Fort Caswell - Summer 1963

[@mikemckellop8537]

Thanks for sharing. I went there during the summers of '73 - '76 with my church youth group from Charlotte. The week always went by way too quick. I've been back several times over the last 2-3 years during the off season for a quick visit and boy do the memories come flooding back.

[@charleslassiter9251]

I got the great pleasure to be on the Fort Caswell (N.C.B.A.) for five summers (1977 to 1981). I worked as a beach life guard in 1977, 1980, and 1981. I also worked the "Pot Sink" scrubbing loads of cooking utensils, pans and cleaning the fry-o-lators and changing the lard in them. God's work is hard and fun. My favorite summer was that of 1977, which was my first summer working there. My first summer was also my favorite summer. I have heard other Caswell staffers say that their first summer was also their favorite summer. There is nothing like working at Caswell. It is such a beautiful place and holds a HUGE place in my heart. I am 57 years old now (almost 58). I was 18 years old when I started working at Caswell. I recommend working there for EVERYBODY!!!!! The work can be tough at times--but hey it is like Heaven being there and helping others (the campers that stay for the week--they arrive on Monday and they depart on the following Saturday morning. What special, loving, fantastic, friends forever, singing at Hatch Auditorium, swimming in the great Atlantic Ocean, swimming in the pool, playing basketball in the gym, tennis-------endless Fun and memories forever!!!! I every now and then dream that I have applied back to Caswell and am all super-excited. I get the job and am with great friends talking and enjoying the beautiful landscape and the mighty Cape Fear River (over 4 miles wide at the Caswell pier). I then awaken and find out that it was only a dream. But I for FIVE GREAT SUMMERS got to live that dream. The 1963 8mm movie that Mr. Judson Rotan is a MASTERPIECE!!!!! It really tells the great story that the N.C.B.A. (North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell is pure heaven. May God bless Mr. Rotan for making this great film. It is soooooo good. I love it!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful movie!!!!

[@richardholbrook1514]

1963 was my first summer working at the NC Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell. My older brother had worked the previous 5 summers and we had been coming as campers from our church in Hildebran since 1954. There was no doubt in my mind that working as a summer staffer was how I wanted to spend my summers during high school and college. My first summer I worked in recreation and really enjoyed it. When I got to come back for my second summer, I asked Mr. Smith to let me work there again. WRONG! You didn't ask for such. I wound up working the Pot Sink. Learned a valuable lesson and continued to work in the kitchen for Mr. Cook the following summers as a short order cook while life guarding in the afternoon. Many valuable life lessons learned and friendships made. Can only hope and trust that I made a contribution to the ministry provided at Caswell during those seven summers and the 32 years (1985-2017) I was allowed to serve as the director.

[@seadreamstudio8765]

Great memories! I loved that place! Thank you!

[@beboboymann3823]

Thanks for posting this vid.....brought back many memories. Our youth choir from our church went to Ft. Caswell for a week during the summer of '63 as well for a music ministry which sounded boring when our church signed up for us to go but as it turned outit was a great adventure with so many kids my age to make friends with. We slept in the old military barracks....a big white building with army style bunk beds and no air conditioning but the breeze off the water thru those huge windows made it all comfortable. Most of all, I remember the swimming. We swam in the old round gun turrents that they had pumped sea water into to make swimming pools. We had a blast swimming there. And every day we saw big ships heading in and out of the port of Wilmington and I had never seen them before. Ft. Caswell was a wonderful place for us young kids. The food they served was great and the recreation was memorable.

[@drewhuneycutt4335]

I just went for the first time and the barracks is still the same as you described it and we clicked on forts all fay

[@TheNathanSloan]

Incredible. Thanks for sharing!

[@avahoffer341]

Thanks so much for sharing! Seeing Camp Caswell as it then was brings back so many wonderful memories.

[@RotanCam]

Ava Hoffer My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it. :-)

[@covenantoflegions6825]

I went there three years ago, the fort and cottages look pretty similar... brings back so many memories

[@PurpleHermitcrab]

1:26 so that’s what that rusted metal tube in the middle of the field was

[@arfansthename]

Great! No dislikes!