Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall/Kitchen) Project - Day One

Over the next nine months we will be busy constructing our new Chadar Ochel.  This blog will be updated all through the construction process to share the excitement about what's happening up at camp during the off-season.

8/18/08 - The project begins!  CHUSY Camp left early this morning, and at 7:00 a.m. we began the process of removing equipment and stripping the buildings that will be torn down to make way for our new Chadar Ochel.  Today a number of things happened:

-Teschendorf and Shrock, the contractor that will be building the new chadar ochel, sent representatives up to camp to help oversee everything that is described below.  We have been working closely with Teschendorf and Shrock over the past few months as we've gotten ready for this project.  They are a company located in Rhinelander, Wisconsin - just an hour away - and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project.

-Baring Industries, the company that designed and engineered our kitchen, arrived at camp to remove the equipment that we are saving for reuse in the new chadar ochel.  We will be reusing some ovens, an industrial size dishwasher, steam kettle (the one that makes 40 gallons of tomato soup when we have grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch), walk-in oven (for the bakery) and a few miscellaneous items.  They removed the equipment from the kitchen and got it ready for storage over the winter.

-Our staff from Food and Beverage Associates, the company that runs our kitchen during the summer, inventoried, packed and moved all of the smallwares, racks, pots and pans out of the kitchen into storage.  We will be able to use most of the items that we currently have, and will purchase new items as necessary to complete the kitchen next spring.

-Workers from the well drilling company arrived to "abandon" the existing water well that was in the old laundry building behind the kitchen.  They filled the well and got it ready for the demolition.  We will be putting in a new well for the new chadar ochel.

-Our electrician moved out the generator from the commissary staff quarters (CSQ) and put it into the infirmary garage, where it will be with the other generator.  They also disconnected the electric service from areas of the camp in preparation for moving.

-The housekeeping staff at camp went through leftover food from the summer and brought a large donation to the local food pantry.  We were able to donate milk, yogurt, produce, spices and various dry-goods.

-The Camp Ramah full-time maintenance staff worked to remove salvage items from the CSQ, laundry building and kitchen.  All of the tables and benches have been moved out.  Some of them were donated to the Town of Conover, who will be using them at the community park.  Others will be saved for future use around camp (the new dining halls will have brand-new tables with attached benches that fold up).  Many items removed from the buildings will be sold for scrap - old water heaters and tanks, copper piping, stainless steel, etc.  This work will continue through this week in the kitchen and dining halls.

Click on this link to see photos from today!

It was a busy and exciting day!  Keep checking the website this week to see updated photos and information about the chadar ochel.

Benji Bearman
Business Manager