Camp Wells opened in 1922 by the Wells Foundation and the vestry of St. Mark’s Church (located in Minneapolis on Loring Park) as a heathy and spacious place for children to learn and play. The church decided to dedicate their Easter offerings to the purchase of the land but generous donations that year resulted in $15,000 which was allowed for buildings such as the main lodge which included a dining hall and kitchen facilities.
At full strength the camp could accommodate over 100 children who came for two weeks at a time through the spring and summer. In the 1950’s the counselors included several University of Minnesota foreign exchange students. Altogether the camp operated about 50 years. Boy scouts often had winter camping events at the camp.
Toward the end, it became evident that the combined development around the camp and the need for major repairs and maintenance work and declining revenues dictated that a fateful decisions be made to sell the property in the early 1970’s.
My family were caretakers of Camp Wells. My grandparents Henry and Annie Anderson started in around 1952, my parents Cal and Dorothy Hinrichs until round 1967, Robert and Norma Hinrichs for a couple years until it was sold and became Tracy’s Super Club and Campground.
The swimming beach 
Swimming lessons were part of camp 
The swimming beach 
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