Camp Chesterfield is a Spiritualist community located in Chesterfield, Indiana. It is a little over an hour northeast of the state’s capital, Indianapolis. The camp was founded in 1886 by Dr. John Westerfield, a Spiritualist who earned a living endorsing the services of mediums and clairvoyants throughout the state of Indiana. Westerfield always allowed skeptics at the talks, convinced they would learn the truth, and walk away a believer. Dr. John Westerfield converted to Spiritualism in 1855 when his only child passed away at the age of only 14. During this dark grieving period he and his wife converted to spiritualism, as they turned to the comfort of mediumistic contact with their deceased dear son. Dr. and Mrs. Westerfield traveled to a location near Vicksburg, Michigan to visit Frazier’s Grove. This visit inspired him to form the Indiana Associates of Spiritualists, and later establish the camp, using Frazier’s Grove as the model. In 1886, John Westerfield called a mass meeting of Indiana Spiritualist and the Indiana Association of Spiritualist was formed. They elected officer for 1887, and have been meeting steadily for over 120 years.
In the meager beginnings, Camp Chesterfield began as a collection of tents and ramshackle buildings. However, Camp Chesterfield in it’s current location since 1891, the community itself has evolved into a sprawling development of quaint cottages, traditional homes, and even a small hotel that can accommodate guests at very reasonable rates. Camp Chesterfield offers a wide range of services like Spiritualist Church Services that hold services each Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Psychic readings, Spiritual Development Classes, faith healing and seminary.
Currently the park is open to the public, the grounds are rectangular in shape and surround the park itself are homes of the clairvoyants, mediums spiritual teachers, and healers. Most require appointments, as they often have other more traditional occupations. Several do have signs indicating walk-in visits are welcome. Numerous religions are represented and scattered throughout the grounds, including statuary of Buddha, Mother Mary Quan Yin, Jesus, and Native American. One particularly fascinating structure is a circular stone wall set into the side of a hill named the Trail of Religions, featuring the busts of the primary founders of the world’s religions displayed. Such shrines are placed throughout in an effort to acknowledge all religion, and to accept all with warm open arms. The grounds themselves are remarkably quiet and serine, perfect for tranquil meditation or sitting simply to get centered.
Camp Chesterfield has had its share of swindlers, which in all honestly are present in any profession. One being Madam Mimi in the era following WWII and another well-publicized situation in 1977, medium Lamar Keene confessed to widespread fraud at Camp Chesterfield, tarnishing the name and leaving guests feeling taken advantage of. As time lapsed, despite the allegations, Camp Chesterfield remains a popular destination for Spiritualists throughout the United States. Regardless of your own personal opinion or philosophy on Spiritualism, Camp Chesterfield is a peaceful and beautiful part of Indiana and well worth the time to visit.