Octoraro Lodge 22
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Octoraro Lodge #22 is the local chapter of the Order of the Arrow affiliated with Chester County Council, BSA, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. Octoraro Lodge #22 supports Horseshoe Scout Reservation, including both Camp Horseshoe and Camp Ware, with thousands of annual volunteer hours of service and multiple fundraisers throughout the year. The purpose of Octoraro Lodge #22 is to support camping throughout Chester County Council.
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[edit] Early History of the Order of the Arrow
During the summer of 1915, Dr. E. Urner Goodman, Camp Director of the Philadelphia Council's Treasure Island Camp, desired to find some means of definite recognition for those [Image of Goodman] scouts who had best lived up to the spirit of the Scout Oath and Law. From this desire, and from the rich Native American traditions of the area, Dr. Goodman and his assistant, Carroll A. Edson, developed that we know now as the Order of the Arrow. The organization grew slowly during the next few years, but as the 1920s began, the small camp honor society of 1915 had taken hold in several nearby councils.
In 1924, Charles M. Heistand, then Scout Executive of the Chester County Council, B.S.A., wrote to the National Chief for information on the new organization then known as the "Wimachtendienk" or "Brotherhood." He had become interested in the program through Mr. Horace Kern, Scout Executive of the Philadelphia Council at that time. "Chief" Heistand's interest in the organization became an integral part of his planning for the 1926 summer camping season at Rothrock, the council's camp in the South Mountains of Cumberland County.
[edit] The Order comes to Horseshoe
In preparation for the camp season, the charter for Lodge #22 was approved on May 17, 1926 and a nucleus of nine new members were given their induction by founder Goodman. This group was given both the First (Ordeal) and Second (Brotherhood) Degrees at this ceremony which took place at Hilldale, a weekend campsite of the council, [Image of Hilldale] located along the banks of the Brandywine in the western part of the county. Six of these nine charter members were to receive the Vigil Honor before the decade was out and several went on to hold national positions in the Order and in Scouting. "Chief" Heistand continued in Scouting as a Scout Executive, Regional Executive, National Program Director, and Assistaint Chief Scout Executive as well as serving for many years on the National Order of the Arrow Committee.
As plans for summer camp were unveiled in the May edition of TRAILING, the council newsletter, the scouts of the county learned that: "This year we will institute a lodge of the W.W.W., a Lenape Indian fraternity, for honor campers." The article went on to explain that each troop would be able to select one scout for every eight it had attending camp. The new society proved to be a popular one as forty more new brothers joined the ranks of the lodge during that first summer. Under the leadship of Scout Executive Heistand and the Lodge's first Chief, Joseph Brinton, the Chester County chapter became a firmly established part of the W.W.W. In November of the same year, a delegation of Chester County brothers journeyed to the Reading-Berks County Council Camp at Indiandale for a meeting of the Grand Lodge, the forerunner of today's National Conference.
Little is known of lodge activities of the next two years although it is evident, in light of continued achievement of the Vigil Honor by Lodge 22 members, that the lodge continued to develop during this period. The primary focus of the council's activities during these years was the selection of a new council camp, an event that would provide the young lodge with a home, a name and a focal point for its service.
[edit] Camp Horseshoe
Guided by the vision of Scout Executive Heistand, the council selected the old Reynolds property along the banks of the Octoraro Creek near Rising Sun, Maryland as the site upon which to build the new camp. A tribute to the foresight and dedication of the council leaders of the day, the beginnings of Horseshoe Scout Reservation are as significant in the development of the lodge as they are in the growth of the council. As years passed and the camp expanded, members would come to surround the camp as completely as the muddy stream "Octoraro" from which the lodge takes its name.
Purchased in the early 1800s for $300 in sheep and dried peaches, the property became the home and family farm of Samuel Reynolds and three generations of his offspring. [Image of Reynolds Farm] Much of the heavily wooded land was cleared for use as farm and pasture land. During their 100 years on the land, the Reynolds family left many monuments. Their family home, the "White House." was used, after a brief occupation by bootleggers and assorted shady characters, as the Headquarters building and infirmary for the scout camp, while the barn and carriage shed provided the foundations for the Kindness Center and Browning Lodge, respectively.
Following crop failures and an aborted attempt to divert the Octoraro through a tunnel under Flagpole Hill, the land passed to a mining company, whose discovery of several low grade ores, including gold, sparkled interest in the area. The problems of extracting the ore, however, soon put an end to the venture.
