Sprucelands Camp History

Compiled in 2000 from the camp scrapbooks

Entrance by the lake. In 1935, John and Octavia Sheldon Black opened a camp for girls in Allegheny State Park at Red House. It was a residential (live-in) camp of general interest and activities including swimming, boating and riding. Campers came for 8 weeks and wore uniforms of green with green berets. They were advised to bring 6 pairs of socks, 2 bathing suits and caps, "Play Suits" and 6 heavy wool blankets, among other things.

Activities included later were tennis, dramatics, music, nature, archery, field sports, ballroom dancing and camp craft. Some meals were cooked outside. Mrs. Black had been a Girl Scout since 1918. She was the first Scout in Buffalo to earn the Golden Eaglet - the highest award available at the time. She was the sixth Scout in the United States to earn this award.

One week of camp cost $15 and single horse rides were $1 per ride. After camp closed for the season, the horses were taken to Buffalo to be used as a contact between children and the camp, and a riding Academy was opened. The Spruce Twigs was printed that first year and every year since.

The camp continued to operate at Allegheny. In 1940, campers were instructed to send home 2 letters a week. There were contests of photography, singing and dramatic plays or water ballets every year. In 1942, the first official camp brochure was printed; also that year the Red Cross classes of First Aid and Home Nursing and Nutrition were offered.

In 1947, the camp was moved to Elma, NY - the summer home of the Blacks became the setting. This property had been the estate of Mr. John Lee. It was given to him by his boss, Henry Ford. Walter Chrysler was another good friend who dined at the mansion.

The Blacks apparently bought the 160 acre estate and revamped it for camp use. Eight screened cabins were added to the originals from Allegheny, and canoes, a lighted riding ring and stables were on the property. The concrete pool was built in 1950. In 1949, a boys camp for those 4-8 was added with the title of Spruce Lodge for boys.

In 1954, the summer season included day trips to the new property in Java Center NY. (In the 1954 scrapbook are pictures of the undeveloped land.) The conjunction of 2 small creeks formed the basis for the lake which was dug for the summer of 1955. Sprucelands in Elma closed out after the 1954 season. The property was sold to the Jewish Centers of Buffalo who still operate a day camp on this site today, known as Camp Centerland. Eighty acres of the camp land became developed streets in Elma.

Camp in 1955 at Java Center was for girls aged 4-17 and boys aged 4-12. Everyone was encouraged to stay all 8 weeks for a cost of $450 which included riding. The cabins were brought from Elma and on Sunday, July 17, 1955, the camp was dedicated. A bagpipe band played and visiting dignitaries were present. The lake looked big! Girls wore white shirts and green shorts with green imprints and boys had red imprints of Sprucelands on their shirts. Counselors had to wear white shirts and shorts.

In 1967, a darkroom was added for photography. By 1970, the activities were: sailing, canoeing, kayaking, deck tennis, table tennis, badminton, tennis, archery, fencing, golf, softball, newspaper, good grooming, track events, field events, trampoline, astronomy, ceramics, dramatics, water ballet, music, nature and oh yes, riding. Some campers and staff were from Germany, England and the Netherlands. There were 168 campers in a week and 68 horses.

Also in 1970, the house that Eileen now lives in was brought in from Java Center behind the old post offices. It was said to be the 2^nd oldest house in Java Center. Two wings were added on and Teas were served in this house for many years by the Blacks. Now Eileen has her office and kitchen in the main old house.

Our Current Director Came to Sprucelands in 1979

On April 2, 1979, Eileen and Spencer Thompson bought the property from Mrs. Black. After they were actively considering the purchase of Sprucelands, Eileen and Spencer discovered that Mrs. Black had sold part of the camp property to Becky Bates 3 years earlier to become Hasty Hills Farm. The barn and stables were on that part of the property and the Thompsons scrambled to build a new riding area before camp could open.

Since 1979, Eileen has run camp with gradual improvements made over time. An indoor riding arena was added in 1982. A second barn was built later and now instead of one outdoor arena, there are four arenas and a dressage area along with more than 120 acres of beautiful trails.

In 1998, the lake flooded to the level of girls bridge which later was replaced. The lake was drained and dredged in 1998-99 and refilled before the 1999 season. It is now named Blue Heron Lake after the vote of all campers in 1999. The camp was drained again in 2005.

Today - 2007 - the camp is 72 years old. Eileen has been here 28 years, Alison Sasiadek 22 years. Eileen continues with visions of more improvements and prays that one day previous campers will return to help her visions come true. At this moment, she encourages you to think about how many years you have carried Sprucelands in your heart because you are a part of our beloved Sprucelands history.

Liz Jones was part of our history. Many of you knew Liz. She managed our summer barn for a very long time. She loved the horses Midnight and Buddy. Trail rides were her favorite pastime at camp. Her cheerful smile made the room light up and today that smile still warms our hearts.

Liz died in July 2006 after a lengthy illness. At closing ceremony in August, campers and staff presented Eileen with a plaque in Liz's memory. It will hang in the Sprucelands camp lodge. The plaque says: "Liz Jones Made a Difference at Sprucelands". There are no dates on the plaque because everyone wants the world to know that Liz continues to make a difference here.

Footnote: Liz's closest horse friends, Buddy and Midnight died during in 2005 and 2007 respectively. May they ride together in peace.

Barn Fire: March 25, 1995

For anyone who knew Mrs. Black's Java Center Sprucelands, you will remember the old cow barn at the front of the property. Photos in early scrapbooks immortalize this barn. Riders of days gone by stand proud in front of her holding hard won ribbons. But on a crisp, sunny, blue-sky day in March 1995, that old barn burned down, and we paid tribute.

"At 1:00 p.m., March 25, 1995, this old barn surrendered to hateful fire, and I stood, staring, listening. She had served proudly since 1840, nursing first the enthusiasm of a young cow farmer and then the dreams of youth and adults with their beloved horses. She witnessed the births of many a chestnut foal; she stood strong when old bay mares or geldings lay down to die. Tiger kittens once tumbled in her golden hay. Children with freckles played tag in her cobwebbed aisles.

Now her kind heart was still and we all granted her quiet respect. 'You will be remembered, old friend,' I whispered, and I wept as she bowed her burdened head and slept under a yellow sun."