In the 1930s, Dr. Charles Ghormley, associate pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Yakima, was instrumental in developing a site for its First Presbyterian Church Camp in Rimrock, Washington. After Dr. Ghormley’s sudden death in 1948, the camp was re-christened Camp Ghormley. The camp was intended to “provide accessible outdoor camping experiences for spiritual and physical development” for young people in Central Washington. The camp is best known today as Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp.
The sleeping cabins depicted in these photographs, all built circa 1939-1945, are examples of early recreational buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The five cabins – Wildrose, Foxglove (formerly known as Buttercup), Chicory (formerly known as Pine Drop), Tiger Lily, and Lupine – are very similar in structure and layout, and were built largely through volunteer effort. New foundations, stairs, and railings were added in 2001 in compliance with the Yakima County Fire Code. Prior to further modernizations, the cabins were evaluated and documented by Shane Scott, Naches Ranger district archaeologist.
The collection consists of 23 black-and-white photographic prints depicting five girls’ sleeping cabins at Camp Ghormley in Yakima County, Washington. A written historical report and scans of historical photographs are also included. Most of the modern photographs are interior and exterior views of the Wildrose and Tiger Lily cabins. Detailed information on the cabins and on the camps in general (including measurements, maps, and excerpts of interviews from former campers) is available in the accompanying text.
Although not an official HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey) report, the photographs and accompanying report follow HABS documentation standards. Rev. Curt McFarland (the director of Camp Ghormley) researched and compiled the HABS documentation for the project; he also took the photographs. Final review and editing of the document was performed by Naches District archaeologist Jacqueline Beidl in 2004.
The former names of Foxglove and Chicory cabins were Buttercup and Pine Drop, respectively; the names are used interchangeably in the accompanying historical information. This finding aid uses the current names, Foxglove and Chicory.
Collection is open to the public.
Donated by the U.S. Forest Service Naches Ranger District, Wenatchee National Forest, February 2004.
Processed by Shannon B. Lynch, 2004.
For information on the HABS/HAER collections in Special Collections, please see the Guide to the HABS/HAER Collections.
Shake shingle roof covered with plastic due to leaks. New porch, steps, and foundation.
Shake shingle roof covered with plastic due to leaks. New porch, steps, and foundation.
New steps and foundation.
Original army cot bunk furnishings are piled outside cabin.
Original door has been removed. Note new porch, steps, and foundation.
Leaking shake shingle roof is covered with plastic.
Includes historical background on camp, architectural descriptions, project information, a photograph inventory, and supplemental materials (including testimonials from former campers, excerpts from early church periodicals, and scanned copies of early photographs).
Includes historical, architectural, and project information.
The five scanned copies are of the Camp Ghormley girls' cabins, dating from 1939 to the 1940s. Female campers are pictured in some of the images.
Included are a scanned project location map, a map of the Camp Ghormley site, and a scan of the original camp authorization letter from the Forest Service in 1939.