Located and identified as a possible campsite by the Philadelphia Council, the area was passed over as being too far from council headquarters to be a practical council camp. On a bright Saturday morning in 1927, however, the Camping Committee of the Chester County Council, with several brothers of the Wimachtendienk among them, traveled the old wagon road over Goat Hill to view the property and, shortly thereafter, purchased the site for development as the new council camp. A new camp was required to replace Rothrock, a victim of encroachment by various resort communities.
As the camping season of 1928 approached, the lodge was figuring prominently in the building of the reservation. Brother Gilbert McIlvaine of Downingtown served as Camp Architect, and the mainstays of the camp staff are recognized as being among the Charter Members of the Class of 1926. [Image of McIlvaine] Camp Director Heistand with Joe Brinton and Ben Thomas as his assistants set to work with a staff that included charter members Raymond Watson and Thomas Gillingham. With five campsites and a capacity of 160 boys, the first season proved a great success and a bright future was forecast for the camp and the lodge.
[edit] The Lodge Forms
During 1929, the procedures of lodge organization became standardized. Regular meetings, both throughout the county and at camp, were held for the planning of activities. The slate of officers was decided upon: The Lodge Chief, Senior Vice Chief, Junior Vice Chief, Lodge Recorder, Guardian of the Trail, Deputy Guardian, and Chaplain. This system of two vice chiefs, which fell into disuse in the Thirties, was destined to be revived in 1969.
In May of 1929, Octoraro Lodge played host to a regional meeting of the Order held at Camp Horseshoe. This meeting was the equivalent of the Section Conclave of today. In the fall of the same year, the lodge undertook the establishment of a tree planting project to honor the Eagle Scouts and Adult Scouters of the County. Known today as Eagle and Scouter's Groves, these trees stand at opposite ends of the camp athletic field in lasting tribute to the early scouts of the council.
Continuing its tradition of participation in national affairs, the delegation of Scout Executive Price, Lodge Chief Donald Hughes, Vice Chief Ray Watson, and Ben Thomas attended the 1929 Grand Lodge Meeting held in Philadelphia at the end of October.
Lodge activities continued in earnest as the thirties dawned. The year 1930 saw the lodge meet several times at camp to promote work on Eagle and Scouter's Groves as well as other projects. The lodge's primary camp project during these years was the construction of a camp chapel on the hillside overlooking the camp. This open air chapel, with its breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside, has been a place of inspiration for generations of Horseshoe campers. The final meeting 1930 was a ceremonial weenend at camp held in late December. At this meeting, eleven of the lodge membership were elevated to the Brotherhood Degree and four more were nominated for the Vigil Honor.
The lodge grew slowly over the next several years as we see only 17 new brothers inducted during the summer of 1936. By the end of that year, however, 20 additional brothers were inducted, and a period of new growth was underway. Seventeen lodge members attended the National Conference that year, held at the birthplace of the Order, the Treasure Island Camp on the Delaware. In addition to a schedule of camp activities, the lodge was expanding into the social scene as well. The first lodge banquets were held during this period and they set the precedent for these events which were to become the highlight of the lodge calendar in years to come. The 1937 banquet was held on December 27, and featured as its guest speaker Joseph Brinton, first chief of Octoraro Lodge, who was then serving as National Chief of the Order.
[edit] World War II
While the year 1941 found the world at war and the young men of Chester County answering the call of the country, the year is equally significant in that is marks the arrival of a man under whose leadership Chester County and Octoraro Lodge would begin a period of continual growth and success. Louis L. Lester began his sixteen year term as Chester County's Scout Executive by immediately establishing himself as both a leader in Scouting and in the Community. His vision and dedication to the improvement of the council and, especially, the Horseshoe Scout Reservation, moved him into an association with Octoraro Lodge which set the lodge on a course of vital growth and development from which it emerged as a vital force in the life of the council and the camp.
[edit] Our Sister Lodge
On September 7, 1946, the Lodge officers, degree team, and several members journeyed to Darden Scout Reservation of the Tidewater Council in Norfolk, Virginia to install and induct the charter members of Lodge 349 to be known as Blue Heron Lodge.
[edit] The Lodge Building
During 1944 a fund was created in Octoraro Lodge for the construction of a Lodge building at Camp Horseshoe. Ground was broken in 1952, and on June 20, 1959, in a gala celebration, Octoraro Memorial Lodge was dedicated by former Scout Executive Louis Lester.
Right now, the lodge is going through the first steps of construction. This is set to be completed in September 2009, the 50th anniversary of the Lodge Building.
