r
Who 0 Camp Rankin?
This is the question that is
baffling many concerned resi­
.dents in the city of Highland
Par •
Earl Wheeler, OWrperson
of the ens Forum in High­
land Par and advocator of
the search says findjng the
answer to the question is easy,
but receiving help ·th prov­
ing it,. frustrating.
"We have. been trying to
proee to the mayor and coun­
cil the city of Highland
Park . the rightful 0 er:
. Wheeler said. "The informa­
tion about the history and
ownership of the park can be
obtained at the city hbrary.·
And a history it has. Camp
Rankin is a 20 acre recreation
par located on Lake Huron,
four miles north of Lexington,
Mimigan.
In 1920 the city of Highland
Par purchased two camp
grounds for the enjoyment of
the citys affluent children.
Responding to the recrea­
tional needs of the com­
munity' disadvantaged
youths, in 1925, a plan to buy
a camp site for poor children
submmited to the city
council by Mrs. Antonio
Rankin.
Three years later, with the
. d from support groups
throughout the city, funds
re raised and the plan be­
came a reality. Today known
as Camp Rankin.
But somehow this history of
--- -
JU E 14 - 20, 1917 THE ICHIGA CITIZEN
rea· en
ownership was lost
According to Earl Wheeler,
"When Blacks came into
po r in Highland Park in the
late 60's, one thing we failed
to do is to look at the history
of a situation. If we could and
can only take the time to
search, e would have known.
But based on the investigation
that the Mens Forum has con­
ducted, there is little doubt as
to who owns Camp Rankin."
STRAWBERRY
FESTIVAL
PLA ED
HIGHlAND PK - The FIrSt
. United Methodist Church,
16300 Woodward, invites the
public to attend its annual
fundraiser, the Strawberry Fes­
tival
The Festival will be held at
the church, Saturday, June 20
from 1 to 3 p.m.
The public is invited
su
•
over ca
Wheeler stated the a group
which calls itself the Camp
Rankin Council is claiming
ownership of this expensive
lake front property. "At one
time they were even leasing
the camp out to the city of
Highland Park." Property that
the city may already own.
ow it has been discovered
that someone wants to buy the
property. ·U the property is
sold, someone stands to make
a nice profit" added Wheeler.
Because of the fact that all
of the founders of the camp
are deceased, doalments must
be presented to council to
prove true ownership.
The ens Forum has ex-
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13546 Woodward
Highland Park
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Detroit
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INVESTIGATIO S
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pressed a deep interest in the
par. ot one of profit, but to
give the camp back its orginal
purpose with a new twist.
"Our young people really
need a place like Camp
Rankin. ot for recreational,
but for a place were they can
go and have rap sessions and
get help for problems they are
having. They need a place
were they can go and get train­
ing. It is sad to see so many
of our young people in trouble
these days. We want to use
the camp as a way of helping
the community," Wheeler said
Wheeler will reques an in­
junction to block the sale of
the Camp Rankin if necessary.
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Ces I
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ighland Park, Mi 48203
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