Hosfeld Camp House and Caretakers Quarters
Hosfeld Camp Pools
A simple (primitive even) camp based (at least initially) around Hipcamp.
Hosfeld Camp a Brief History...
In the late 1800's a large lake was constructed to provide power to the nearby town of Shippensburg and around this time the Hosfeld Camp was established, built on the bank of the lake. This camp is said to have hosted events of all types for not just the community, but beyond - and for 100's, perhaps 1,000's of people over each season. The heart of the property is shared spaces, shared seasons and shared soil.
Hosfeld Camp was never a fancy destination, in fact the builder, John Hosfeld, is said to have bragged that except for the timber and stone from the property, the rest was constructed of discarded materials from his job-sites. All reports are that it was a beloved gathering place for outdoor recreation of many types and for many people.
Hosfeld Camp House and Caretakers Quarters
Hosfeld Camp Pools
The pool photo above (actually most of these were originally post cards) shows THREE swimming pools, all next to each other. The one that remains is approximately 75' X 40'... and it appears to have been the smallest of the three! Imagine how many people could have utilized the pools at one time with this much pool area. It is estimated that there was over 16,000 square feet of swimming area in pools alone!
There are also reports of the pond being used for swimming and originally being much deeper, with the dock having a diving ladder. There are stories of the boys diving off the ladder, challenging each other to touch the bottom of the pond and most not being successful. Like all old ponds, it has filled in over the years and is now quite shallow.
Hosfeld Camp Lake Power Generation
Hosfeld Camp Lake
It is reported that the lake was originally over 100 acres. This does not seem possible, but we've heard it many times. The purpose was to produce power for the borough of Shippensburg.
This website was made with Mobirise