Introducing Hiram House Today
Welcome to the Inaugural Edition of our new, quarterly newsletter called Hiram House Today. The ‘recipe’ for Hiram House Today is a simple one: a dash of the past, a pinch of the present, with a heaping helping of the future mixed in for good measure. The finished product is designed to keep you, the Hiram House family, fully informed about what’s happening at our great facility throughout the year. We hope you enjoy Hiram House Today. |
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Trustee
Harvey Hopson Honored
Hiram House Trustee Colonel Harvey A. Hopson
, Jr., was recently honored by Baldwin-Wallace College with its Alumni Merit Award, one of only seven alumni so recognized this year.
In his duties as Chief Defense Counsel of the United States Marine Corps, Hopson is responsible for the training, supervision and development of all Marine defense counsels worldwide. A 1969 graduate of B-W, Hopson was cited “for his exemplary career in the judicial branch of the military, for his mentoring of African-American servicemen and for his loyal service to his country.”
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Hiram House has historically had a profoundly positive impact on those who visit. Here’s what two parents recently had to say about the Hiram House Experience.
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“. . .Truly I am grateful for the summer camp
experience that was enjoyed by my children. My two foster children were able to attend through funding by Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services. My two biological children receive a generous grant to cover their tuition. Needless to say, without this grant, my children would not have been able to attend. . . Many thanks to your sponsors whose contributions were a financial blessing to us. The camp experience was enjoyed by all children, they spoke highly of the counselors and the food served. We look forward to another exciting camp experience in 2000. . . All of my children say HIRAM HOUSE CAMP IS THE “BOMB.”
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“To Hiram House Camp and everyone that works so hard to make it what it is – THANK YOU! Hiram House is so “Old School.” Traditional values, and morals are taught and expected. . .The campers are encouraged to be the best they can be and are respected as individuals. . . It’s a different world (at Hiram House) and HHC brings back nature, friendship and family in a modern world that pushes aside these crucial elements needed to raise healthy, happy children.”
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Trustee Profile
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| Bob Bingham |
If it wasn’t for a fateful meeting of a young man and a young woman at Hiram House Camp some 85 years ago, long-time Hiram House Trustee Robert E. Bingham may have never become involved with the camp. Indeed, without that chance encounter . . . there may have never even been a Bob Bingham.
You see, back in 1913, Robert Fry Bingham and Edna May Koppenhafer found themselves both volunteering at the same place – Hiram House Camp. They met, eventually fell in love and got married. Five years after that first meeting, Bob Bingham was born, beginning a life which would couple a stellar legal career with a long record of involvement with countless community organizations, such as Hiram House.
“You could say I inherited my interest in Hiram House. After all, my parents met there, and my father was a trustee as well,” said Bingham, a trustee since 1950. “The work being done at Hiram House Camp is very important for all children, especially inner-city children, by giving them an opportunity to have both a fun, and educational experience in healthy, outdoor surroundings.”
After earning his law degree from Harvard University, Bingham became an Associate and Partner at the law firm of Thompson, Hine & Flory where he served for more than 30 years. Bingham has also served at Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell, Co., L.P.A. for 15 years and, since 1992, he has served “Of Counsel” at the law firm of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur.
Bingham has chaired such organizations as the local American Red Cross Chapter, the Cleveland Area Church Federation, the Cleveland Health Education Museum and the Cleveland Mental Health Association. Bingham has also been a trustee of University Circle, Inc., the Boy Scouts of America, the Golden Age Centers and the Eliza Bryant Center. He has also long been involved with Judson Retirement Community, where he now resides, as a trustee and chair of its Planned Giving Committee.
But of all the organizations with which he has been involved, a special place in Bob Bingham’s heart belongs to Hiram House Camp – after all, it’s where the Bob Bingham story truly began. |
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Hiram House Today
A Look Back – And Ahead
By Russell R. Grundke – Executive Director
The 20th Century is coming to a rapid close, and The Hiram House is looking forward to its second century of operation serving the youth of Greater Cleveland.
The second millennium is expected to present The Hiram House with new ideas, opportunities, and, most of all, a 21st Century camp that will meet the needs of our youth as their future evolves. At this time a positive future for Greater Cleveland’s youth is being questioned. The 20th Century created problems that were not expected. These unexpected social concerns have caused Hiram House to review its philosophy, programs and facilities, in-depth. This review and analysis prompted The Hiram House Board of Trustees to design a new camp that will meet the current and future needs of our youth.
The Hiram House philosophy, mission statement and goals will not change. The changes will be physical ones – with new buildings, facilities and program areas constructed through the help of the Greater Cleveland Community. Our new 21st Century camp will be designed to bring youth of different socio-economic backgrounds and cultures together in an atmosphere that is nurturing and positive.