[edit] Hurricane Agnes
Three days before Camp Horseshoe was to open for the summer 1972 season, the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Agnes shut the camp off from the world. Through herculean efforts of the lodge, after being totally inaccessible with extensive flood damage in many areas, camp opened on time and campers arrived Sunday afternoon as usual. Damage to the camp included destruction of the OA swinging bridge, built only 4 years earlier. Loss of a campsite, the pool was filled with muddy Octoraro water, the camp road nearly impassable and extensive damage to many buildings and campsites.
[edit] Conclave
In June of 1974, Octoraro Lodge 22 was the host of the first Northeast Section 5A Conclave. With an all-out effort to prepare the camp for the conference, roads, bridges and buildings were repaired. The conference set the standard of excellence for the next decade.
Since 1974, the members of Octoraro Lodge have given countless hours of unselfish service to the Lodge and the Camp. Octoraro Lodge has been instrumental in maintaining the buildings of the camp and in helping to build several new campsites and buildings around Camp Horseshoe. This unselfish service, to helping Camp Horseshoe become one of the best camps in the nation, has not gone unnoticed. Octoraro Lodge 22 has been recognized several times for their camp promotion efforts which speaks highly of the dedicated service of the Lodge members.
Today, Octoraro Lodge remains an active, working Lodge striving to uphold the high principles and traditions upon which it is founded.
[edit] Modern History
Some brief, History Highlights:
1976 - Octoraro Lodge #22 celebrates its 50th Anniversary, and issues the famous Gold Border lodge flap, which easily fetches $200+ at lodge patch auctions.
1980 - After fire destroys the kitchen of the Allen Memorial Dining Hall at Camp Horseshoe, the Lodge plays a major effort in the construction of a new, modern facility.
1983 - Octoraro Lodge #22 hosts the Section 5A Conclave.
1980, 1981, 1983 - Octoraro #22 receives the E. Urner Goodman award, the only lodge to ever get the national award three times.
1986 - 60th anniversary celebration at Horseshoe with founder of lodge and former Scout Executive Charlie Heistand.
1991 - Octoraro Lodge #22 hosts the Section NE-4B Conclave at Camp Horseshoe.
1995 - Octoraro enters the telecommunications age with its own web site, www.octoraro.org. Octoraro #22 is the first lodge with their own Internet domain.
2003- The lodge hosted the NE-4A Section Conclave at Camp Horseshoe
[edit] eScout
eScout was an unmoderated computer email list intended to facilitate general purpose discussion of topics surrounding Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Horseshoe Scout Reservation. eScout was started in November 1995 and operated continuously until the spring of 2000. The list was hosted on sakima.Ivy.NET, the same server which also hosted the web sites for Octoraro Lodge #22 and for The Horseshoe Scout Reservation Alumni Association. At peak the mailing list numbered approximately 500 members.
Membership was open to anyone. eScout was already well established when many members had just acquired their initial email address and Internet access.
Originally the list was small, and used primarily to reconnect with camp staff members and far flung members of the Horseshoe community. The mailing list began to rapidly expand as Internet access became more readily available. Also the Boy Scouts of America were involved in several high profile controversies in the national media which also contributed to a number of lively discussions. Some of the more memorable debates on eScout included:
- What to do about Camp Ware - How to improve the program at Camp Horseshoe - Women in Scouting - Scouting for All / Gays in Scouting - Whether or not to pave over Camp Ware, turning it into auxiliary parking for Camp Horseshoe - The great Patch Embezzlement Scandal of 1997 - The Vigil Selection Scandal of 1997 - The debate over banquet door prizes in 1999 - The Columbine Massacre - The “Duty to God” debate of 1998 - Hazing in Scouting - Life Dues - Blindfolding in ceremonies - Atheists in Scouting - Friday Funnies - The Great Fees and Dues debate of 1999
While not ever officially sanctioned by Octoraro Lodge or Chester County Council, because of the overwhelming membership by those who were involved in Scouting, eScout became the Council’s de facto online community. For many individuals, eScout was their first exposure to email lists, and as a result a significant percentage of posts did not follow commonly regarded Netiquette rules. Small discussions would quickly descend into full flame-wars, and messages which were intended to be private would be inadvertently cc:’ed to the entire mailing list.
After a particularly heated discussion over dues and fees to the lodge, in which several members exchanged extremely rude and insulting emails over the public list, Bruce Goodman, then Lodge Advisor of Octoraro #22, called for an end to the distribution. In a letter sent to the entire Lodge membership, eScout was claimed to be “tearing our Lodge apart”. The list was taken down in the spring of 2000. The archive of eScout discussions continues to be maintained.
