Ledgewood
Click here for a virtual tour of the camp, researched, photographed, and organized by a Strongsville Girl Scout. It takes a few minutes to download - but is well worth the wait.
History of Camp Ledgewood
From the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens archives:
Charles (Charlie) Willard Seiberling or C.W., who with his brother F.A. (Frank) Seiberling co-founded Goodyear Tire & Rubber. Stan Hywet is the former home of F.A. Seiberling.
Yet Charlie is perhaps best remembered for organizing and financing the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations in Akron, and assisting these organizations in nearby Barberton.
In the early 1930’s Charlie convinced twelve businessmen to pledge $1,000 each to obtain a campsite at Boston Ledges. The Salvation Army constructed roads, and an older lodge was relocated and rebuilt on the new property, which was dubbed “Camp Ledgewood.”
When camp registration needed a boost in 1932, Goodyear donated blimp rides for campers, while Harvey Firestone provided horses and a riding master to instruct the girls in horsemanship.
In 1937 the startup debt for the camp was paid off and Camp Ledgewood built the “C.W. Seiberling Lodge” in recognition of Charlie’s significant and continuing contributions to scouting. Later, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company would donate an activity building to the Girl Scouts of Summit County as a memorial tribute to Charlie.
--Provided by GSNEO member Donna Spiegler
History of Camp Ledgewood
From the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens archives:
Charles (Charlie) Willard Seiberling or C.W., who with his brother F.A. (Frank) Seiberling co-founded Goodyear Tire & Rubber. Stan Hywet is the former home of F.A. Seiberling.
Yet Charlie is perhaps best remembered for organizing and financing the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations in Akron, and assisting these organizations in nearby Barberton.
In the early 1930’s Charlie convinced twelve businessmen to pledge $1,000 each to obtain a campsite at Boston Ledges. The Salvation Army constructed roads, and an older lodge was relocated and rebuilt on the new property, which was dubbed “Camp Ledgewood.”
When camp registration needed a boost in 1932, Goodyear donated blimp rides for campers, while Harvey Firestone provided horses and a riding master to instruct the girls in horsemanship.
In 1937 the startup debt for the camp was paid off and Camp Ledgewood built the “C.W. Seiberling Lodge” in recognition of Charlie’s significant and continuing contributions to scouting. Later, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company would donate an activity building to the Girl Scouts of Summit County as a memorial tribute to Charlie.
--Provided by GSNEO member Donna Spiegler