THE UNENDING SEARCH FOR CAMP OLDEN - AND THE EQUALLY UNENDING SEARCH FOR A REASON WHY THERE HAVE BEEN CONFLICTING REPORTS OVER THE YEARS AS TO ITS LOCATION.
My 1992 Mercer Messenger column, relating to the Lawton brothers and Camp Olden pretty much affirmed that the camp was located on a part of the Lawton Farm located in the area of Liberty, Hamilton Avenues and Kuser Road. However, there have been very strange conflicting stories. One from historian Francis Bazely Lee never mentioned the Pond Run area. Then there is the article above, where Mr. Coffield says it was located on North Olden Avenue on the site of Hill's Brewery. Over the years, Hamilton Township officials have apparently been derelict in keeping records relating to Camp Olden. Indeed, it is safe to say that Hamilton Township has been derelict in most matters of preserving Hamilton Township's historical records. There certainly must have been a real estate map and other relevant documents relating to the area in possession of the township when the camp was abandoned; it was probably disposed of as historically insignificant. Camp Olden will be a research subject for years to come. Mr. Coffield's placement of the camp is based on his recollection going back 56 years. Very intriguing. Could it be that there was a Camp Olden office or other location there along with the tented Camp Olden out on Pond Run?
1 comment:
Tom, one of the last "volleys" I would fire in pursuit of this would be a call to Congressman Smith to see if there are any records from the Department of Defense or the Army. Or did I just fire off a "short round", and you've already been that route? :)
Ed Millerick
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