The Camp Lawrence grounds were purchased in 1957 by Monsignor Lawrence Grothouse. Msgr. Grothouse -- who was involved in Camp Wawasee in Warsaw, IN -- had a vision for a camp for children and borrowed the money for his dream from his mother. The purchase was about half the size of the present camp facility.

At the time of the initial purchase, Msgr. Grothouse had rights to about half of the lake that people swim and fish. This lake is called Moss Lake. Today, a second lake is part of the camp as well: Deep Lake. Both lakes are "kettle lakes." That is, they are lakes that have been formed by the glaciers that carved our this part of our country.

When Msgr. Grothouse purchased the property, Moss Lake was no better than a swamp. Some of his priest-friends referred to the purchase as "Grotties Mud Hole." Needless to say, they did not think that the camp would go far.

However, through diligence, hard work, and an incredible amount of luck, the camp took off.

This happened through two events. First, Bishop Andrew G. Grutka, D.D., the first bishop of the Diocese of Gary, purchased the land from Msgr. Grothouse (so that he could pay his mother back). Second, the grounds, through the permission of Bishop Grutka, became a recreation center for the U.S. Army.

The key person in the development of the property under the Army was General Peter Schmick. Under his watch, five quonset barracks were erected along with a quonset gymnasium. The gymnasium still stands. The former barracks have all been razed when new cabins were built further back of the camp.

The statue (above right) is a monument dedicated to both Msgr. Lawrence T. Grothouse as well as General Peter Schmick.

Bishop Grutka and Msgr. Grothouse were the ones to coin the camp motto: Close to nature, Closer to God. This theme is constantly brought to mind as the property is maintained so that the spirit of the facility will be enjoyed by all those who will still come to visit in the future.