History

• 2014 June - Formation of the Richfield Joint Recreation District between Richfield Township and Richfield Village for purpose of acquiring Crowell Hilaka
• 2014  April - Buckeye Trail Association pledges $33,600 for preservation & public access 
  
• 2014  March - Conservancy extension granted from GSNEO until November of 2014
  
• 2013  December -  Richfield Village Council asks if the Conservancy can request a contract extension from GSNEO
• 2013 – October 20  FoCH hosts Crowell Hilaka Open House with Conservancy sponsorship 
• 2013 – October 1   Richfield Village endorses FoCH purchase of Crowell Hilaka
  
• 2013 -  Sept 19   Richfield Township endorses FoCH purchase of Crowell Hilaka
• 2013 - September Richfield Historical Society endorses FoCH purchase of Crowell Hilaka
• 2013 – August 30 FoCH launches publicity / fund-raising campaign
• 2013 -  August 27  FoCH meets with the Conservancy.   Funds in excess of $4,000,000 are needed to secure the purchase of the property from GSNEO - when contract expires between the Conservancy and GSNEO in November 2013.
• 2013 - June - GSNEO announces Western Reserve Land Conservancy withdrawal from purchase agreement for Camp Lejnar.   This prompts questions about the Conservancy’s contract for Crowell Hilaka.
  
• 2012 – September: Members protest a council-sponsored closing ceremony.
• 2012 - July: GSNEO announces purchase agreement with Western Reserve Land Conservancy
• 2011 – GSNEO Board of Directors announces it will sell Camp Crowell/Hilaka along with four other camps.  Members organize to protest.  Camp is closed as of December 2011.
• 2009 – GSNEO Board of  Directors organizes the Vision 2012 committee to evaluate all the camps in the council. Survey results
• 2009 – The Friends of Crowell-Hilaka group is formed to try to stop the closure of such a time-honored and well-loved facility.
• 2007 – Merger of Lake Erie, Western Reserve, Erie Shores, Lake To River and Great Trails Councils to form Girl Scouts of  North East Ohio
• 2005 – All horses are sold.
• 2003 - first Cadette/Senior Summit
• 2000 – Last summer of resident camp at Crowell-Hilaka
• 1995 – Camp Margaret Bates closes, forcing constituents to move to Crowell/Hilaka
• 1983 – GSLEC hires landscape architects Knight and Stolar to create a master plan for Camps Crowell Hilaka and Lejnar
• 1980s – Resident Camp returns due to a sudden surge in interest, and Camp Crowell-Hilaka has returned to its former popularity
• 1979 – Resident camp at Camp Crowell – Hilaka is suspended due to low enrollment.
• 1976 – Doodle-le-Doo
• 1967 - New construction is completed at Camp Hilaka; the major additions included "George Gund Hall," "Louis D. Beaumont Pool," Chagrin Cabin," eight other units and a water system and sanitation plant.  Resident camping expands.
• 1967  - March 15th – Pipeline right of way granted to East Ohio Gas Company.  A  thirty-foot strip of meadow is maintained across the width of the camp and is known as the “gas cut”.
  
• 1963-1966 – Camp Hilaka expansion project is underway
• 1960 - June 12th – The new land is opened to campers and named "Camp Hilaka" for the Lake Linnea, or the "High Lake."
• 1960s – Senior Roundups
• 1960 – "Hi Lea Shelter" dedicated to Sallie Louise Parker, a young girl who tragically lost her life during a terrible storm the previous summer at camp.
• 1958 - May 18th  – "Mable Smith Shelter" dedicated in honor of Mable Smith, a beloved 10-year council staff member.
• 1957 – Cleveland Council purchases the 93 acres of land adjoining Camp Julia Crowell and brings the total property to 336 acres.
• 1950s – Camp programs expand
• 1949 – "Hilltop House" was built and became the first winterized cabin at Camp Julia Crowell.
• 1943 – Camp Julia Crowell is among the first in the state to allow African-American girls for summer resident camp.
• 1937 - Aug 17th – The home built by James Kirby was dedicated as "Kirby House."
• 1937 - Aug 9th – The recreation hall on the property was named "Garfield Hall" in honor of Eleanor Garfield.
• 1937 - June 20th – The camp is opened and dedicated to Julia Crowell, the first commissioner of the Cleveland Council. The property is now known as "Camp Julia Crowell."
• 1937 – Girl Scout families and supporters donate the money to purchase the Kirby estate.
  
• 1936 - Kirby agrees to sell estate to Cleveland Girl Scout Council
• 1936:  Amity House built by Herbert and Helen Neal
• 1920s and 30s:  Kirbys buy the adjoining farms.  Family and friends often visit the beautiful property. 
• 1928:  North House and Coach House built by Clarence and Clara Neal
• 1924:  Upper Lake created.
• 1923: Garfield Hall built
• 1921: Lake is patented
• 1920: Kirby House & dam built
• 1919: Kirbys purchase the Oviatt farm
• 1900: Area families occasionally find gold from the hidden stash of counterfeiter Dan Brown
• 1863:  Milton R. and Ruth Oviatt Freeman buy the western part of Nathaniel Oviatt's farm.
• 1856, March 14: The Great Sleigh Ride
• 1850:  Mason Oviatt dies in California while prospecting for gold
• 1836: Mason and Fanny Oviatt build their home on what is now Oviatt Road near Route 303.
  
• 1818, December 24: The Great Hinckley Hunt, followed by The Great Christmas Barbeque
• 1811:  Heman Oviatt purchases northwest quadrant of Richfield from Captain Benjamin Tallmadge
  
• 1795 : land opened to white settlers through the Connecticut Land Company