Brinkhaven’s Camp Nelson Dodd flourished for decades

BRINKHAVEN — With the recent onset of bitter cold weather, perhaps now is a good time to reflect on the classic days of summer camp.

One of the state’s most popular camps was Camp Nelson Dodd, created and run by the YMCA for many years. It was a key venue for the growth and learning of many young men, and it saw some interesting people and lively events during its day.

The camp was located two miles upstream from Brinkhaven, on the east side of the river, near the Holmes County border. According to an article in the Democratic Banner, the camp was in the process of being created in 1922 at the urging of Mount Vernon businessman B. B. Williams, who was heavily involved with the YMCA.

Land was donated by Delaware resident J. Foster Dodd, in memory of his younger brother Nelson Dodd, who had died at age 21 during the Civil War.

The site was a flat area along the Mohican River, nestled between the hills. It was supplied with water by several active springs and could be viewed from Buzzard Rock, an outcropping over the river.

According to the article, plans were being made to build a dining hall, lodge, kitchen, tents with floors, sanitary systems, courts, a track, and a baseball diamond. Total expected cost was to be around $40,000.

Many young men attended programs there over the years. One young man working in the kitchen facilities of the camp in 1939 was remembered by Richard Johnston of Grove City, Ohio, in a letter to the Columbus Dispatch in 2016.

“He drove the Model A Ford pickup to the small village of Brinkhaven to pick up supplies,” Johnston said, “and since I was free other than mealtimes, he often asked me to go along with him to help. I enjoyed the mile-long ride along a very rough country road, which he often made in record time while I sat on the edge of my seat, but I soon got to enjoy the ride.

“I got to know him quite well. He told me that his girlfriend’s name was Annie and that he was a student at Muskingum College, but one year ahead of me, and that he planned to be a pilot.”

That daredevil driver turned out to be John Glenn, who would become the first American to orbit the earth just over 20 years later. Another attendee who later became well-known was Milton Caniff, the cartoonist who created “Terry and the Pirates” and “Steve Canyon,” both comic strips popular for many years.

A 1949 postcard sent to “Herald” Hessenauer (I’m guessing it was supposed to be “Harold”) of Galion from someone named Bob lamented the fact that Harold wasn’t able to attend.

“I sure wish there were more accommodations here so you could benefit from this inspirational program,” Bob wrote. “We have fine speakers & a broad recreational program. They have shown us a lot of room for improvement, but if we all pitch in we will have a really meaningful club this year.”

Tragedy struck in May of 1969 when a group of 94 sixth-graders from Newark came to the camp for a week-long outdoors education program. Eleven children were crossing a footbridge that spanned the river near the camp when the bridge collapsed. Most of the children were saved, but 12-year-old Paula Moore drowned. Her body was washed 350 yards downstream. Searchers could not initially locate her body, but bread truck drivers crossing on the bridge in Brinkhaven spotted her remains the following day and alerted the searchers.

The cost of upkeep of the facility led the YMCA to later sell the camp. It is operated privately now as a church camp, but reunions of counselors and campers from the original Camp Nelson Dodd have been held over the years throughout the region.