Fire Destroys U-M Boys' Camp Building

PINCKNEY - Fire this morning gutted the oldest building at the University of Michigan Fresh Air Camp on Patterson Lake, about six miles southwest of Pinckney in Unadilla Township The fire was reported at 7 a.m. to the I Pinckney fire department by a resident I who lives across the lake. Some 40 fireImen from four departments were I Itling the blaze this morning. By noon, Ithe fire was still burning. Russell Downing, University fire marshal, said the building had been locked last night. "It hurt me deeply to see this building burn." Downing said. The frame structure was built in 1927 and had been used most recently as a recreational lodge. Clifford Miller of Pinckney, starting his 13th year on the camp maintenanee crew, was in the building yesterday to prepare it for students from Newport School in Ann Arbor, who were scheduled I to visit the camp this morning. The interior of the building was rustic in style with an open beam ceiling. All the woodwork and furniture was either varnished or shellacked. ''I always knew that if this building ever caught fire it would all go up - with all that shellack and varnish," said I I Miller, who is also a member of the j I Pim.'kney volunteer fire department. It was the only building at the camp with water and heat for winter use. While used primarily as a summer recreation facility, the building also had been used on weekends throughout the year. Early morning smoke was visible for three miles. When firemen from the Pinckney, Unadilla Township and Hamburg fire departments arrived, the fire was concentrated in a lounge above the furnace room where two oil furnaces are located. The fire soon swept through both wings of the L-shaped building, which housed a kitchen, dining room and I I fices. Firemen used five trucks, including a I I tank truck from the state Department of I I Natural Resources, and also pumped I Iter up the steep slope from the lake. Fire Marshal Downing said "It will be some time before an investigation will I Ishow what started the fire." Tiie camp is run by U-M for children with behavioral problems. Most of the I I staif is composed of students and Umversity officials. The Fresh Air Camp was founded in Il92i by Lewis Reimann, at that time a 7 y r5 v Presbyterian student worker affiliated with the Student Christian Association. It was run with volunteer student help until 1937 when the U-M began to offer counselors related gradúate courses in connection with their counseling duties. The camp was officially accepted by U-M Regents in 1944. Financial help for the camp is obtained f rom the University (which pays the salaries of the teaching staff and for the maintenance of the camp) and by special training grants from the U.S. Public Health Service. The major cosls of special equipment are met by gifts from interested donors.. During the summer months, boys ! ranging in age from 7 to 12 attended the camp in three-week sessions. Counseling at the camp is designed to give the children a new self -concept and to help them witii behavioral and learning problems by working closely with the staff and fellow students.