In the 20th century, as opportunities for travel increased and as the idea of summer vacation became widespread, many Protestant denominations established permanent camps, retreat centers, conference centers, or vacation resorts to provide a wholesome and supportive environment for their members.
These centers were an extension or an elaboration of the Camp Meetings that were a well-established Protestant phenomenon through the 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_meeting
We have seen several postcard stories related to Camp Meeting activities, including the enormous encampments at Ocean Grove and Cape May on the Atlantic Coast.
The Chautauqua Movement had long offered educational, cultural, and artistic activities in scenic spots where the participants could be nourished by the world of Nature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauqua
Most of the denominational centers focused on spiritual and inspirational programming in a beautiful landscape.
(Full disclosure: I enjoyed very much my participation in a church-related camp for several summers of my boyhood years.)
In July of 1938, Ernest was in Ridge Crest, a 900-acre conference center and retreat center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
It is about 15 miles northeast of Asheville.
The handsome resort was begun by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1907; a summer camp for boys was established in 1929.
A summer camp for girls was not offered until 1955, more than 15 years after the postcard was mailed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgecrest,_North_Carolina
Ernest sent a postcard from Ridge Crest to Mrs. J. G. Galigne.
Mrs. Galigne lived in Hammonton, a village in southeast New Jersey called the “Blueberry Capital of the World”.
Hammonton was on a route of the Pennsylvania Railroad that connected Philadelphia to Atlantic City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammonton,_New_Jersey
The face of the postcard shows a quiet gathering of well-dressed vacationers on the veranda of Pritchell Hall – one of the principal buildings of the complex.
Amid tall Ionic columns, the quests relax on wicker rocking chairs.
From this vantage point, the mountain ridges spread far into the distance.
On the reverse, Ernest writes only, “Fine country up here”.
Mrs. Galigne preserved the postcard in very good condition throughout her life.
One hopes that Ernest was inspired by the program at Ridge Crest and that he remained a correspondent of Mrs. Galigne for many years.
