built in Adventure camp area to start new “Adventure Camp” program. (The access road was enlarged and electricity was added to the area).
1992 -The old “Jot-Em-Down” was removed.
-The old “Staff Cabin” was renovated for use as residence for Ken Bailey.
-On April 7 Lake Andrew blew through the dam and became a pond.
-Niki Dorizas wrote a theme song for camp entitled “Oh Hopewell.”
-A gazebo called “Listening Place” was built on site of old Jot-Em-Down.
-The Hernando church made repairs on the Commer prayer chapel, adding a Bible in honor of Rev. Chip Hatcher.
1994 - A February ice storm broke down many trees, damaged 8 buildings, and destroyed the tents and zip lines.
-A work camp group from Good Shepard Presbyterian Church gave a week to help with clean up and built wood shed.
1996 -Completed construction on Cornerstone Lodge.
-A climbing/rappelling tower was opened.
-A new Bible study progression written by staff and church members was implemented.
1997 -The St. Andrew Presbytery Office was built at McCorkle Lane and the camp directors moved their offices to the new building.
-A residence for the site manager was built.
1998 -Received “seed” money to start programs for persons and families dealing with cancer.
-Acquired 0.005 acres from Mrs. White to gain entrance to the new levee site.
-Melinda Hatcher agreed to help develop the cancer programs.
-Began first Russel Bryson Memorial “Christians Living With Cancer” program, a camp for families who have a child with cancer.
-Celebrated 50 years of ministry with a 50-year staff reunion.
2000 -Bill Rogers, our Guest Services Director for several years, married Deirdre Bake and moved to North Carolina.
2001 -Darren and Allyson Ashmore joined the staff as Site Director and Program Director/Host respectively.
-Two parcels of land along Hopewell Road south of the first cabins were added. (from Bill Kimmons and Patsy McGuirk).
2002 -Lula Marion, long time assistant in the kitchen, died.
2003 -Constructed Overlook Lodge, a 28-bed residence with a meeting room, where Cabin 5 used to be.
-Long time Hopewell supporter, Frankie Lawler, was killed in an auto accident.
-Karen Allen was ordained as Minister of the Word and Sacraments.
2004 –In partnership with the Synod of Living Waters, Clean Water U began with first teaching buildings west of Lower Lake Andrew. The first class was taught March 17-21, with 50 graduates.
-Summer staff 2004 built a labyrinth and prayer trail in memory of Frankie Lawler.
-Retired Rev. Henry Williamson died and left money to construct a new office/staff lounge, maintenance barn and remodel the previous onsite office.
-Revs. Robert and Karen Allen resigned with Robert retiring and Karen accepting an Associate Pastor’s call in North Carolina.
Directorship of Rev. Ann Houston Kelly (June 2005-present)
2005 -New office and “Williamson Workshop” completed and old onsite office remodeled into a family suite
-Presbytery called Rev. Ann Houston Kelly as the Associate for Camps and Conferences. Kelly was associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Tupelo, and a former Hopewell camper, staff and volunteer.
-Summer staff built an outdoor worship space near the labyrinth during staff training.2006 -Staff who were not needed during Christians Living with Cancer went to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
2007 -Less than an acre of land was purchased from the Don Gerrad estate next to the Site Manager’s residence.
2008 -Presbytery voted to guarantee funds to allow Hopewell staff to proceed with the building of a new swimming pool. Construction began on February 25.
-Living Waters for the World pre-paid reservations for six of the Clean Water U staff for the next three years to make it possible for showers to be added to Treehouse. They also used a gift from a Louisville, Kentucky church to run electricity to the Clean Water U facility.
-Hopewell sponsored the annual statewide Collegiate Retreat with David LaMotte as keynote speaker.
-David LaMotte presented a concert April 4 as part of his final concert tour.