Overview
Winona Lake Park began as Bethany Girls Camp (see attached photos). The grounds were acquired for a Mrs. Furlong, a lady doctor, by three brothers in 1881...Edward, Christian, and Fred Beyer. The Furlong property included Bethany Camp, which later was the Winona School of Theology and eventually the town park and Town of Winona Lake offices. I will include a brief excerpt from the book "Winona at 100" by Terry White with Steve Grill.
Bethany Camp was built on 10 acres originally owned by the Furlong family on the lakeshore where the Winona School of Theology and the Winona town park were later located. It included bungalows, a dining hall, gymnasium and auditorium. The original donors of many of the facilities were Mr. and Mrs. William Peterson of Chicago. An organization called the Bethany Girls Group (originally called the "Busy Girls") was founded in 1914 by Miss Carrie Stewart of Middleport, Ohio. Bethany Girls was founded "about the year 1901". The group was formed to provide friendship and spiritual support to "girls" leaving the farm and moving to the big city to get jobs. "Girls" in that day were today's young ladies-technically adults.
The group was part of the Presbyterian Church and it appears to have remained in the Midwest. Carrie Stewart's sister Nellie was also a strong supporter of the Bethany Girls. The clubs' motto was "Fear not, for I am with you." In 1919, 500 women attended the camp.
The founder, Mrs. Carrie Stewart Besserer, died in February, 1936, at her home in Middleport, Ohio. She was 65 years old and had been ill for more than a year, but until that illness had continued to be active as the director of Bethany Girls' organization.
A report from 1937 noted that Bethany Camp's land and facilities had been purchased by R. G. LeTourneau of Peoria, IL, "to be continued as a camp of Christian training for boys and girls of high school and college age. It will be under the direction of Mrs. LeTourneau and a competent staff." Gaddis and Huffman recorded that the Winona School of Theology later purchased Bethany Camp from the LeTourneau Foundation and the 1948 session marked its first year on the new campus.
Bethany Camp would later host Brethren Youth Conferences, under the direction of Leo Polman, and it also was the on-site location for the Winona School of Theology. Even later, it would become the Winona Lake town park and house the city offices and police department.
In 1987 the Town of Winona Lake used the majority of an approximately $58,000 federal revenue sharing grant to renovate the town hall, to dredge the canal, and for the reforestation and cleanup of trees in the town.
Bethany Camp was built on 10 acres originally owned by the Furlong family on the lakeshore where the Winona School of Theology and the Winona town park were later located. It included bungalows, a dining hall, gymnasium and auditorium. The original donors of many of the facilities were Mr. and Mrs. William Peterson of Chicago. An organization called the Bethany Girls Group (originally called the "Busy Girls") was founded in 1914 by Miss Carrie Stewart of Middleport, Ohio. Bethany Girls was founded "about the year 1901". The group was formed to provide friendship and spiritual support to "girls" leaving the farm and moving to the big city to get jobs. "Girls" in that day were today's young ladies-technically adults.
The group was part of the Presbyterian Church and it appears to have remained in the Midwest. Carrie Stewart's sister Nellie was also a strong supporter of the Bethany Girls. The clubs' motto was "Fear not, for I am with you." In 1919, 500 women attended the camp.
The founder, Mrs. Carrie Stewart Besserer, died in February, 1936, at her home in Middleport, Ohio. She was 65 years old and had been ill for more than a year, but until that illness had continued to be active as the director of Bethany Girls' organization.
A report from 1937 noted that Bethany Camp's land and facilities had been purchased by R. G. LeTourneau of Peoria, IL, "to be continued as a camp of Christian training for boys and girls of high school and college age. It will be under the direction of Mrs. LeTourneau and a competent staff." Gaddis and Huffman recorded that the Winona School of Theology later purchased Bethany Camp from the LeTourneau Foundation and the 1948 session marked its first year on the new campus.
Bethany Camp would later host Brethren Youth Conferences, under the direction of Leo Polman, and it also was the on-site location for the Winona School of Theology. Even later, it would become the Winona Lake town park and house the city offices and police department.
In 1987 the Town of Winona Lake used the majority of an approximately $58,000 federal revenue sharing grant to renovate the town hall, to dredge the canal, and for the reforestation and cleanup of trees in the town.
Mission & Values
The Mission of the Winona Lake Parks and Recreation Department is: "To provide a superior recreation and park experience to all members of the Winona Lake community and surrounding communities; creating a better quality of life, access to the outdoors, and opportunity for play of all kinds for all ages and abilities.
Supervisor Profile
Holly Hummitch
Director at Winona Lake Park
Contact Information:
(574) 267-2310
(574) 253-2181
[email protected]
Director at Winona Lake Park
Contact Information:
(574) 267-2310
(574) 253-2181
[email protected]
Holly Hummitch's Bio:
Holly was born and raised in Warsaw/Winona Lake, IN. She grew up playing at Winona Lake park. Holly graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1997. After high school she chose to stay local and commuted to Indiana University/Purdue University of Ft. Wayne where she received her degree in Organization Leadership and Supervision in 2000. Holly began working for Winona Lake Parks Department the summer of 2007 as a summer program instructor. She became the Winona Lake Parks Department Director in December 2008. Holly is married with 5 children and currently reside in Warsaw, IN.
Holly was born and raised in Warsaw/Winona Lake, IN. She grew up playing at Winona Lake park. Holly graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1997. After high school she chose to stay local and commuted to Indiana University/Purdue University of Ft. Wayne where she received her degree in Organization Leadership and Supervision in 2000. Holly began working for Winona Lake Parks Department the summer of 2007 as a summer program instructor. She became the Winona Lake Parks Department Director in December 2008. Holly is married with 5 children and currently reside in Warsaw, IN.
Groups & Associations
National Parks Recreation Association (NAPR)
Organizational Structure
Town Council Members:
Craig Allebach, Town Coordinator
Peter Christos, Ward 1
Terry Howie, Ward 2
Bruce Shaffner, Ward 3
Robert Swanson, Ward 4
Randy Swanson, Ward 5
Winona Lake Park Board:
Shelby Beam, President
Chad James
Dan Metzger
Rick Swaim
Jill Schroeder
Winona Lake Parks Department Director:
Holly Hummitch, Director
Kaitlin Gruenewald, Assistant Director
Winona Lake Park Summer Staff:
Ashton Warren, Instructor
Katie McNulty, Instructor
Madison Martz, Instructor
Laurel Shriner, Instructor
Hunter Jones, Beach Maintenance
Clase DeGraff, Head Lifeguard
Jake Fayed, Lifeguard
Ethan Bradley, Lifeguard
Marissa McSherry, Lifeguard
Craig Allebach, Town Coordinator
Peter Christos, Ward 1
Terry Howie, Ward 2
Bruce Shaffner, Ward 3
Robert Swanson, Ward 4
Randy Swanson, Ward 5
Winona Lake Park Board:
Shelby Beam, President
Chad James
Dan Metzger
Rick Swaim
Jill Schroeder
Winona Lake Parks Department Director:
Holly Hummitch, Director
Kaitlin Gruenewald, Assistant Director
Winona Lake Park Summer Staff:
Ashton Warren, Instructor
Katie McNulty, Instructor
Madison Martz, Instructor
Laurel Shriner, Instructor
Hunter Jones, Beach Maintenance
Clase DeGraff, Head Lifeguard
Jake Fayed, Lifeguard
Ethan Bradley, Lifeguard
Marissa McSherry, Lifeguard