Abstract:
Camp meetings, or religious revivals, were popular during the 19th-century, attracting people in small communities. During the week-long meetings, many came for spiritual growth and renewal, and also to socialize and entertainment. There are still a few left in the state in the mid-20th-century. Balls Creek Camp Ground, established by Methodists in 1853, is located in Catawba County and is one of the largest ones still operating. Goerch reports on a recent visit that had over 2,500 in attendance.