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Named for the mountain in Italy
where St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata of Jesus Christ, Camp Alvernia
was established by Brothers of the Franciscan Order in Centerport in 1888.
It had modest
beginnings. Funds for the initial project were obtained by redeeming Kirkman Soap
wrappers, each having a value of two cents. At its acme, the main building and boarding
house (Chalmers House) accommodated as many as 60 guests. The camp flourished at a time
when Little Cow Harbor, now Centerport, was a popular summer retreat for New York City
residents. Chalmers House has since been torn down.
For years, Camp
Alvernia has been a temporal and spiritual blessing in the lives of local Catholics. For
example, the proposal to establish a new Parish in Northport at the turn of the century
was made by Father Tuhigg, Chaplain of the Brothers. He prevailed upon Bishop McDonnell of
the Brooklyn Diocese to accede to the need for the Parish, and St. Philip Neri
became a
reality in 1894.
That meant Catholics in
Centerport now had a choice of attending Mass at St. Patrick's in Huntington or St.
Philip's in Northport -- whichever was easier to reach. What's more, in later years, the
summer season brought a third option. Camp Alvernia's Franciscan Brothers invited local
Catholics to join them at Sunday Mass in the Chapel of the main house there. But there was
one small problem with attending Mass at the camp. One could discover his or her
automobile hub-deep in water if the tide rose during the service.
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