Camp Columbia

Here in Connecticut we are just emerging from the deep freeze of a particularly long winter so when my father mentioned that he was going for a hike at a local spot he had been telling me about, I decided to join in. The place is called Camp Columbia and it's in Morris Ct. There is a trail head with a parking area and it seems that mostly it is used as a dog walking trail by the locals but there is quite a bit of history there as well. This was a wilderness camp for students of Columbia University beginning in the 1880's and lasting through the 1960's. There were several buildings including an old farmhouse, a stone tower (which stands to this day) and various ponds, trails and camping areas were students would sleep in tents.  Although it is now a state park, there really doesn't seem to be any maintenance happening and the tower and old stone dining hall are being left to slowly disintegrate. It's really a shame since it would not take much money or effort to save these wonderful old structures.

Here is the crumbling road leading into the camp. I can imagine this tree lined road in it's heyday must have been spectacular but now it looks like the short cut to the apocalypse.

 Rounding the corning at the top of the hill the tower comes into view.

 This stone tower was built in 1942 by the graduating class of 1906. It replaced an earlier wood tower that stood on the same spot.

 These picnic tables were probably brought in around 1980 when this area was first designated as a state park. Now they sit rotting and neglected.

 This is an old open well that was located next to the remains of the farmhouse. You wouldn't want to accidentally step into that while not paying attention!

 This spring was bubbling up under pretty strong pressure. I bet it's clean but I didn't try it.

 The remnants of an old BBQ pit. This sat on the edge of the overgrown field near the spring pictured above.

 This is old fence once stood in front of the old farmhouse along the edge of the road. I'm amazed that parts of it still stand.

 There's one step broken off the staircase around the outside of the tower. Climbers beware.

 Here is the old stone dining hall built in the 1930's. The roof is beginning to go on it which is a shame. Right now the building could easily be saved but give it a few more years with roof continuing to rot and it'll become a much harder restoration project.