Camp Iss-See-Kes Articles Through the Years

Summertime officially started last week. For many people, that brings back nostalgic memories of going to summer camp – specifically, Camp Iss-See-Kes on the Vermilion River.

Above is an ad for the camp that ran in the Lorain Journal back on June 22, 1954. Although this ad targets boys, Camp Iss-See-Kes was for boys and girls. Over the years, it hosted a variety of youth organizations in addition to its core Y. M. C. A. groups.

It's interesting to see the various mentions of Camp Iss-See-Kes in the Lorain Journal and other local newspapers over the decades.

Here are two early mentions in the paper from June and July 1925 – both for girls. The July article notes, "There will be sports a-plenty for the girls and the same councilors who have had charge during the ten day period just passed will continue for the remainder of the month. Woodcraft, hikes, swimming and a variety of "stunts" with an over-night hike and beach breakfast as the outstanding feature of the trip are on the program for the outing.

June 11, 1925

July 22, 1925

Here's a mention from the August 1, 1929 Lorain Journal. It makes reference to the camp being "on the Leimbach farm along the Vermilion River."

Here are the girls again, in this article from the front page of the August 28, 1930 Lorain Journal. What's interesting is that the continuation from page 1 reveals the meaning of the Indian phrase, "Iss-See-Kes."

The boys are heading off to camp in this article from June 30, 1931.

Here are two Journal mentions from 1932.

April 14, 1932

June 10, 1932

Some improvement in the camp are noted in this Journal article from May 15, 1935.

More improvements were planned, as noted in this Journal article from March 2, 1936.

The Girl Scouts were taking over the camp in this Journal article from August 6, 1938.

Boys from the Lorain Y. M. C. A. were taking their turn at the camp as noted in this Journal article from July 3, 1940.

Here's an ad from the June 26, 1947 Chronicle-Telegram with the well-remembered Indian head logo.

But the Journal art department apparently didn't have access to the logo for this ad for the camp from the June 21, 1948 Lorain Journal.

This Journal article from August 3, 1951 includes some nice photos.

There was a new pool at the camp as noted in this Journal photo from July 28, 1958.

This full-page article from the Journal of June 21, 1965 provides a great look at the camp at that time.

This article from the June 12, 1971 Journal reveals that all campers had to take swimming lessons.

But all good things must come to an end. This article from the Journal of August 16, 1986 announced the bad news that the camp was for sale. It notes that the camp was built in 1920.

Here is the sad classified ad from August 18, 1965.

The sale of the camp property was announced in the Journal on September 7, 1986.

Happily, the Indian head sign at the entrance to the camp on Vermilion Road survives to this day, a tribute to the many happy memories and good times associated with Camp Iss-See-Kes.

October 2023 photo

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I've devoted a few posts to Camp Iss-See-Kes over the years. This post includes some camp collectibles, including a patch and a postcard, while this one notes the damage to the camp's toboggan run that happened during the infamous July 4, 1969 storm.

Camp Iss-See-Kes Toboggan Run – Jan. 18, 1972

It’s been somewhat of a mild winter so far up here in Lorain County. Not much snow (except for yesterday), and it’s only gotten into the teens temperature-wise a few times. 

Fifty years ago it was much the same. At this point in January 1972, Lake Erie was unfrozen – much to the consternation of ice fishermen, and the businesses that depend upon them.

But there was enough snow to open the toboggan run at Camp Iss-See-Kes in Vermilion, as you can see from the photo below, which appeared in the Journal on January 18, 1972. The photo was by Journal Chief Photographer Tom Whittington.

The caption reads, “Streaking down the toboggan run at Camp Iss-See-Kes in Vermilion over the weekend were back, William Makay, 2550 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, and Randy Staveski, 4645 Oberlin Ave., Lorain. The toboggan run opened for the first time last week.”

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I wrote about the popular Camp Iss-See-Kes toboggan run back here. It had been damaged in the infamous July 4, 1969 storm.

