Pre 1880

June 21, 1842

•The first Adventist camp meeting was held in Quebec, Canada. This was followed by many that same year in the New England states.

September 1842

•William Miller (Right), Joshua V. Himes (Second Right) and Apollos Hale preached at a camp meeting at Castine, Maine. Hale went on from there to become part of a “committee of arrangements” (including also Israel Damon) for a highly successful Atkinson, Maine camp meeting in late September. Camp meetings were later held in Exeter, Maine.

September 11, 1867

•Thirty miles northeast of Lakeside, in the town of Pittsfield, another camp meeting. Six tents had been set up; four for lodging, one for lodging and boarding and the “large mission tent.” About twenty ministers attended that first camp meeting with the husband and wife preacher team from Michigan, the Mansfields. and Isaac C. Wellcome being the most prominent. 2,000 people were present on Sunday. In spite of disturbances “…by some ill-bred heathen marauders from other towns…” backsliders were reclaimed, sinners converted and two were baptized; the first of a large number to follow the example of our Lord in river or lake over our 114 years.

•The next two camp meetings were hold on the same

grounds, the Drew farm, two miles southwest of the village.

1869

•Preachers associated with campmeeting included Israel Damon, I. K. Lombard and Frederick A. Baker, later to become principal of the Bible Training Department of Mendota College (now Aurora University). The custom of these early campers was to take their own tents, bedding and provisions with extra to care for the poor and preachers.

1870

•New grounds were occupied on Mr. Hawthorne’s grove about one half mile northeast of the village on the Newport road.

•It appears that two camps were held that year.

•Israel Damon supported the first at which provision had to be obtained in Pittsfield as there was no boarding tent available. This is the first camp meeting at which there is mention of reduced railroad fares for those who came.

•F. A. Baker and Jeremiah Carr were directors of the second camp, “the annual campmeeting for the eastern part of Maine.” The Maine Mission tent was erected and in addition to railroad fare reduction, board and horse-keeping were offered.

1873

•A more permanent encampment was being developed. The camp was moved away from the highway and deeper into the grove. This move cut down on noise from the road and cold winds from the north. The new “audience ground” was graded, wells were dug, and seats and preaching stands were erected in the grove. Lanterns were added to light the grove at night. This was perhaps the first time for evening services.

•Of earlier preachers Baker and Carr are still prominent and for the first time appear the names of Rufus R. York, Moses W. Corliss, Oscar Farnham, I. I. Leslie, S. K. Partridge, J. M. Tozier and Orren S. French.

1874

•The year saw more grounds clearing and deepening of wells. The announcement for this meeting gave warning to be prepared for cold storms. Breakfast and supper were available for twenty-five cents each and dinner for forty cents!

1875

•Another year of advance with the formation of the Eastern Maine Missionary Association. Its purpose was to hold an annual camp meeting, tent (evangelistic) meetings, to distribute tracts and to place preachers in new areas. Jeremiah Carr was chosen chairman and treasurer with O. S. French as secretary. Paul Ames and Owen Wincapaw (later active at Washington) served on the committee.

•Additional seating was provided as well as a new boarding tent and preachers’ stand.

•A. A. Phelps and Mrs. A. E. Smith were present at this, the largest meeting to date.

•O. S. French was ordained at this session with laying on of hands by F. A. Baker, I. C. Wellcome and J. K. Partridge. TOP

1876

•The Pittsfield Campmeeting saw a new Eastern Maine Mission Tent, a bigger number of preachers than ever before and a lease good for another seven years; apparently with a yearly rental of $25. The names of Albion Ross, William Sheldon and H. L. Hastings appeared on the program.

1877

•These early Adventists expected each camp meeting to be the last. The popular phrase became, “Come…to this feast of tabernacles; perhaps it will be the last this side the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

1878

•A new schedule was adopted. The session was to run from Thursday evening through Sunday to the following Friday morning. This plan was an effort to avoid the “rabble” that appeared on weekends. An attempt was made to schedule the meetings so that they would not conflict with Alton Bay.

•H. B. Seavey, William H. Mitchell and Albion Ross were present with E. O. Dinsmore appearing as assistant chairman. Attendance was as great as ever with two being baptized.

1879

•This year brought the last gathering on the old ground. A committee was chosen at that time to select and prepare a new ground for a “General Advent Campmeeting in Maine.” Three reasons were given for the move. First, the lease was soon expiring (although from an earlier statement it would appear to have another three or four years). Second, the grove was not large enough, and finally, the meeting had been held long enough in Pittsfield. Adventists of that day were not particularly accustomed to settled ministries with resident pastors or permanent church buildings. The committee consisted of John Robert Hall, chairman (father of Mrs. Leola Ramirez), R. R. York, secretary, A. H. Blaisdell, treasurer, Jeremiah Carr, O. S. French, Paul Ames, and E. O. Dinsmore. The Mechanic Falls committee was invited (on equal terms) to help establish the new meeting.

•Announcement was made for the committee to meet at the North Belgrade railroad station at 10 a.m. on October 14, 1879. Presumably that day our present location was chosen and the “first annual convocation at Lakeside” was called for.