Remembering Our History
The idea for a camp meeting for the New England Convention of Christian Churches came early in 1871 when a committee was appointed to find a suitable site. Rev. Elisha Perry, a Christian Connection minister from Bristol who had served as a Civil War chaplain, RI made the initial contact on behalf of his brothers John and Horatio of Providence and Fred, of Barnstable and their wives. The committee visited the site and chose a 160-acre tract lying at the head of the bay between Centerville and Hyannis known as Strawberry or Christian Grove Hill. It was easily accessible by what was then known as the Old Colony Railroad, which connected it to Boston and all New England points.
The site was sold to the newly-formed Christian Camp Meeting Association with the condition that if the CCMA failed “for any three consecutive years to hold its Annual Camp Meeting as provided in its Constitution on record in Barnstable County Records, then Christian Hill Grove, as above described, and all the above named lots not improved by building thereon, worth less than $100 on each lot shall revert to the grantors etc. who shall enter and take peaceable possession of same.”
The Perry brothers saw its value as a camp meeting and vacation community and had it surveyed and a map prepared, giving a site for a meeting tent, and showing parks (Central Park, now the Green and Prospect Park, now the Bluff), and streets and building lots, all laid out conveniently and attractively
On Tuesday, May 28, 1872, the Barnstable Patriot reported: ”A Providence gentleman, a member of the Christian denomination, has recently purchased "Strawberry Hill," in Centreville, embracing about 160 acres, bordering upon the beach, embracing a fine bluff, a series of ponds only separating it from the Hyannis purchase. It is a very beautiful locality, just adapted for summer residences or for Camp-Meeting purposes. We learn that the purchaser has offered it to the Christian churches for their use, and it is expected that the first meeting will be held during the first week in August. In fact, preparations for it have already been partially perfected. Invitations am to be sent to the Christian churches throughout New England, and members of all denominations will be welcomed to the meeting…. The proprietor offers to give a lot to every clergyman who will build a cottage or tent and will sell at reasonable rates to others. The use of a mammoth tent for lodging, and for religious services in bad weather, have been secured. A petition, signed by some sixty citizens of Centreville, has been presented the Selectmen praying that a road be laid out to the grove, which request, we trust, will be promptly complied with. We should, as a town and as individuals, promptly second any and all movements which can possibly tend to advance the interests of our villages.
Adapted from Barnstable Patriot and “Reminiscences” by Martyn Summerbell, The Craigville Visitor, August 1, 1925