A Brief History of Kendale: Chapter 1
By Mitch Strauss

Camp Kendale's first season was 1960. I purchased the camp, then known as Camp Merrydell from Lillian Strauss (no relationship). She started the camp in 1937.

Purchased a farm and ran the camp in a very informal manner. Did little to improve the physical plant. Had built 8 cabins (4 male, 4 female) over the years. The main house served as the dining hall (1st floor) and infirmary (2nd floor). What later become the camp laundry was the bathrooms and shower house. The cabins had no electric or plumbing. The small building next to the main house was used as a recreation building. The barn, which was in very bad shape (that's hard to believe, but you had to see it to believe it) was used for arts and crafts. That was it for buildings when I came to the camp in 1959.

The lake used for swimming and there were 2 or 3 rowboats. No pier, just one small dock. The ball field was half the size as it was extended in later years. That was it. The camp program was very basic, Swimming, Volleyball, Softball, Arts & Crafts and Drama. The front lawn of the main house was used for drama.

The largest number of campers that Lillian ever had was in 1959, 85 campers. I was the head counselor that summer. Came to Merrydell with the idea of purchasing it from Lillian. At the end of the summer she did sell me the camp. She insisted that I change the name. She was concerned that if I was a failure it would be a problem for her since we had the same last names.

How it became Kendale in the next chapter...