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A Tour of the Camp
at Four Quarters
These are old, old mountains.
To us, friendly, warm and nurturing. The underlying rock is an
iron rich sandstone, sometimes called "mud stone" by the locals, and layered
through it is the white lime stone of the Shenandoah Valley. The rock foundation of our
hills is heavily eroded, and shows the underlying structure on our exposed cliff faces.
Sidling Creek is one of the most pristine waterways in the
state, and it defines Four Quarters, having cut a deep valley as it meanders through Town
Hill Mountain, making our little valley cool in even the hottest summer weather, and
providing a gentle murmur throughout the camp. Our pride and joy is the Hemlock Hole, some
of the finest natural swimming in the Allegheny Mountains, a scene for many ceremonies and
kids’ water fights.
Because of the creek, the cliffs and the mountain; Four
Quarters exists within a very special ecosystem made up of many micro-ecosystems. Dry
cliff face can turn into verdant river bottom overlooked by grassy hill top meadow; all
within a short walk. In fact we are listed as the single most ecologically valuable parcel
of land in Bedford County by The Western Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy. We are mindful
of this trust.
Sometime in the late 1800's a family
came to farm this land in the gap of Townhill Mountain. They cleared, as farmers do,
developed a spring and built a home. We hope they raised a family here. As agriculture
became industrialized the farms in this area slowly left active production, and by 1970
this little farm lay abandoned. The farm house became a home to winter hunters and year-round
critters.
In 1993, Orren Whiddon first traveled to what would later
become Four Quarters, looking for land that could become a Center for EarthReligion. From
that first visit the very special character of the Land, shaped by the mountain and Sidling
Creek, was apparent. In 1994 he secured contracts of sale for the two separate parcels
that have become Four Quarters; and began the process of installing roads, reinhabiting
the abandoned farm house and preparing for the first Stones Rising in 1995.
Much has happened since that beginning, as Four Quarters
developed into a church and the Land was slowly made more accessible for visitors. Perhaps
we should begin our walking tour with the Farmhouse, home to some of the Church wards, the
main church office and our registration center. In 1994 this building had been abandoned
for over 30 years and lacked any kind of power, plumbing or windows. By the fall of 1995
it had been made weather tight, though still very primitive. For many years all of our
registration were handled from its' front porch. In 2000 a project was begun to excavate
its stone walled cellar and replace all of the rotted first floor. Two years later the
Church moved into its snug new ground floor offices and work could finally begin in
finishing off the interior.
In 1999 the Church purchased its first piece of real
estate, just down the road from the farmhouse; a mobile home on one acre of Land that we
call the "Members Village." It functions as a home to some of our church wards
and as winter-time lodging for Members visiting for Moon Services. The roads turns right
from the Members Village and begins climbing the mountain, passing through a pine copse
(home to an extremely rare Allegheny orchid) and opens to our farmland, currently farmed
by our neighbors, the Conrad family. As the road rises the West side cliffs develop
overlooking Sidling Creek and the road climbs+ until almost a mile later it crest our
mountain ridge. To the south opens a view of Sidling Hill and Town Hill Mountain,
while to the north is our main parking area and the site of our Labyrinth project.
The labyrinth project is our multi year effort to construct
a large walking Labyrinth here on the very top of our ridge and is worth stopping for a
contemplative walk. Just a bit further on we pass the parked cars of our other visitors
and follow the road as it bends sharply to the west and dives into a thick grove of
Hemlock and Pine. This marks the true entrance to the Camp.
Alongside Sidling Creek is our Sweat Lodge site, where we
maintain two lodges, for eclectic and traditional sweats.
The lodge area is screened by evergreens from the camp
access road and is provided with a small public warming fire and seating area,
equipped with benches, towel and clothing racks.
Respect for the traditions of Sweat Lodge is an important
tradition at Four Quarters. Our lodge site is maintained by Lodge Staff as a commitment of
service to our Community.
Drum and Fire Circle form the beating
heart of camp, and are treated as ceremonial grounds with all the respect that implies.
A place for teaching and sand castles during the day, by night
the Drum Circle is transformed into a magical space to journey with the Drum.
Drum and Fire Circle is located in the heart of camp, close by
the Merchants Village and Camp Kitchen.
Sometimes we like to settle in for
professional performance from the Main Stage, an evening of sound, lights and action.
Our stage is built into the hillside facing the High
Meadow, with separate vehicle access to the equipment area, and is powered by a 165 Amp
3-phase generator.
When not powered up for a night-time show the stage
makes an excellent site for workshops and teaching, or as a Drum and Dance floor during
inclement weather.
Around the world we find that
community is people sharing food together, and over the years good food has become a very
important part of what we do at Four Quarters. In the spring of 2000 we poured the floor
for our new kitchen and meeting hall, and by that fall had full power, the deck up and
truckloads of restaurant grade equipment installed.
This is a serious kitchen and is run by a serious and
dedicated staff, capable of feeding 500 people at a sitting. For our own meal plans and
feasts, we spare no expense with the ingredients. The coffee is Colombian and strong, our
famous 75 pound steamship roasts are local beef cut to our order. Our vegetables are
special order from the local produce jobber and our pizza crust is made by hand.
The Staff of the Starvin’ Artist will not have
it any other way.
But in the end it is not so much what we
can provide, but rather your own choice in what to do with it.
Touching the face of a Standing Stone that was raised with your
own sweat and intent. Or finding yourself in the center of a dancing Drum Circle. With no
idea of the time and no reason to care.
Just part of what you will find at Four Quarters..
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