History

Washington County News

Thursday, August 31, 1950

page 6

Oldest Camp For Girls Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Camp Continues As “Family” Affair

   Camp Glenrochie has been a “family affair” since its founding at the Meadows south of Abingdon in 1901.

   Mary Robertson Reade started the camp at her old home with four girls.  She erected a tent in the backyard and Louise and Nellie Bowman of Lynchburg and Elizabeth and Gay Lloyd, daughters of Bishop Arthur Lloyd of Virginia and New York, promptly moved in.

   Since then, the camp has remained a “family” affair, not only in management but in spirit, too.  The girls affectionately call Director Frank R. Reade and wife “Frank” and “Jean” as they have for thirty-six summers.

   Frank’s mother, the camp founder, directed Glenrochie activities until her death in 1919.  Meanwhile, the camp had been moved from the Meadows to its present location in the Knobs in 1914.  Her husband, Willoughby Reade, supervised the camp until 1946 when his son Frank took over the directorship.

   The girls and their counsellors are one big happy family and it is the spirit of companionship and fun that make many of them reluctant to leave when the camp closes.