Dining Hall Collapse!
December 26th, 2008 at 11:42 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, News, Weather
On Christmas Eve the main dining hall at Camp Gerber near Fremont, Michigan, the Boy Scout camp for the Gerald R. Ford Council, suffered a major structural collapse. The force of the collapse blew out three of the four walls, leaving only the wall next to the kitchen (which remains intact). The dining hall had a capacity of 480 and with the camp getting close to capacity (2100 Scouts per summer), a new structure would likely need to be built to a bigger capacity. There was no one in the dining hall at the time of the collapse, but a group was scheduled to use it on Friday. First, this should be a warning to businesses, charities – everybody – that the weight of snow and ice on roofs, especially flat roofs is critical right now. This is the 3rd roof failure in a week. With the potential for heavy rain this weekend- it should motivate many of you to get up there and at least check your roof and if there is a sizeable quantity of snow, to clear that snow and make sure the rain can drain off the roof. Second, the building was insured and will be rebuilt bigger and better before this summer’s camping season. If you would like to make a contribution toward the new building, you may call (616) 785-2662 or send a tax deductable contribution to Gerald R. Ford Council, Boy Scouts of America, 3213 Walker, NW, Walker, MI 49544.
Sounds like Ranger Charlie should have been doing some shoveling! Wonder when the Council will send out any kind of an e-mail to registered Scouters who are on the district or council e-mail list. Thanks for keeping us all up to date on everything you do! Especially glad to have you back from vacation!
Its one of those things that get over looked in the lower section of Michigan, how many people shovel their roofs off because of snow load??? Most do it more for ice dams building on their roof edge…Remember the wind was very stong also, it was tough keeping the car on the road at times…going to shovel my garage roof off…it’s only 2×4 friction style roof, no trusses, it won’t take much more..we also have to shovel it off evenly or else the weight differencial will bring it down….
I have no way of clearing my roof. I’m really worried about it. but what am I going to do?!
jennifer can u get a family member to do it?
jennifer –
How much is up there?
Second, is there a neighborhood teenager or someone around with a roof rake that can help you out?
Many great memories in the Merrill Dining Hall. I watched it go up, sorry to see it go down; looking forward to this summer with my troop attending Gerber Scout Camp in a new facility. I have watched many boys learn so much at this camp. Thanks, Bill, for your support of the Boy Scouts.
WINTER OF 1978 WITH A STORM DROPPING 27 INCHS ON THE LEVEL GROUND AND BILL MEASURED A SNOW DRIFT OF 14 FEET. WE RMEMBER IT DO YOU?
nope don’t have anyone that can do it. most of my roof would be fine because it has a pitch to it but there is one area on the second story that is not completely flat but close. my husband isn’t concerned about it though I am.
Just got home. My roof should be fine. I didn’t think it had a pitch to it. Most of my roof is like a 9/12 pitch it’s huge! The part I was concerned with (the part I thought was flat) is actually something like a 3/12 pitch. There isnt much snow up on my roof anyways so I am not concerned anymore about a roof collapse. The roof is getting replaced in the spring time anyways due to some leaking so if it does collapse, homeowners will have to replace it instead of me!
“Sounds like Ranger Charlie should have been doing some shoveling!” Give Charlie a break! Merrill Dining hall is a very large building. Ranger Charlie can only do so much by himself. Let’s look at what we can do to help resolve the situation instead of criticizing anyone. I have many great memories of Scouts having fun during mealtimes at Merrill Dining hall as well as other time spent there. Charlie does a great job!
Charlie does a great job taking care of the camp! A foot of snow on that dining hall roof was way too much for one person to shovel. Let’s just be thankful the building was empty and the kitchen can be salvaged.
I don’t think it’s a matter of Ranger Charlie shoveling the roof, it’s a matter of how that dining hall was built! It was built with pole-barn style construction, there weren’t any large beams, trusses, or posts to support and distribute the weight. Most buildings of that size have beefier support structures.
Hopefully the new dining hall is built stronger … take a cue from the Evans Dining hall (the ORIGINAL dining hall) and most of the other buildings on camp … those are still standing after 50 years because they were built to last.
