Kemp Cabin

Owners:
Dana Kemp
4929 Salem Road
Covington, GA 30016
Phone: 779-786-0787
Email: [email protected]

Martha Thompson
4927 Salem Road
Covington, GA 30016
Phone: 770-787-5395
Email: [email protected]

Laura Kemp
5149 Hartsook Drive
Covington, GA 30016
Phone: 770-788-8607

History of Kemp Cabin Susie Ramsey Kemp grew up at Salem and tented in the Ramsey-Cunningham tent with her extended family. When she married john Aaron Kemp in 1942, he joined her there and took to Salem better than most men who marry into it. This was partly because he was pretty sentimental and partly because he loved Susie so much. By the time their third child, Laura, came along in the mid-50’s, the Ramsey-Cunningham tent was bursting at the seams. Family lore jokes that Susie had a hard time convincing Aaron that they needed another place to stay only two miles from their home on Salem Road. But Aaron threw himself into the task of building a tent on an open space “in the flat”. The tent was of traditional design with a central hall, bedrooms on either side, and a bath and kitchen in the rear. Special features included an extra large room for sisters Martha Ann and Laura to share, a multicolored shower tiled in leftovers from Aaron’s jobs, a large round table with lazy-Susan built by Aaron, low mounted “little girl size” bathroom sink, and a very early GE refrigerator. In the 1960’s, Susie’s nephews Bill and Mac Ramsey tented with the Kemps often and both were considered an asset to the Campground, especially by the teenage girls. Throughout the 1960s and early 70’s, the popularity of the Kemp porch, with its oversize swing, waxed and waned as a succession of teenagers adopted it as a favorite hang-out. The 1980’s were more subdued as Susie’s mother, Mary Sue Hull Ramsey, moved from the Ramsey-Cunningham tent after the death of her husband, George. She became a faithful tenter at the Kemps’. Young and old at Salem enjoyed her stories of the old days. Her last year at Salem she was 100 years old and enjoyed it as much as her first. In 1990, Aaron spent the last day of his life supervising repair work on the Salem grounds. He is greatly missed, and the Kemps are grateful for all the fond remembrances expressed by those who loved him and admired him. Susie, Dana, and Martha continued to attend Salem but usually didn’t spend the night. Laura and “Mama”, as Mrs. Ramsey was known, held down the fort and often enjoyed invitations to dine with the Cooks and with Betty Kincaid and Susan Atkinson. Martha’s friend, Brenda Vaughn, visited Salem as a teen and returned yearly. Her husband, Dr. Craig Caldwell, also caught “Salem Fever” and the couple enjoyed introducing their children to the delights of shavings in shoes and walks to the spring on Sunday afternoon. The Caldwell children – Butler, Jane Martha, Luke and Lee – are grown now but still visit Salem when their busy schedules allow. In the 1990’s, the Kemp tent received an infusion of youthful enthusiasm when family friend and long-time Salem attendees Joe and Carolyn Brown’s grandchildren, Clayton Gattis and Rachel Tidwell, tented for several years. The Kemp’s porch was once again alive with teens as it had been when Clayton’s and Rachel’s mothers, Harriet and Mary Stone, enjoyed their teenage years at Salem. As the 21st century loomed Mrs. Brown, accompanied by Mary Stone and sometimes her sister Joanna, began using the Kemp tent as their base so young Andrew and Alex Brown can earn their gold ribbons. As the year 2003 progresses, Laura has charge of the tent and misses the company of Susie and Mama, who have passed away. Laura welcomes overnight guests and enjoys the new traditions of having all the Cooks (15) for Monday night dinner and the Atkinson, wonder, and Brown families (a small group of 13) for Wednesday breakfast. Sisters Martha and Dana are a great help and constantly come and go, but their air-conditioned homes and mattresses down the road beckon as night falls. The “Kemp Girls” are proud to be a part of and carry on the Campground tradition, ever mindful of the peaceful, watchful, spirits of Mama and Susie and Aaron. They are surely missed.