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In 1933, Herb & Dee Sweet, just out of Butler University, started
Little Acorn Camp. In 1935 they acquired 40 acres of property along Cool Creek, two miles north of what was then the small
farm town of Carmel, and two miles south of another small town, Westfield.
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| Campers ca. 1942 |
The private day camp operated here every summer through 1977.
In the "off season," Herb taught at Orchard School, and later wrote (with Dee's help) and illustrated a
syndicated activity column, called Try It. Herb's column inspired a local children's TV show that came to be called Sweet
Time. The show, which aired at first on WFBM and later on WISH-TV, is said to have been Indianapolis' first live audience-participation
program.
In 45 summers over
10,000 young folks, mostly from Indianapolis' north side, attended camp here.
Campers enjoyed swimming, riding ponies, taking nature hikes, making crafts, cooking in the
out-of-doors, playing baseball and capture the flag, and crawdad fishing. Many of the camp buildings can still be seen on
the grounds.
Acorn Farm Country
Store now occupies a house (a standard single-family design) built for use as an antique shop. Herb & Dee operated Acorn
Farm Antiques here from around 1961 until early 1995.
Later that year, when the Sweets retired, their
daughter, Jill, and son-in-law, Mic Mead, purchased the old campgrounds and reopened the shop as Acorn Farm Country Store,
featuring 13 rooms furnished with antiques and complementary accessories.
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