Traditions in the Making
On August 7, 1913, at the beginning of the second leadership conference, an official dedication was held for Asilomar.
The following appears in the Monterey American, August 8, 1913: Fully two thousand people gathered yesterday to witness the huge pageant play presented by the young women of the YWCA at their new grounds. The whole affair was a most vivid true and living symbol of exactly the lines of Christian work the young ladies are attempting to accomplish toward the betterment of the world so that the general public can understand and appreciate its wide scope and tremendous value.
In 1916, Ellen Browning Scripps visited Asilomar and purchased an additional 20 acres for the facility. As donations continued, more buildings and structures were completed, and by 1921, Asilomar was able to accommodate 500 people, and was open year-round to religious groups, college conferences and women's training courses. (Back then, conferences rates were $5.00 for registration, and $3.00 to $7.50 per night for room, depending on private bath facilities.)
Although outside groups were encouraged and welcomed to use the conference grounds, the summers belonged primarily to the YWCA for their leadership conferences and Girl Reserves summer camp. College women and men from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and California worked as summer staff. The college women were called "Stuck-ups," and the men were called "Pirates."
Glory Days | The Stuck-Ups | The Pirates | End of an Era | Park Purchase