Camp Alexander History

YMCA Camp Alexander, as it is known today, was first visualized in 1940 by John E. Alexander, then president and CEO of the Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, as a summer camp for the newly formed Port Edwards and Nekoosa Boys and Girls Club.

Originally called “Nepco Lake Boys and Girls Clubs Lodge,” the name was shortened to “Nepco Lake Youth Lodge.”  About 25 years later the area was renamed “Camp Alexander” in honor of the man who conceived the plan of a “work for play” summer program for the youth of the area.

The Boys Clubs in Port Edwards and Nekoosa were organized in the summer of 1940, and the Girls Clubs followed in 1941.  Activities included work projects such as an odd-jobs service, a weekly newspaper, and a large garden with participating individuals dividing the earnings.  Afternoons were devoted to baseball, swimming, and other fun activities.

The Clubs were an immediate success, and interested adults working with Mr. Alexander were urged by him to pursue plans for a Lodge.

Land for the original Lodge was contributed by Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, and suitable huge pine and hemlock logs were harvested from company forests.  Footings were poured in the summer of 1940 and construction of the 30 x 50 foot Lodge plus a 16 x 20 foot kitchen wing was under way.

Construction boss of the project was an 84 year old Scandinavian from Upper Michigan known as the “Master Builder of the North.”  He was assisted by a crew of four or five experienced log builders he brought with him.

The Master Builder “eye balled” the shaping of each log so accurately that the logs fit together in a perfect surface-to-surface match.  Countless hours of off-shift and weekend  work by interested fathers contributed  to completion of the project, and the Lodge was ready for campers in the summer of 1940.

No records exist of the names or work hours of the cooperating fathers.  The original group of individuals who worked with Mr. Alexander to organize the Clubs and build the Lodge include: from Port Edwards- Lee Turley, Walter “Shorty” Hinz, Harold Olson, K.O. Rawson, F.G. Kilp, Frank Hegg, and Frank Coldwell.

The Lodge is still considered the gathering place of the “Alexander Community.”

Through the generous donations of Charles and Joanne Lester many improvements and updates have made.  In 2000 YMCA Camp Alexander became winterized with the addition of Lester Hall.  This made it possible to provide year-round camping programs.  Lester Hall is a modern Dining hall with seating for 200 people, a gas fire place, and a beautiful outdoor deck.  This makes it a perfect setting for weddings, parties, reunions, business functions and any other group or special events.   Over the next several years, six modern and winterized cabins have been added.  Cabin amenities include a kitchenette in two of the cabins, 4 cabins sleep 14 in bunk style rooms, heating/air conditioning and 2 restrooms.  The driveway circling around the cabins and Lester Hall has since been titled “Lester Circle.”  Over the past nine years the Lesters have graciously donated over 1 million dollars to camp that has made it the state-of-the-art facility it is today.

YMCA Camp Alexander celebrates the past and looks to the future with a perfect blend of historical and modern facilities.