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In 1972, the Illinois Synod of the Lutheran Church of America voted to purchase this property from the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA used this property as a primitive camp site for several of their programs. Prior to their ownership of this land, this acreage was used as a dairy and pig farm by the Barber Family and is still remembered as such by many local residents. Evidence of the previous operation of this property is still utilized by LOMC staff to teach about the benefits the terrain offered to the survival of a family before modern technology. This evidence exists in the form of an old silo, our Drama Drum, the Pole Barn, the Art Barn, the foundation in Milk House Ravine and many others. In fact, the current Administration Building was the main residence of the Barber Family. Hillside also has a long history, .

LOMC is the product of the merging of Camp Alpine, near Richmond, Ill., and Camp Augustana at Lake Geneva, Wis. The service and knowledge these two camps offered were incorporated into our present facility and continue to provide a positive Christian experience here at LOMC. The construction of our year-round retreat facility did not actually begin until February of 1974.

A nationally-known consultant provided recommendations to create most of the facility we now know as LOMC. Because of spiraling construction costs, some of the initial plans were amended and building was not completed until June 1, 1975. Since 1975, improvements and additions have been made, including the addition of a 7.5-acre pond in the ’79-’80, which still provides pond studies, canoeing, sailing, fishing and many other activities. The Administration Building has been renovated to provide office space and a health Center.

In 1988, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America was formed, and LOMC began operating under a board of directors consisting of members from the four governing ELCA Synods; Metro Chicago, Central/Southern, Northern Illinois and Central States (Missouri/Kansas). Being the only camp serving the ELCA in Illinois, LOMC has the capacity to serve almost 20,000 people through their on- and off-site programs through its year-round, mobile programming.

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