The History of Mound Ridge
This is a Holy Place. It has been sanctified by the people who have gone before, and by those who visit it now.

In the late Woodland Period, a group of prehistoric people, presently called the Meramec Indians, lived in the caves and cliffs along the river. The two low mounds on the property near the camp entrance may have been their work. Other Indian tribes who have lived here or briefly passed through include the Osage, Kickapoo, Choctaw, Quapaw and Chippewa. The summer cabins bear their names.

Then there were the fur traders and French miners. Fast forward to the Louisiana Purchase in 1804 when these lands became part of the United States. Forty-five years later, in 1849, with dreams of a transcontinental railroad, the US government gave thousands of acres, including those where Mound Ridge stands, to the State of Missouri as the source of funds and right-of-way for construction of the Pacific Railroad. Several post-Civil War title documents, which are at the Crawford County courthouse, bear the signatures of Gen. John C. Fremont, the “Pathfinder”, and his wife Jessie Benton Fremont.

For the next 70 years, the 370.5 acre Mound Ridge tract was the source of railroad ties and other lumber products. Then, in 1920, the Mound Ridge property was purchased by Fritz Hueppner and his wife Evelyn. Over the next 10 years, Mr. Hueppner, assisted by talented labor including several Italian stonemasons, constructed the older buildings such as the Lodge and the handsome walks and walls. The H over the front door of the Lodge stands for Hueppner.

Mr. Hueppner died in 1930 and was buried in a small cemetery adjacent to the camp, though no stone has yet been located. (His young wife went back east and subsequently remarried a Mister Del Porte. Their grandson visited Mound Ridge several years ago.) The property was then purchased by Mr. Hugo Wurdack, a wealthy St. Louisan, who used it as a getaway farm with crops, cattle and orchards. In 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Wurdack gave Mound Ridge to the Presbytery of St. Louis for use as a summer camp. In the ensuing years, the Presbytery built the present chapel/recreation hall, dining room and kitchen, swimming pool and summer cabins. Several smaller buildings and the barn were demolished to save maintenance expenses. For many years, well into the early 1980’s, Mound Ridge was a popular and well used summer camp and place for weekend retreats by the Presbytery’s churches. Grownups frequently tell those of us currently involved of the great memories they had of periods spent at Mound Ridge and the importance it played in their later Christian life. But times, values and priorities changed and by the mid-1980’s, the camp had started to show a lack of attention to care and maintenance, which was reflected in the falling use by the churches. In 1989, the Presbytery even considered disposing of the property. That is when God moved in His own mysterious way. Newly elected members of the Presbytery’s Outdoor Ministry Committee accepted the challenge, sought help from outdoor experts, including consultants from the National church’s Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center Associates (PCCCA). They recommended a 10 year respite of any disposal action to be used as a recovery period for the outdoor ministry program. This was approved and the effort began and has never stopped.

Volunteers were enlisted to repair roofs and utilities, paint inside and out, repair electric and water service, upgrade the landscaping and build new bunks, among many other tasks. Willing workers were found not only from our own churches, but from churches many miles away. At the same time, every effort was made to improve the programs offered and to better market the Mound Ridge product.

Over the past three years, the Outdoor Ministry Committee conducted a very successful capital fund raising program, the New Millennium Fund project. Over $225,000 was raised from our churches, Friends of Mound Ridge and several foundations. The funds raised provided for a new Chapel in the Woods, two modern Conference Rooms, two bathrooms with access for the physically challenged, and separate bathrooms for each of the Lodge’s six sleeping rooms. An attractive Plaza area in front of the new conference building and new nature cabin is scheduled for completion in April 2005.

Here we are today, proudly showing off YOUR Presbytery’s outdoor ministry mission facility—Mound Ridge Camp and Retreat Center.

Above from remarks made by Jim Meanor and Wally Diboll at the Open House for Seniors from throughout the Presbytery, held at Mound Ridge on October 21, 2004.