Camp Iss-See-Kes Toboggan Chute – Sept. 1969

September is rapidly winding down, so I’d better post these September 50-years-ago items pronto.

Chronicle-Telegram ad from June 1947

A few days ago, one of my posts dealt with the damage that the flooded Vermilion River did to one couple’s property during the infamous July 4, 1969 storm. Even though more than two months had gone by since the storm, the cleanup continued.

Well, here’s another item along those same lines.

The article and photo above, which ran in the Journal on September 22, 1969, describes the damage that the storm did to the popular toboggan chute at Camp Iss-See-Kes on the Vermilion River, and the steps being taken to repair it.

It’s interesting that the Ohio Defense Corps was involved with the repair. This article on the Ohio History Connection website explains the relationship of the Ohio Defense Corps (now known as the Ohio Military Reserve) and the Ohio National Guard.

Anyway, I’m always happy to post anything about Camp Iss-See-Kes, because the people who camped there as kids have such fond memories of the place. If you are a Facebook member, be sure to visit the Camp Iss See Kes Facebook page here; if you scroll down, there is a comment by Dean Rader that includes a photo of the toboggan chute.

And click here to visit my past blog posts on the Camp.

Camp Iss-See-Kes Article – Summer 1923

The sign at the entrance to Camp Iss-See-Kes
on Vermilion Road, November 2017

Summer is rapidly going by, so I'd better slip this article in before it's too late. It's from the July 12, 1923 edition of the Amherst News-Times, and it provides a nice summary of the goings-on at Camp Iss-See-Kes that summer. It includes the schedule for all of the various groups that were going to be staying at the camp.

At the time of the article, the camp had just opened for the season about five days before.

The activities and fun at the camp extended all the way into September.

Camp Iss-See-Kes Article – June 24, 1965

It's officially summer now, and for many local children back in the 1960s that meant it was time for the annual summer fun at Camp Iss-See-Kes.

The full page article written by Doug Warren above ran in the Lorain Journal on June 24, 1965. The article provides a look at what the YMCA camp was like in 1965, as well as a nice history of it.

I first wrote about Camp Iss-See-Kes and its iconic sign back here in 2013.

Camp Iss-See-Kes Sign

Camp Iss-See-Kes patch from an
online auction site

While out in Brownhelm Township on Sunday, I passed this sign (above) and recognized it as the former sign at the entrance to Camp Iss-See-Kes on Vermilion Road.

Although I was never at the Camp, which was operated by the Elyria YMCA for decades, I do remember the similar Indian head sign further north near Mill Hollow from when I was a kid. It was one of those landmarks that we watched for every time we went out that way.

Today the former camp property is a privately owned residence.

You can read a little more about Camp Iss-See-Kes at Rich Tarrant's Vermilion Views website by clicking here.

I was surprised to find out that apparently there is no tribute site dedicated solely to the Camp. There is the odd mention of it on a few websites, as well as a vintage postcard (below) that seems to be fairly easy to find.

There's also some information in the online archives of the Elyria Rotary website that includes the story of Rotarian Ralph Murbach, who was a major donor for the building of the "Rotary Lodge" at Camp Iss-See-Kes.

The "Rotary Lodge" at Camp Iss-See-Kes Circa 1946
(Photo courtesy of Elyria Rotary Club)

Hopefully someone will establish an online home for Camp Iss-See-Kes that will collect photos and reminisces of the happy campers. But until then, feel free to post any memories here by leaving a comment.

Ad from June 7, 1957 Lorain Journal

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UPDATE – Thanks to Tom Glunt, who sent me an email, I'm now aware that Camp Iss-See-Kes does indeed have an online presence. Here's the link to its Facebook page that has been around since 2010. Be sure to drop by the Facebook "camp" and relive some happy memories through the wonderful reminisces and photos that have been posted!

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UPDATE (June 21, 2017)

I posted a June 1965 full-page Lorain Journal article about Camp Its-See-Kes here.

October 2023 Photo