French Creek Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (April 2007) |
The French Creek Council with headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania was organized in 1972 from a merger of the former Washington Trail Council (Erie), Custaloga Council (Sharon, PA) and Col. Drake Council (Oil City, Pennsylvania).
The Council serves Scouts in six counties in northwestern Pennsylvania and one Township in Ohio.
Contents |
[edit] Current Districts
- Chief Kiondashawa District serves Mercer County and Brookfield, Ohio.
- Colonel Drake District serves Venango County, Clarion County and Forest County as well as the Titusville area in Crawford County.
- Oliver Perry District serves 12 school districts along the lakeshore in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
- Washington Trail District serves the remainder of Crawford County and the southern half of Erie County.
[edit] Camping
The French Creek Council owns and operates an over-500 acre facility known as Custaloga Town Scout Reservation located along French Creek in Mercer and Venango Counties.
The area of Custaloga Town was inhabited by members of the Wolf Clan of the Seneca, under the leadership of Chief Guyasutha, who served as the League Deputy or "half king" on the Allegheny - Ohio. Guyasutha was the uncle of Chief Cornplanter and is buried on the grounds of Custaloga Town Scout Reservation.
Chief Custaloga, of the Wolf Clan of Delawares, arrived at the present site of Custaloga Town Scout Reservation in the mid 1700's and built a sizeable village here, which became his principal seat. Custaloga's name first appeared in western Pennsylvania's history in "George Washington's Journal of 1753". When Washington arrived at Fort Machault in the village of Venango (present Franklin, PA), Custaloga was in charge of the wampum of his nation.
Since Custaloga had aided Chief Pontiac in his rebellion, the white settlers were wary of the actions of Custaloga and asked Guyasutha to live among his people at Custaloga's Town to maintain a watchful eye on Custaloga's actions.
On November 29, 1778, Colonel James Smith led an expedition from Fort Pitt to Custaloga's Town, but found the Indian town evacuated. After this date very little is recorded about Custaloga. Captain Pipe had become Custaloga's successor as leader of the Wolf Clan of the Delaware. Some believe he lived in Ohio after he left Custaloga's Town.
The first log cabin on site was built in 1794, and in 1820, the Heydrick Homestead was started by Dr. Charles Heydrick came. This nearly 200 year-old building is still in use by the French Creek Council. The Heydrick Farm continued to be operated through 1946.
In 1963 the Mercer County Council purchased the land for the development of a Scout Reservation named Custaloga Town. Jim Dunlop was president for four years during the fund drive and construction of the reservation. Carlton Hutchison was chairman of the camp fund drive. John Gross, the person who found this site, was the architect of buildings and camp layout. Vern Smith was camp development chairman for Mercer County Council.
Camp Hank Forker was the first camp to open on the reservation. Custaloga Town first opened to Scout camping in the summer of 1968, It replaced the Mercer County Council's Camp Kiondashawa and later became the home for the entire French Creek Council. The first Scout camp was held during the summer of 1968 with Dr. Frederick J. Brenner serving as Camp Director. Custaloga Town Scout Reservation was dedicated on Saturday, July 19, 1969.
Each year Camp Hank Forker on the Custaloga Town Scout Reservation hosts hundreds of Scouts from all over the United States.
[edit] Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow Lodge for the French Creek Council is Langundowi #46. This Lodge came into existence in 1972 with the merger of the former Eriez Lodge #46 (Erie, PA), Hoh-Squa-Sa-Gah-Da Lodge #251 (Sharon, PA), and the Skanondo Inyan Lodge #256 (Oil City, PA).
The name "Langundowi" means "Peaceful One" in Lenape. The Lodge totem is the Iroquois Great Tree of Peace.
Langundowi Lodge has been a strong an integral part of the French Creek Council since the merger and continues to be a leader in the local, sectional, and national levels.