The most unfortunate thing about Merrill Hall’s collapse is the stuff inside … the old staff photos and the Moose probably didn’t hold up very well, sad to say.
Up to 37.0 degrees here in Fruitport. Lets melt some of this snow before the rains come. CMU is tied at 7 with FAU
I don’t think Julie literally meant that Ranger Charlie should have been shoveling the roof. Probably just a figure of speech meaning that the roof was not well maintained.
Julie—Charlie does a great job at Gerber! As Jason pointed out, the most likely cause of the collapse was the design of the building. There have been problems with the dining hall for many years. We should just be thankfull that no one was injured
Up to 47.3 degrees here near the lakeshore! Widespread fog and a lot of meltig snow!
The NWS is calling for a high of 54 in MKG tomorrow…Sounds like some places could be above 60 for a high in Dec. with T-Storms! Crazy weather!
Visibility is down to about 1/10 of a mile here. It is 1/5 of a mile to the stop light and I can barely make out the street light halfway between my house and the stop light.
The moist air feels really nice on my nose. The dry indoor air during the cold months causes many a nose bleed for me. Even with a humidifier.
Really thick fog rolling in over here. Glad my brother is doing the driving to Detroit later today (after midnight, Saturday 12/27).
your roof is will be fine jenn, im sure if it was of real concern your husband would take care of it
Took this as a sign to get the foot of snow off my patio. I didn’t want it to turn into a block of ice on Sunday that would have to wait till the spring thaw. I’m on the lower end of the yard in this building nearly Eight am. and my garden area is getting filled with water. I sure hope that new drain the grounds-keepers put in after July’s floods works the way it’s supposed to.
Yeah my roof is fine. Most of the snow and ice is already gone and draining just fine. No leaking as of yet and very little water in the basement.
I’m not too concerned about the roof, it’s a 45 degree pitch AND the house was built in 1954 (when the knew how to build em
) No water in the basement, but being that the house is built on sand, we never have problems with that.
We need a new general weather thread so we can all be on the same page for the weekend!
Faxbot, do you live in Ramblewood South? If you do, I bet you are in my old apartment. I had a patio also and anytime it rained hard, the water would flood the patio and almost go into the apartment. Finally got sick and tired of it so we moved and are on an upper floor now. Much better.
Wow, didn’t expect to see this. Merril didn’t have a flat roof, but it wasn’t that steep, either. I doubt the moose and the deer are fairing well. although, i wonder if they will be able to get reprints of those staff photos. the photography companies usually keep them on record just in case.
The moose was found under a table from i had heard.
The elk was dug out and will be okay…but the moose is on the loose! It has yet to be found. The pictures and neckerchiefs are safe, as are many of the plaques that lined the walls. Many new tables and benches will need to be made. I hope troops are willing to pitch in!
We are thankful that no one was inside the building (one of the few times of the year). AS John pointed out, the pictures and elk are safe. The moose has not been uncovered. Thank you to all the VOLUNTEERS who came to camp this weekend to shovel the roofs of all the other buildings. I couldn’t have gotten that job done without all of you!
Charlie Brown does a great job of maintaining Camp Gerber. I am just thankful that no one was in the building when the roof collapsed. The few short years I have attended Camp Gerber I have many good memories. I am looking forward to having many more good memories in the new dining hall. Keep up the good work Charlie Brown. We are very fortunate to have you as our Camp Ranger. Thank you for everything you do for the camp.
I’ve been to camp for the last 10 years, Charlie dose a great job.Charlie always help the scouts & scouters out. Now it is our time to help out him and the camp. We as scouters need to get tables & benches built. we have about 160 days or less before the 1st day of camp.
Yeah, Charlie does an awesome job. Thankfully it didn’t collapse during staff interviews, which were scheduled for this weekend. Hopefully they can have the new facility built quickly, along with all of the other projects going on up there right now.
Just an update: The moose has been unburied and is in repairable condition. He will be going on vacation to a taxidermist and will return in time for summer camp. Also, the portrait of Dan Gerber (the original donor of the property) was found unscathed. It will be reframed and hung in the new dining hall. As of right now, some of the tables will need repair, but nothing can be moved at this time. We will let you know when we can move forward.