| The slop facing
the waterfront tower is the site of the camp’s first council ring.
Boys were seated on rows of logs (not too many were needed for only 72
scouts the first year) facing the water, and the council fire lighted the
area. Often an Indian chief came in by canoe to participate in the
program and perhaps tell an Indian legend to the Scouts. As the camp
grew the present council ring was developed and the logs on the bank were
removed.
In 1933 one Scout wrote: "Uncle Joe had charge of the campfire tonight. Told us a story about the Indian tribe which used to camp on the shores of Panther Pond and about the chief whose name was Sakosis. Said his spirit still was around there and then he called out on the lake and the old chief answered him. Kind of made the chills go up and down my back. Then we heard a canoe coming and sure enough out of the darkness came the old Indian Chief with one of his braves and he told us he was glad to have white boy's camp on his old camping grounds. Pretty soon another brave came out of the woods with a lighted torch and lit the campfire and the chief asked us to put a piece of wood on the fire to show that we had something to contribute to the spirit of the camp and so we all filed past the fire and laid a stick on the fire and the chief and his braves paddled away in their canoe. The chief said he was coming back again some night to visit us. We then all sang taps and went to bed." |
| (Click any photo below to see it larger.
Some have two levels of enlargement) |
before the campfire - 1931 |
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swimming dock - 1931 |
recognition - 1970 |
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Dean B. Zaharis Created: October 29, 2010 Last Update: May 28, 2011 Send comments to: FriendsOfHinds@gmail.com |