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History of the Camp Site
Stone Quarries

quarry

One of the main industries in the Windsor area, started in the late 1860's was the stone quarry industry.  Numerous quarries were opened in the western part of Windsor, several north of US Route 322, one just west of the covered bridge and on located along the bank adjacent to the path in front of the girls bridge and one located along the bank adjacent to the path in front of the girls' cabins.  the quarries ere referred to as the Windsor Mills Quarries and the Stonesville Quarry located about 1 1/2 miles northwest of Windsor Mills.  At the Windsor Mills Quarry, the stone was sawed into slabs for sidewalks and others were turned into grindstones.  They were opened in the early 1870's by Gus Warner and operated for 20 years until they closed. 

The old B&O Railroad built a line from Burton Station to the Windsor Mills Quarry but did not operate very long.  People in the Windsor area reported tat all sandstone in the area had a defect of hard iron like material which made it useless commercially.  The stone was considered for building purposes but the same imperfection limited its use.  Many homes in the area had foundations made from stone from the various quarries which suggested this was one of their principal uses.  The advent of cement in the late 1800's proved to be stiff competition for stone quarries. 
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Virgin Forest

planting

The virgin timber along the rough and rocky cliffs was the last to be cut in the area.  The largest cutting took place between 1910 to 1914.  Black Walnut trees, over four feet in diameter and 50 feet to the first limbs, were common.  Other species found were hemlock, tulip poplar (whitewood), chestnut, basswood, ash, oak, hard maples, and beech.  The logging trails that were used can be seen today and are used as nature trails.  Horses were used to drag the logs up the steep banks.  Some people also suggest these logging trails might have been established by early Indian tribes. 

In one area logs were floated down phelps creek during spring rains to a point opposite the picnic grounds, were a stream winch was used to lift logs up the steep banks to a place where two horse teams hitched in tandem could drag them on up another logging trail.  One small area of virgin timber, thinned by some selective cutting of mature trees, remains at the lower end of the camp property.  The entire camp area is managed with good forestry practices in order to preserve the resources for use in future years by the camp for forestry and nature purposes. 
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Early Settlers

Most early settlers came to the Windsor area from Connecticut.  How they traveled is not known, but perhaps some came through the dense forests by oxcart and teams, or perhaps some of them walked or rode horses to Buffalo, then came by lake to Cleveland and blazed a trail down into southern Ashtabula County. 

Early records indicate that some of these settlers crossed what is known as Phelps Creek and came onto the farm that is now part of Camp Whitewood and built a log cabin on a site east off Wiswell Road, just north of camp.  This cabin was destroyed by fire, but as late as 1942, remains of an old well could be seen. 

In 1799, George Phelps and family migrated from Connecticut and settled in Windsor Township along Phelps Creek.  His home was apparently on route 534 south of Windsor where an octagon house now stands. 

Warner's Hollow was named after a man by the name of "Warner" who had a carding mill, sawmill, and some people believe, even a woolen mill near the hollow.  These buildings were probably located on land at the eastern end of the hollow.  Information from the 1940's indicate that an old wheel pit could be seen and part of the race that took water from the rocks was evident at the time.  Edward Wiswell came to windsor from Connecticut in 1830 with his brother, James.  They were shoemakers.  Edward settled on Phelps Creek, about 1/2 mile south of Windsor Mills at the present location of 4-H Camp Whitewood.  The Wiswells chose this location because of the hemlock forests of the area.  the hemlock bark was used for tanning leather.  A building, now gone, on the east side of the road across from the camp executive director's property was an original tannery used by the Wiswells.  This building was also a shoe factory and workshop.  The tannery pond remains can still be seen north of camp, it was located just a little south and east of the building. 

Edward Wiswell apparently built two houses on the east side of the road.  Both of these burned, the original on in 1887, the second one somewhat later.  Roland Wiswell, son of Edward, built the large house now used by the 4-H camp on the west side of Wiswell Road.  He cut and seasoned the lumber and completed the home in 1892. 

Another building formerly located on the west side of the road just south of the home but gone, was built in 1839 originally for a school house.  Records suggest, however, that it never had been used for this purpose.  The school was to have been started by Eliza Grizwald Phelps March, the first white child born in Windsor.  However, she died at an early date and there is some question about whether the building was occupied as a school. 

The horse block, now located at the front of the 4-H Camp Director's home, was originally placed on the east side of the road.  This block was made by Augustus Warner, father of Mrs. Roland Wiswell.  He was a stone mason and at on time worked at the quarry in Windsor Mills.  The designs on the horse block have no particular significance and are not considered a coat of arms. 

The Wiswell farm, now owned by 4-H Camp Whitewood, was in the family for over 100 years.  Mr. Tom L. White purchased the property in 1927 and sold to the 4-H Camp Corporation in the early 1960's.  The purchase by the camp was a move to preserve the property for use by 4-H members and other educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service and was made possible through the assistance of Mr. White. 

Christ Episcopal Church, located on US route 322 north of camp, was first organized in March 1817.  The church was completed and consecrated on October 1, 1833.  After many years of decay and use as a farm building, the church was purchased by the Ashtabula County Historical Society, restored by them, and is viewed by 4-H campers and other people as one of the outstanding historical sites in the area. 

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Updated: March 2005