This is the final installment of a three-part story on Camp Anokijig's Western Lodge and was originally published in the August 1949 issue of Western Publishing's Westerner newsletter:

Raymond O. Jondahl of Western Commercial Sales at Racine and Vice President of the Racine YMCA, acted as master of ceremonies at the dedication. Mr. Theodore Johnson, President of the YMCA, accepted the gift on behalf of the Association and pointed out that Western had made more than a mere investment of money in the Lodge.

"You invested in the lives of thousands of young men and women," he told Westerners in his speech, "and your investment will pay dividends in a better America in years to come." Other speakers on the program included Rev. Francis P. Ihrmann of the First Presbyterian Church, Rev. M.A. Simonsen of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, YMCA Secretary Harold Frame and Camp Director Ray Vance.

The highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling by Mr. Wadewitz of the Western Lodge sign, which decorates the front porch of the building and gives it lasting identity. The log from which the sign was fashioned was cut from Wisconsin forests about 400 miles north of Racine by old Indian forestry workers, who know their forest lore.

There are not many pines of this age and size remaining and the log selected is estimated to be about 227 years old, a mere sapling at the time when George Washington was the age of present-day campers at Anokijig. The log was seasoned for almost two years in preparation for its present use. Into its surface have been burned the simple words, Western Lodge.

It is suspended by heavy chains and has been treated for protection against the elements, so that it will long serve to identify the camp headquarters of Anokijig as the gift of Western people who have confidence in our youth and faith in their future.

Anokijig's Western Lodge Part Two

This is the second of a three-part story on Camp Anokijig's Western Lodge and was originally published in the August 1949 issue of Western Publishing's Westerner newsletter:

E.H. Wadewitz, President of Western Printing & Lithographing Company, who made the official presentation speech on behalf of his fellow Westerners, told the gathering of Western's interest in serving the community and its policy of expressing confidence in the future.

"Our best hope for the future of Racine and all America," he said, "is the sound Christian development of our youth so that they will be strong in spirit, mind and body to meet their challenge as the citizens of tomorrow. As an industrial concern, we are vitally interested in the building of men and better men for the future. We are proud that Western Lodge bears our name and we hope it will serve long and well in the interests of American Youth."

Mr. Wadewitz, himself, has been a member of the Racine YMCA for over fifty years and is now its oldest living member in point of service. he stated that many other Westerners had been helped to a good start in life through the fine character-building programs of the YMCA and that, now, their sons and grandsons were following in their footsteps. The boys and girls of many Westerners at Racine today enjoy the facilities of Camp Anokijig, together with hundreds of other youngsters from many Midwestern communities.

Those pictured from left to right are Rev. Francis P. Ihrmann, Rev. M.A. Simonsen, Theodore Johnson, E.H. Wadewitz, Raymond O. Jondahl, Harold Frame & Ray Vance. Tomorrow's final installment includes a unique back story about an Anokijig landmark.

Anokijig's Western Lodge Part One

This is the first of a three-part story on Camp Anokijig's Western Lodge and was originally published in the August 1949 issue of Western Publishing's Westerner newsletter:

On Sunday, August 14, 1949, hundreds of people attended the official dedication of Western Lodge at Camp Anokijig, the 130-acre paradise of water and woodland operated by the Racine YMCA as a summer haven for boys and girls. Rising high on a hill overlooking Little Elkhart Lake near Plymouth, Wisconsin, this handsome log structure, reputed to be the largest of it's kind in the state of Wisconsin, is the gift to the Racine YMCA of Western Printing & Lithographing Company.

With a crew at one time of 23 lumberjacks from Northern Wisconsin and other contractors working on its construction, it was completed in 1948 and will serve as the main headquarters of the camp. The main room, with a large stone fireplace and overhead log trusses, without a single supporting beam for the ceiling, comprises the dining hall, which will seat 300 people for serving. The entire structure is 100 feet by 72 feet, high enough to be a two-story building, but designed as a one-story, high ceiling building. Its four block-house type corners give it a historic appearance in keeping with the architecture of early Wisconsin and the space is devoted to library and rainy-day recreation.

In the adjoining kitchen and pantries on the main floor are the most modern cooking and serving facilities, running water, sinks and even automatic dish-washing equipment. On the same floor are the camp offices, conference room and so-called kitchen-dining room, which has a fireplace of its own and all necessary facilities for a wintertime visit to camp. In the basement, which underlies one-fourth of the building are workshops, storage space for camp equipment, food storage space with walk-in type of refrigeration, laundry, shower bath, furnace and boiler room.

Prominent YMCA officials have proclaimed Western Lodge as the finest camp building of its kind and it is estimated that it will serve the interests of campers for a period of at least 100 years. That means it will help make camping enjoyable for several hundred thousand boys and girls of future generations.

Tomorrow- the people behind the donation and creation of Western Lodge