Camp Tosebo, Michigan

Infobox nrhp
name = Camp Tosebo
nrhp_type = nrhp
locmapin = Michigan
location = 7228 Miller Road, Red Park, Michigan
nearest_city = Onekama, Michigan
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 20
lat_seconds = 58
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 86
long_minutes = 14
long_seconds = 32
long_direction = W


caption =
area =
built = 1914-1918
architect =
architecture =
designated =
added = December 21, 2000
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 00000644
mpsub =
governing_body =

Camp Tosebo, on the south shore of Portage Lake in Onekama Township, Michigan, was established in 1912 by Noble Hill, the headmaster of the Todd Seminary for Boys in Woodstock, Illinois, as one of the first summer camps in the United States. The name of the camp is an acronym derived from the school's name, TOdd SEminary for BOys, and meant to sound like a Native American Indian word.

History

Noble Hill was a pioneer in progressive education as a teacher and then headmaster/owner of the Todd Seminary for Boys. Hill wanted to create a summer camp program as an extension of the school program. Originally planned for a Wisconsin site, his son Roger insisted on the Portage Lake location because of its excellent lake with access to Lake Michigan for larger sailboats. Camp Tosebo opened in 1912 and operated until 1977. The Hill family operated the camp through three generations from 1912 to 1962. Many stories exist about Orson Welles attending Camp Tosebo. While he did attend the Todd School, he only visted the camp. Today the camp operates as a resort rental on its 56 wooded acres and fully restored buildings.

Camp Tosebo, also known as Old Camp Tosebo Inn, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 as District #00000644. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20001229.htm National Register of Historic Places Listings December 29, 2000] ]

Notes and references

* [http://www.tosebo.com Website of the current Camp Tosebo]
* [http://www.histclo.com/country/us/act/camp/ind/cui-tosebo.html Brief history]
* [http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/hsmatchname.asp?hsn=Camp+Tosebo&hss=0 Listings in Michigan State Historic Sites] at [http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/ Michigan Historic Sites Online]
* [http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/netgap/2002/Wellsprings/w2002.htm#Camp%20Tosebo Wellsprings 2002]
* Shannon McRae, "Images of America: Manistee County" (Arcadia Publishing, 2002), pp. 117–119. ISBN 0738541249