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Somewhat surprisingly during closing week I found Oswego my point of greatest connection (and accordingly source of greatest sadness) to the Camp Mowana of my past. A surprise because having camped my first two years on intermediate hill and my third year in Mohican Lodge I had relatively little exposure to the building. I suppose that to me it has always been the face of the camp. Even in its present state it is a spectacularly beautiful structure. Built in the mid-50's you would be hard pressed to imagine a building better designed for its original function.
The above postcard shows how Oswego looked during my days as a camper.
The above postcard shows how Oswego looked during my days as a camper.
But its current state illustrates that entrusting perfection to philistines invites desecration.
But its current state illustrates that entrusting perfection to philistines invites desecration.
Note the unmatched stonework on the right of the bottom floor and the asymmetric fifth window above it. At some point well into this building's life, someone destroyed the architect's original aesthetic (and perhaps the building's spirituality) with an especially silly addition around the upstairs restrooms; all for the sake of adding one 8' x 6' room on each floor and an external staircase. There is some reflective amusement value in that the project was so low budget that the stone masons did not make even a cursory attempt to tie into the original exterior wall.
Note the unmatched stonework on the right of the bottom floor and the asymmetric fifth window above it. At some point well into this building's life, someone destroyed the architect's original aesthetic (and perhaps the building's spirituality) with an especially silly addition around the upstairs restrooms; all for the sake of adding one 8' x 6' room on each floor and an external staircase. There is some reflective amusement value in that the project was so low budget that the stone masons did not make even a cursory attempt to tie into the original exterior wall.
And the simply incomprehensible decision was made to cover the redwood timbers on the outside of the lodge with red "PAINT" rather than a neutral and transparent stain, turning the Frank Lloyd Wright mid-century modern rustic look into "Ma & Pa Kettle Inherit A Summer Camp". This was wrong on so many levels that it probably triggered a karmic backlash that caused the camp to go the belly up.
And the simply incomprehensible decision was made to cover the redwood timbers on the outside of the lodge with red "PAINT" rather than a neutral and transparent stain, turning the Frank Lloyd Wright mid-century modern rustic look into "Ma & Pa Kettle Inherit A Summer Camp". This was wrong on so many levels that it probably triggered a karmic backlash that caused the camp to go the belly up.
An ingenious stage design on the south wall of the lodge allows the inside stage to double as an outdoor stage. A garage door in the wall slides up to allow access to the outside benches.
An ingenious stage design on the south wall of the lodge allows the inside stage to double as an outdoor stage. A garage door in the wall slides up to allow access to the outside benches.
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Ingenious design feature, these drawers extend about 15 feet under the stage
Ingenious design feature, these drawers extend about 15 feet under the stage
and were used to store folding chairs.
and were used to store folding chairs.
That is Ticonderoga on the left and Seneca on the right.
That is Ticonderoga on the left and Seneca on the right.
There are 15 cabins surrounding Oswego on the west side of the camp.
The interior of Ticonderoga, a relatively recent cabin rebuild as can be seen by the flooring and the larger windows.
The interior of Ticonderoga, a relatively recent cabin rebuild as can be seen by the flooring and the larger windows.
That is Daconda on the left, Samoset in the center,
That is Daconda on the left, Samoset in the center,
and the old restroom / shower facility on the right.
and the old restroom / shower facility on the right.
Likely Shepfer (above), Mandan and Geronimo (below).
Likely Shepfer (above), Mandan and Geronimo (below).
The dismal looking swimming pool was the camp's second "kiss of death", as replacement and maintenance has been an ongoing expensive nightmare for the sixty years it has been in operation. I suspect that it was built on or near a fault line(s) and the shifting rock strata has repeatedly cracked its concrete over the years. Couple that with the high mineral content of the water and the general problems with having an outdoor pool in northern Ohio. Had the camp remained in operation this should have been replaced with an outdoor splash park near the barn, supplemented by twice weekly bus trips to Ashland's municipal pool.
The dismal looking swimming pool was the camp's second "kiss of death", as replacement and maintenance has been an ongoing expensive nightmare for the sixty years it has been in operation. I suspect that it was built on or near a fault line(s) and the shifting rock strata has repeatedly cracked its concrete over the years. Couple that with the high mineral content of the water and the general problems with having an outdoor pool in northern Ohio. Had the camp remained in operation this should have been replaced with an outdoor splash park near the barn, supplemented by twice weekly bus trips to Ashland's municipal pool.
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