History Walk #17 ~ Corn Shop to Camp KV and all in Between ~ Friday, May 2, 2014

The Corn Shop in Readfield was located about 1/2 mile east of the Readfield Corner intersection and built by Jasper and Edgar Wyman of Washington County (today known as Wyman's of Maine and famous for their blueberries). In the background here is Millett Manor (MM). Tamson and Ed Nelson built MM as a summer tourist hotel about 1903 and called it "Tamsonhurst". History Walkers will learn about these two businesses and much more on this excursion!

Friday, May 2nd 10:00am ~ 2:00pm

This history walk will cover where the old corn shop was (about 1/2 mile east of Readfield Corner) and will also include the area from there east all the way to Camp KV. So, this will encompass Millett Manor, Gilman farm, the Weathervane, the Readfield Recreation Association (founders of the town beach), Camp KV for Kids. Also included will be information about the houses and other properties that fall within that area (on Main Street).

 

Bring a sandwich and a drink as we will stop to eat lunch somewhere on the walk. Wear sturdy walking shoes and walking sticks are suggested. FMI about where to meet please email crossings4u@gmail.com.

Among the sites visited on this history walk was Camp KV for Kids.

This location was originally part of Joshua Bean’s holdings along with all the other land included on this history walk. This was a second parcel included with the property purchased by Lewis and Anne Millett in 1948. They donated the land to the Kennebec Valley Council of Girl Scouts in 1949 and it served as a day camp for the Girl Scouts until the 1970’s, when the Council had to close the camp and it went to public auction. According to Robert Mohlar, who was a member of the newly formed Readfield Conservation Commission at that time, the group recognized that developers would no doubt buy and sub-divide this 59 acre parcel, so they went to work immediately to raise community awareness in hopes the camp could be preserved for public use and continue as a summer camp for children. Donald Laubenstein and Jack Smart of Readfield, and several other business people from the Augusta area, led the charge and formed the Camp KA VE Committee. They managed to place the winning bid and signed the newly organized Camp KV for Kids over to the Kennebec Valley YMCA in March, 1975. The deed includes the restriction that the property “not be used for any purpose other than for the benefit of youth of the area. By 1995 it was fully endowed. Today it is still in use as a day camp by the Kennebec Valley YMCA. FMI about 2014 summer programs: http://www.kvymca.org/content/2014-camp-kv-kids

Permission to use and share this information, about the history of Camp KV for Kids, is hereby granted to Kennebec Valley YMCA, Camp KV for Kids, with the understanding that credit be given to Dale Potter-Clark as researcher and writer. May 10, 2014