| Camp Bomazeen, located on Great Pond in North Belgrade, Maine, was
opened in 1946. Summer Camp operations ceased after the 2003 summer season.
Pine Tree Council is currently in a fund raising campaign to convert Camp
Bomazeen into a Cub World-theme camp. Cub Day Camp for Kennebec Valley
District was once again held at Camp Bomazeen starting in the 2007 summer
seasons.
Camp Bomazeen is named for Chief Bomazeen of the Norridgewock tribe
of the Abnaki nation. The Camp Bomazeen property was donated in 1944 by
Dr. George G. & Francis M. Averill of Waterville.
The Legend of Bomazeen
During the Prince Phillip Wars, there was a renegade Indian Chief
by the name of Bomazeen, whose tribe inhabited the Norridgewock Valley.
Bomazeen was hated by the English soldiers as he believed in the
free way. The English decided that the only way to get rid of Bomazeen
was to kill him. In December they set off with four officers and three
hundred men along with four Mohawk scouts.
They proceeded up the Kennebec River as far as Ticonnet, now known
as Richmond. They camped here for a month due to a storm. Leaving a hundred
and two men to guard the seventeen whaleboats, the rest set out in search
of the famous Indian chieftain.
After two weeks they came upon a brave, squaw and maiden. Automatically
they opened fire, killing the maiden and capturing the squaw. The Brave
escaped to warn his tribe. After running a long distance they caught up
to him at the fording place of the river and opened fire, killing the brave.
The squaw then called out "Bomazeen!" The English now knew that they
had slain the mighty chieftain and went on to massacre the Indian's village.
The fording place in the river is now known as "Bomazeen's Rips."
Although Bomazeen was killed, the legend of the mighty chieftain
lived on in his own people and is remembered by all Scouts and Order of
the Arrow members.
~~
The above story has been told in this form at least since 1969. It
is not known who wrote this particular version; it dates to the time when
John O'Connor was our Lodge Chief and an active staff member at Camp Bomazeen. |
