Story posted Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Possible That Entire Methodist Campground Could Be Raised
Jeremy Patterson of Patterson movers explains possibility of raising Methodist Camp cottages during meeting Monday at the Journal.
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
Efforts are underway to not only raise 14 frame cottages at the historic Methodist Campground, but possibly all 120 structures at the site including its two large tabernacle buildings, the Journal & Topics Newspapers has learned.
Representatives of the campground and an Iowa-based building moving company were scheduled to visit with officials in Springfield yesterday (Tuesday) to possibly determine whether millions of dollars in federal funds would be freed up to pay for an all out effort for the campground and possibly other sections of Des Plaines.
"It could truly be a re-birth of the campground," said Rod Scott, mitigation specialist of Jeremy Patterson House Moving.
"We're helping people south of us along places like Shagbark Lake," added Ray Hund of the Methodist Campground. "This could be the future of the city where homes would be elevated all over."
Des Plaines aldermen Monday night agreed to allow the city to serve as sub-grantee on a federal grant to finance more than half a million dollars in improvements at the campground, which is located along the Des Plaines River north of Algonquin Road. The current plan calls for elevating 14 of the campground's white, wooden cottages with federal grant money paying for nearly all of the costs. Owners of the 14 cottages have agreed to participate. There will be no cost to the city. Work is expected to begin within the next month and take about two months to complete.
Since its founding as a religious revival camp in the mid-1860s, the Methodist Campground has been subjected to frequent flooding, especially in recent years. By raising the structures, floodwater from the river will flow underneath the buildings preventing major property damage.
Monday afternoon, a group of people representing the campground and the moving company visited the offices of the Journal & Topics to explain their hopes to secure funding to raise all of the campground's structures in a plan that, if approved, could take two to five years to complete. They planned to visit with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to learn whether federal and flood insurance funding is available to pay for the major undertaking and, if so, whether the program can be expanded to include other local neighborhoods that often flood such as the Big Bend Drive area.
"We hope to be on IEMA's No. 1 list for flood money," said Scott. "We are hoping to lift the tabernacle this year before Christmas." Added company owner Jeremy Patterson, "We're hoping to get the campground back on the map. It could become a whole city of Des Plaines deal."
Karen Tate, who along with her husband Bob has owned one of the cottages for the last four years, said she envisions a revitalized campground where its hotel and dining place come to life as they did a century ago.
Hund explained that raising the buildings will help property owners south of Des Plaines better cope with potential flooding problems. Water from the river will be able to flow along its natural course spreading out along the way lessening the impact downstream.
"This will give the campground at least another 100 years," said Scott. The campground is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
"People will be able to watch cottages being raised along Algonquin Road," added Hund.
"People will be able to buy cottages again," said Bob Tate. Added his wife, Karen, "We can be the future of Des Plaines."
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