During the summer of 1909, the South Bend YMCA rented the beach area at Corey Lake,
near Three Rivers, Michigan, for use as a temporary camp for about ten
campers, under the direction of B.B. Brady of the YMCA. Tents were used for
sleeping and cooking and were lined up on "Tent Street." (Tent Street is still the
name of the road that runs along the waterfront.)
One of the boys who fell in love with the camp was the only son of the well-known
Eberhart family of Mishawaka, Indiana - Harris Hurlburt Eberhart. Since his
parents were planning to make a sizable contribution toward establishing a permanent
campsite, the camp became known that summer, unofficially, as Camp Eberhart.
On July 24, 1909, Harris Eberhart died in a car accident. We are told that Harris
made a map of how he would have liked the camp to look, and it was
found among his belongings following the accident. His parents decided to
make their son's dream come true, and on September 30 of that year the Eberhart's
officially made a donation of $7,500 to the South Bend YMCA to purchase
the site, an additional ten acres, and for the construction of a lodge and other
buildings Harris had outlined.
Before the next summer's season, The Lodge, now called Obenchain, was
completed and contained a large dining room, kitchen, store, library, bank, post office
and six guest rooms upstairs. 
A boathouse, built in the same style as the Lodge,
was built on the beach, and a cook's cabin was put up behind the Lodge. Cement
floors were laid for the tents (each sleeping eight on double deck canvas bunks)
on Tent Street. An ice house had been in use since the winter, and tennis courts,
croquet grounds, and a baseball diamond were ready for use by the 1910 season.
July 4, 1910 was the official dedication of Camp Eberhart, featuring a specially
chartered train from South Bend to bring up guests. On hand to deliver the
dedication address was DePauw College President Dr. F. J. McConnel from
Greencastle. Frank H. Cheley, Boy's Work Director for the YMCA and later author
of The Three Rivers Kids (1914), became the camp's first director that summer.
A total of 64 boys attended in the first real season, occupied with a
program of rowing (in 15 new steel boats), fishing, swimming, hiking,
nature study, campfires, Bible study, and an optional tutoring program for grades 5-1.
Campers who came by train got off at the old Corey Station, which stood next to
the Bait Shop to the right of M-60 across from the turn onto Corey Lake Road.
The station was operational until the mid-thirties, and George Knevel hauled
campers and their bags to Camp from the station. He also attended all the early
campfires and was the one who told camp stories of the area.
In the spring of 1911, George Arlo Cooper arrived from North Dakota as
Assistant Physical Director of the South Bend YMCA and soon became one of Cheley's
right-hand men at camp. Cheley, who lived in the cabin "White Pigeon" upon its completion,
was nicknamed "Chief," while Cooper became known as "Coop."
The 1912 season was the first to hold Young Ladies Camp, with 25 girls in attendance.
At first, the Eberhart's didn't want anything changed from Harris's original plan,
so until the family settled with both the deaths of Harris and his father - a period of
about 10 years - no major changes were made.
The 1924-25 seasons saw the introduction of wooden cabins replacing the 14 tents,
and by the late twenties, programs such as riflery, archery, crafts, riding,
woodcraft, and canoeing were added with sailing and photography soon afterwards.
When camp began, there weren't many trees in many areas, especially around
the hill in front of the Lodge. Over 100,000 have been planted since 1910.
In 1931, Dave Warner, a 16 year old camper, died as he dove towards the
shore from Coop's Tower. Dave's House was then given by his parents, and was
equipped with a piano, a Victrola, four chess and checker tables, three
ping-pong tables, indoor polo, and shuffleboard. Dave's House is still used today for all
camp meetings and houses the Water Skiing and Photography Programs. Recently
the Camp Alumni Association refurbished the fire place so it can be used again.
Previously, the Camp Fire Circle was located on the Point.
When the present stone cabins were erected in 1948-1951, including Morris Lodge,
the wood cabins
on Tent Street were used to make other buildings and many
were moved to create Pioneer Camp. These are now gone. This period has
been considered by some to be the camp's most progressive up to that time
with 120 acres (EB now has 128) and 43 buildings. It was around this time
that Camp started to become known as "EB," while previously its nickname had been
"Coop's Camp."
In 1971, a new dining hall was constructed, complete with winterization
facilities for meetings. A new maintenance building was added in 1976. Eberhart's fall, winter
and spring capability was further extended in 1978 and 1979 with the
winterization of three high road stone cabins. A winterized bathroom was built in 1978 to
replace the old Powder Room.
The 1970's saw the growth of outdoor education as fifth and sixth graders came
to Eberhart for three to five days with their teachers to learn nature and outdoor
skills. In 1976, Camp Eberhart became co-ed for the entire summer.
In 1986, a new, modern infirmary was built from the Say Yes, Baker Memorial, and Cooper
Memorial funds. It was developed both as a year-round facility for 20
overnight guests and as a summer camp infirmary.
O'Brien Leadership Hill was refurbished and the Ropes course was added in
1996-97. Units 19, 20 and 21, along with a bathroom, were completely
rebuilt. All this construction was made possible thanks to the
support of the John O'Brien family of South Bend, IN. When John,
a long time supporter of camp died, his family donated the funds
to refurbish the entire hill complex.
