July 2024

The next community event will be on Saturday July 6th at the Conservancy Yard. The Fourth of July Parade/Cruise will start at 10AM (meet in the meadow) followed by the Fireman’s BBQ fundraiser from Noon to 3PM at the Conservancy Yard. Also, on July 20 is the Corn Roast. Plan to attend this event at the Conservancy Yard. Check fliers for details. The Camp Nelson Mountain Festival will be August 3 & 4. The Mountain Treasures Sale & Chili Cook-off is on August 17, 10AM on the Pierpoint Patio. The Camp Nelson Luau will be on September 7th.
In 1904 the U.S. Bureau of Forestry (renamed U.S. Forest Service in 1905) opened the Soda Springs Campground at the Tule River 1.5 miles beyond Mr. Nelson’s Camp. The campground was renamed Belknap Campground after a homesteader that had a compound on the creek upstream from the confluence the creek (now named Belknap Creek) and the Tule River. His proper homestead paperwork was not submitted and the property went back to USFS. In 1915 the Occupancy Permit Act of Congress made Forest Service land available for recreational resident lots along the Tule River. Twenty Five lots were surveyed next to Belknap Campground along the river on the upstream side. This small area was named McIntyre Tract. The first permittee was D.R. Lightner in 1921. (The USFS permit fee for a one year lease was $5). Roy and Gladys Lightner chose Lot 21 which is near a large fallen Sequoia Tree that bridges the river. The log which remains there today had been left by loggers to pass across the river. Next to lot 21 a small spring that came from the South uphill ridge entered the river. That spring was used as a water source and a redwood tank was built uphill behind the lots to store water. Pipes brought water to residents by way of a gravity-fed head-pressure system. It was common to see tent camping during the summer along McIntyre Tract by the early permittees before they started building cabins in the mid-late 1920s.
Exciting improvements, expansion and projects are planned for 2024 at the conservancy yard and meadow. We have already started preparing our new parcel of land adjoining the conservancy yard by moving fences and a storage shed, as well as bringing fill dirt to level-out the new lot. The Conservancy will expand the grass lawn and infrastructure behind the Conservancy Museum and a couple of structures (including public bathrooms) are in the planning stages.
The Meadow Trail begins at the gate by Nelson Drive and Smith Drive. Go inside the gate and follow the signs around the meadow for a half mile stroll. There is a bench at the high side of the trail for your comfort.
The JMNC Live Streaming Webcams with views of the meadow and conservancy yard can be accessed on the Conservancy website.
We invite you to check the current weather conditions in real time by using the Weather Underground app on your smart phone or go to www.wunderground.com on your computer. Our station’s designation is “KCACAMPN10”.
The Camp Nelson RV Park is open. If you have friends or relatives that enjoy RVing/camping, invite them to make their reservations for the upcoming months. Call 559.542.2471 for information. The USFS Belknap, Coy Flat, Quaking Aspen and Peppermint campgrounds are open now; reservations are required.
Visit our website to volunteer, make a donation, read the monthly Conservancy Article, buy a memorial brick, or purchase a copy of “The Tule River Middle Fork and its People” written by Malcolm Sillars. Read about the Tule River communities on the middle fork and see for yourself the history of this wonderful mountain home for many people. Here is an excerpt from Chapter Eight of the book for your enjoyment:
Chapter Eight; Nellie Marshall, Les Bailey and Cedar Slope.
“In 1947 the first water system was installed. It was incorporated as the CEDAR SLOPE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY, the owners of each lot owned one share. There was an annual meeting of shareholders, an election of a Board of Directors with a President, Vice President, and
Secretary\Treasurer. Not surprisingly, Bailey was the first Board President, Fred Hopkins, Vice President, and Ruth Bailey, Secretary\Treasurer. Water rates were $15 per cabin per year. In the early years, the board members and volunteers did the work on the system. An assessment system was later set up; and still later, the work was contracted out. The position of Secretary\Treasurer has become a paid position as has the person(s) hired to patrol and maintain the water system. These two positions have most recently, and for the longest tenure, been filled by Saralta Koury (who retired in 2007) as Secretary\Treasurer, and Ed and Shirley Black as water masters.” Page 118.
As members of the conservancy, our common interests include the Meadow, Conservancy Yard, buildings and the RV Park. It takes the dedication of volunteers who serve willingly to insure that we preserve and maintain these areas for the enjoyment and use of the community and visitors. Thank you to everyone that continuously serves. If you are interested in helping, contact any JMNC Board Member.
Such purposes for why our corporation was organized are to acquire, preserve and maintain for public enjoyment those natural and historic features of the Upper Tule Region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We work closely with the Communities of the Giant Sequoias, the Volunteer Fire Department, Camp Nelson Ambulance Association, Camp Nelson Women’s Club, Camp Nelson Chapel and the local businesses to promote the communities. Please support your Conservancy and Museum. Donations from community members are one of our sources of funds. The John M. Nelson Conservancy is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation and your donations are tax deductible. We want to express our sincere thanks to all those who have donated to the Conservancy and thank you for your continued support. You may send your contribution to 801 Highway 190, Box 110, Springville, CA 93265 or log-on to the JMNC website. Thank you.
For more current information and events, you can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jmnconservancy
We invite you to attend our monthly Board meetings on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00AM in the Conservancy building; 388 Smith Drive, Camp Nelson. The next meeting will be
July 13th.

Mailing Address is; 801 Hwy 190, Box 110, Springville, CA 93265
Respectfully Submitted, (July 2024)
Dan McFadzean, Director; JMNC
Email; mcfadzeand@yahoo.com phone.661.978.4679