This undertaking is going to be a major task. Foundations, corporations and individuals will be asked to contribute funds, ideas and effort. I’m confident that with the understanding and cooperation of Hiram House’s many supporters and friends, this project will become a reality for the youth it serves. Thank you for your past and continued support. |
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Creating A New
Facility for the
New Millennium
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Since its beginnings in 1896, Hiram House Camp has earned a well-deserved reputation as a pioneer in providing outdoor experiences and educational programs for countless thousands of children of all races, ethnic origins and economic backgrounds.
But, as the new millennium nears, a growing set of new life challenges, more daunting than ever, will face the youth of tomorrow.
And, for Hiram House Camp to successfully continue to play a vital role in helping young people meet these new challenges, its facilit
ies and programming need to move forward into the next century as well.
Introducing Hiram House 2000 – a bold, comprehensive, multi-faceted plan to develop updated, state-of-the-art facilities and programming, all with just one goal in mind: helping children succeed in the dynamic world of the 21st century.
The blueprint for Hiram House 2000 is a comprehensive Master Plan created through a grant from The Cleveland Foundation. To make the plan a reality, Hiram House officials hope to raise nearly $5 million during a major two-year fundraising campaign. Members of the Board of Trustees serving on the project overview committee include Board President Bob Benedict, Kevin Barnes, John Barrett, John Fulton, John B. Hollister, Jr. and Harvey Schach.
Initial plans for Hiram House 2000 include the following key facility and program components:
• Renovation of all living quarters
• Outdoor education classrooms
• New dining hall
• Multi-purpose building
• Conference center
• New equestrian center
• Renovation of the outdoor swimming pool
• A variety of other new programs and facilities
As the fundraising effort to support Hiram House 2000 moves full speed ahead, and parts of the plan move from concept into reality during the upcoming months, look for news about the latest developments in your quarterly Hiram House Today newsletter. |
Hiram House. . . Yesterday
“Why A History?” |
For years Santa Claus visited Hiram House,
leaving from 1,500 to 2,000 boxes of candy.
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How many of us remember that Hiram House was the first “settlement house” in Ohio? Or – a little harder question – what was a settlement house?
“Philosophy of a Settlement –
service in the form of neighborhood leadership; service on the part of those to whom great advantages have been given in behalf of those to whom greater advantages have been denied. . . service, not charity.” Settlements and Their Outlook, 1922.
When Hiram House Founder George Bellamy started at Hiram College in the fall of 1892, he brought with him his entire savings of $90. His father had given him another $25 and a generous friend added another $20. George still had to work to meet college expenses, so he sold everything from pencils to sewing machines. Yet he knew he had great advantages compared to the majority of his neighbors. And his idea for the first settlement house in Ohio began.
Why a history? History chronicles our journey to the present and helps plot a successful path to the future.
As Hiram House begins its second century, we need to look back and re-examine George Bellamy’s humble dream. That’s why, as part of the Hiram House 2000 campaign, we are preparing a 48-page history of Hiram House. The story is locked in piles of scrapbooks, boxes of photo albums, theses written in 1935 and 1977, bound volumes of reports and issues of “The Hiram House Life. . . a Bi-monthly Record of Life and Service at Hiram House,” (50 cents a year) and even more archives held by The Western Reserve Historical Society.
Bellamy’s idea has illuminated the lives of thousands in its first 103 years. The eyes he looked into, the ones we see in the photo on this page, reflect the same need we see today at Hiram House Camp.
Watch for more glimpses into the history of Hiram House Camp as a regular feature of future editions of Hiram House Today. |
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
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Not even rain-soaked grounds and threatening skies could dampen the fun of the huge crowds taking part in Hiram House Camp’s Annual Pumpkin Festival Sunday, October 10.
The phrase “there was something for everybody” was never so true as at this year’s event. Kids were able to zoom around the neighborhood in a “rocket ship,” have
the daylights scared out of them at a haunted cabin, make their own fashion statement by getting their faces painted and even take a trip into the past by dipping candles like in frontier times.
As always, no one left the Pumpkin Festival with an empty stomach, as pancakes and sausages, burgers and dogs, pizza, even barbecue ribs from the Outback Steakhouse and
much more were on hand to tempt the taste buds.
Proceeds of the Pumpkin Festival benefit Hiram House Campership Funds which provide a life-enriching summer experience for children of all backgrounds.
The event also featured the dedication of Hiram House Camp’s newest facility, the Evelyn Hansen Ward Environmental Interpretive Center and Weather Station. The
facility, named after the long-time Hiram House supporter and volunteer who passed away in 1998, is located in a building which previously housed animals.
The renovated facility, which features a variety of hands-on projects for children to learn about many facets of nature, including a computerized weather station, will be a focal point of Hiram House Camp’s comprehensive educational programming for years to come. |
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For previous news issues, return to our archive page.
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