OUR HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF CAMP MERRIE-WOODE
Since 1919
Founded in 1919, Lake Fairfield Camp opened under the leadership of Marjorie Harrison, an English professor from Tazewell, VA.
1922
Mabel Pye Day, a leader in the girls camping movement with the YWCA in New York, purchased the camp in 1922 with Lake Fairfield Camp’s Head Counselor, Mary Turk. It was Mrs. Day who changed the name of the camp to Camp Merrie-Woode. Dammie, as she was known by her campers, was born to British immigrants and established Merrie-Woode’s old English traditions. “I knew I wanted an imaginative and meaningful name,” Dammie wrote, “and one night the name came so clearly to me – Merrie-Woode…for it is a merry wood and campers will always make it so.” Dammie’s legacy of honor and appreciation of simple living and acquiring “eyes that see” the beauty of God’s world was emphasized in activities which taught the importance of a life of service. Dammie remained director for the next 30 summers, establishing Merrie-Woode as one of the premier girls camps in the South at the height of the girls camping movement in the country.
DAMMIE & MARY TURK
1951
Following the 1951 season, the camp was sold to Fritz and Augusta Orr of Atlanta, who with their son Fritz, Jr. and his wife, Dottie, operated Merrie-Woode until 1978. The Orrs were great outdoor enthusiasts and were especially instrumental in building a strong canoeing and wilderness program.
1978
Upon the Orrs’ retirement in 1978, Hugh Caldwell, a Sewanee, The University of the South, philosophy professor and Merrie-Woode staff member since 1952, led alumnae to form the Merrie-Woode Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation with the sole purpose of owning and operating Camp Merrie-Woode. Through the generous support of the Merrie-Woode family, the foundation purchased the camp in 1979. With the establishment of the Merrie-Woode Foundation, the camp is now in effect owned and operated by its former campers. Dr. Caldwell served as the first director under the new Foundation. He stayed through the summer of 1985 and was followed by Art and Carolyn Kramer. The Kramers directed the camp from 1985-1989.
HUGH CALDWELL
1990
From 1990-2002, Gordon and alumna, Laurie Turner Strayhorn, served as the directors. They succeeded to maintain the historic architecture during a period of extensive renovations to many of camp’s buildings and facilities.
2002
In 2002, Denice and Jim Dunn began their tenure as directors. The Dunns strived to continue the rich traditions founded by their predecessors. They worked to preserve the historic grounds and our surrounding land as well as Merrie-Woode’s history and unique story within the American camping movement.
2023
Our current directors, Robin and Frost Walker, began their run as directors in 2023. Robin McKinney Walker is an alumna, she started as a camper in 1989, became a Captain in 1996, and served on staff for several summers. Working to restore the land’s natural beauty while honoring long-standing camp traditions, they are excited to continue the progress made by those before them.
"Thirty years is a beautiful long time to have built my life into Merrie-Woode, and I’m just thankful that it still means so much to those who love it.”
-Dammie Day
