Rivervale Campground (Lawrence County, Ind.) records

Collection

Identifier: SIC-0020-004

Staff Only

Collection Statement

Rivervale Campground records include information about its founding, the grounds and the many groups which have stayed there over the years. A large number of panoramic photographs exist of groups staying at the camp from the 1940s through the '50s. One box of slides and filmstrips of campers and the facilities is also present. The earliest photographs of Rivervale Campground, made by Myrtle Standiford in the 1920s, are stored separately from the rest of the collection.

Dates

1924 - 1959

Creator

Rivervale Campground (Lawrence County, Ind.) (Organization)

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Historical Sketch

Rivervale Park opened in 1924 as a campground for the Epworth League Institute of the ME Indiana Conference. Situated in southeastern Lawrence County high above the White River on land that once was the farm of Robert and Elizabeth Roberts, the campground was immediately popular, and had 1400 youth enrolled for its 1925 institute.

A tabernacle was built in 1927, followed by seven houses, one for each district in the conference, 1927-1930. Once the houses were built, each was maintained, its youth fed and housed there by the district that built it, which led to great rivalries in sports and other activities among the seven districts. The daily schedule from the period reads: 6:00 AM Rising Call; 6:30 Morning Watch; 7:30 Breakfast; 8:00-12:00 Classes; 12:10 Lunch; 1:00 PM Quiet Hour; 2:00 Sports and Recreation; 6:00 Dinner; 7:00 Tabernacle; 8:45 Refreshment; 9:30 Prayer Groups; 10:00 Call to Quarters; 10:20 Lights Out; 10:30 Good Night.

Up to and including World War II institutes were limited to one week a year, but after the war several weeks of programs were developed and the face of Rivervale began to change, effectively ending its earlier rivalries. Today’s amenities include a playground, swimming pool, health care cabin, and athletic field, as well as canoe trips on the White River and year-round lodging. It is open to Christian groups of all faiths and ages.