1900-1919

June 21, 1842

1900

•Inventory of the grounds mentions an association membership of 100 plus. It also states the pure spring water, for which $600 had been offered, was all the water the camp would ever need.

August 29, 1901

•The Ladies Aid Society was organized. Mrs. Mary Watson was president (until 1916). Its purpose was to “furnish and keep in order the preachers’ beds and inside of house.”

•The preaching during the first decade of the twentieth century was often referred to as “adventual” but with few “big name” preachers. Rev. Z. Charles Beals, our missionary to China, was present, however.

1902

•Three baptismal services were held.

1903

•The north-east corner of the property was sold to A. L. and F. H. Rose (two men who were prominent in building the Waterville Church in 1900-1902). A. L. Rose also operated the boarding house with C. L. Merrill.

1904

•From 1893 to 1904 no mention can be found of children’s meetings but in that latter year W. M. Strout (pastor at Waterville, 1899-1902 and father of Alice Sawtelle) conducted them and either he or his wife faithfully served in that capacity at least until 1927.

1906

•Chester C. “Chick” Clark became overseer of the stables.

•T. J. Coolbroth may have become president that year for the first time.

•The state W. H. & F. M. Society held their annual meeting during camp meeting and again in 1909. Lakeside was called State Headquarters. The W. H. & F. M. Society cottage was turned over to the association in 1945.

1908

•Dr. Orrin Roe Jenks, president of Aurora College, may have come to Lakeside for the first time. This continued a strong relationship going back to F. A. Baker and including others such as song leader, Roger Parolini, Bible teachers, Dr. Lee E. Baker and Dr. Moses C. Crouse, and President Francis “Butch” Merritt.

•Jenk's report in 1908 spoke of the tabernacle seating 500, outdoor seating for 2,000, over sixty cottages, and three trains stopping on the grounds each way, August 1-September 15. His last Bible studies on Lakeside Campground were probably those of 1946.

1910

•C. O. Farnham preached and music was mentioned for the first time with Milton Colby Burtt leading the singing. At the closing service, communion was served, 126 testimonies given and was concluded with, "God be with you til we meet again."

1911

•The Young People’s Aide Society which was extremely active, erected their own building, the Bethel, a two and one half story building, 25’ x 40’ with meeting room on the first floor and lodging above. This building was dedicated at this camp as was also the present boarding house.

1912

•Charles A. Merrill, oldest son of Charles L. Merrill, became secretary of the association and served in that position nearly every year until 1944 when Maynard D. Poole (also from the Dover-Foxcroft church) became secretary-treasurer. Much of this time C. A. Merrill also had charge of the boarding house when Dr. Horace E. Thompson, editor of the World’s Crisis, said on its front page that Lakeside’s baked-in-the-ground beans were better than Boston’s!

•An indication of the spiritual tone of the meetings in the teens can be gleaned from the facts of 75-115 testimonies each evening, sixteen converted and eleven baptized. Prominent guest preachers for the period included C. O. Farnham, M. M. Adams, Professor George Dewing of Aurora, J. A. Nichols, Guy L. Vannah, Irving F. Barnes and O. R. Jenks.

1918

•With the increasing use of automobiles attention had to be paid to the approach road and, as a result, the present road was built.