By Chad Hershberger
When it was decided that a new camp would be built for the Central Pennsylvania Synod, synod leaders went to work to find a new site. Ultimately, the grounds of Mount Luther were chosen based on its centrality to the north-central parts of the synod. A facility was built that those leaders felt would accommodate their programming needs and Mount Luther found early success and growth.
Ira Sassaman received letters in April 1962 from several individuals expressing concern over the location of the site of the new camp. Those in Camp Juniata’s territory hoped the camp would be close enough for their use. Talk had also ensued that the camp might be in the Danville area.
On June 20, 1962, the founders of Mount Luther took a trip to consider the Deer Lake site in Sullivan County. They rejected that site, according to Rev. John Bernheisel, who was pastor of First Lutheran Church, Mifflinburg, and part of the committee who looked at potential sites.
Legend has it that the widow of a Lutheran coalmine owner from the Shamokin area offered the synod the site that is today Wesley Forest, a Methodist camp, near Weikert. The land housed a cabin retreat for their family. The synod supposedly took too much time to decide. Rev. John Bishop said it was because there was a long delay in releasing synodical funds, and she advertised the property in a New York newspaper. The Methodists saw the ad and responded, buying the property while the Lutherans continued to look at options for a site.
“The Field of Dreams”
Bernheisel said, ‘In early 1962, Dr. Ira Sassaman, head of Christian Education and Camping for Central Pennsylvania Synod of the [sic] Lutheran Church in America, suggested to me that a synod camp ought to be established in that general area of the synod. He suggested I search for an appropriate tract of land about 300 to 400 acres, preferably with water on for a swimming pool or lake. Accessibility was also important. During the early part of that year, I visited owners of four or five possible sites. In every case, these persons had sold off the land to about 30 acres. The last owner we visited was a man from Reading, Pennsylvania, who still lived on his Union County property at times. He suggested that the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm, just east of his property would be a good property to investigate. The local man who was assisting me in the search was of the common local opinion that “the fruit farm was not for sale.” We went and drove the roads to the house and barn and out again. For the sake of getting concrete opinion, we went to the attorney we knew was the attorney for the Gutileus family who were the sole holders of the stock in the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm Corporation. His immediate response to our question as to the farm’s availability was “I don’t see why not.” The information, which we had gleaned about the farm, was transmitted to the synod office and to Dr. Sassaman. After inspection of the property and subsequent negotiations by the synod, the property of approximately 370 acres was purchased.’
The Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm in Lewis Township, Union County (near Mifflinburg), consisted of about 370 acres (160 clear). Mrs. Fred Gutileus, Mrs. Margaret Town, and Mrs. Laura Gutileus owned the land and Kermit Boob managed the farm. Bernheisel said, “I thought it was a pretty ideal place, size-wise and terrain as far as getting to it. I couldn’t see how it really wouldn’t go to town.”
Walking by the new A Frames
In July 1962, the synod Executive Board heard a report from Rev. Robert Koons on the search for a site for a new camp. After several weeks of searching, the committee reported they found a suitable location in the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm. They believed it was an excellent site for the development of a new camp in the former Juniata and Susquehanna conferences. In synod minutes it is reported that “this 350-acre tract of woodland, fields, and streams is by size and topography capable of accommodating four or more decentralized areas– youth camping, family camping, trailer camping, day camping, picnicking, and a conference center.”
Events began happening quickly as the conception of Mount Luther progressed. On September 10, 1962, the ULCA Committee on Christian Education voted to look with favor on the purchase of the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm and proceed to develop plans for its use as a campsite. In October 1962, the Camp Juniata board voted to turn over to the synod the title to its property, assets, and liabilities. On November 19, 1962, the synod Executive Board adopted the following motion: “That the Executive Board authorize the synod’s attorney, Paul H. Rhoads of Harrisburg, to negotiate for the purchase of the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm for a price not to exceed $40,000 and with the understanding that a clear title be given and that the offer is only good until December 6, 1962.” They also decided to transfer the Camp Juniata property to the synod, allowing the Camp Juniata board to continue to serve as custodians of the property until it was transferred to a newly constructed body and authorized by the synod’s Board of Parish Education. They requested an audit be made of all accounts and that a complete financial statement be presented to the Executive Board in January, with any recommendations from the Board of Parish Education regarding the use or disposition of Camp Juniata. According to a newspaper article, they anticipated campers from Camp Juniata would form the nucleus for the new Buffalo Valley area camp program.
The attorneys went to work to secure the land for Mount Luther. On November 21, 1962, Margaret Town offered to sell the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm for $37,500 but wanted to retain mineral rights and twenty acres of the property. Although the Executive Board appreciated her reluctance to relinquish the entire property that had been a part of her family interests for so long, they did not accept these conditions because they would greatly handicap their ability to develop the property for camping purposes. Negotiations on the sale were completed and by the first month of 1963, the synod publicly announced their plans to build Mount Luther.
The attorneys went to work to secure the land for Mount Luther. On November 21, 1962, Margaret Town offered to sell the Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm for $37,500 but wanted to retain mineral rights and twenty acres of the property. Although the Executive Board appreciated her reluctance to relinquish the entire property that had been a part of her family interests for so long, they did not accept these conditions because they would greatly handicap their ability to develop the property for camping purposes. Negotiations on the sale were completed and by the first month of 1963, the synod publicly announced their plans to build Mount Luther.
The groundwork was laid; Mount Luther’s founding fathers sought a new place for a camping ministry in Central Pennsylvania, based on the new model of small-group camping. They wanted to create a camp with a new identity, trying a new style of camping different from Camps Juniata, Susquehanna, Nawakwa, and Sequanota. And it would be located on the grounds of the former Buffalo Valley Fruit Farm.