History of Ta Tanka Lodge by Dave Minnihan
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History of Ta Tanka Lodge By Dave Minnihan Introduction During the early years of the BSA, many camps had Camp Honor Societies. These societies had many purposes, but the main one was to recognize outstanding campers. One such society was the Wimachtendienk from the Philadelphia Council’s Camp Treasure Island, formed in 1915. Over the next six years, the Wimachtendienk would spread to form lodges in an additional nine camps. The Lodges met in 1921 to form a Grand Lodge to administer the program and the first Grand Lodge Meeting was held. In 1922, the Wimachtendienk became an official “experimental program” of the BSA. Later, in 1927, the name was changed to the Order of the Arrow in order to obtain greater public acceptance and recognition. E. Urner Goodman, the co-founder of the Wimachtendienk, became Scout Executive of the Chicago Council in 1927. At the time, Chicago was one of the largest Councils in the country and many professionals Scouters spent time in Chicago before moving on to other Councils. During their time in Chicago, there would be introduced to the OA, and were encouraged to take the program with them as they progressed on to other Councils. This lead to a great growth in the Order. Goodman became National Program Director of the BSA in 1931 and now had the means to encourage and promote the growth of the OA throughout the country. In 1934, the OA became part of the BSA, as part of the Senior Scouting Division which fell under Goodman’s supervision. In 1948, the OA was fully integrated into the BSA. The Grand Lodge was dissolved and the National OA Committee was formed. Four years later, Ta Tanka Lodge was formed. And the rest is history. Council History We need to start the history with a brief history of the Council. With the founding of the BSA in 1910, the first goal of the program was to organize as many troops as possible. Paid professionals, many of whom were YMCA leaders, were recruited to help spread the Scouting Program. They were sent out into the field to organize troops and recruit leaders. As the level of Scouting increased in a community and there was sufficient financial support, a local administrative unit, the Council, could then be formed. The first of the BSA councils to be organized in Southern California was the Los Angeles Council in 1914. Troops in the Pasadena area were originally independent units dealing directly with the National Headquarters in New York City, though they used the Los Angeles Council as a source for forms, badges and related material. By March 1919, there were nine active troops with 190 boys. The Pasadena Council (also known as the Pasadena District Council) of the Boy Scouts of America was organized March 3, 1919, with jurisdiction over Pasadena, Altadena and Lamanda Park. In those days a district council (also known as a section council) was not what we consider to be a district now. Rather, it was a designation by the BSA that a council covered more than one city or town, but less than a county. A charter was granted by the National Headquarters dated April 1, 1919. In 1929, the Council was renamed to Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley Council to reflect that larger geographic area it covered. Later, in 1951, the name was changed to the San Gabriel Valley Council. Old Baldy Council, headquartered in Ontario, CA, was dissolved in 2006 and the portion residing in Los Angeles County was merged into San Gabriel Valley Council. Camping Program Camping has played a major part of the Scouting program since the beginning. The Los Angeles Council held a camp at Banning Beach on Catalina Island in 1918, and may have camped there in previous years. There are rumors that Los Angeles Council also camped on Catalina at White’s Landing. William Wrigley, owner of Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, and the Chicago Cubs, had a residence in Pasadena, which is now the Tournament of Roses House and was one of the original members of the Pasadena District Council’s Board of Directors. Sometime in 1919, Wrigley purchased the Catalina Island Company, and so became owner of Catalina Island. Wrigley allowed the Pasadena Council to establish a camp on Catalina Island at Howlands Landing in 1919. Not much is known about this first camp except that it ran for one ten-day session with 60 campers. The cost was $12.50. An interesting note is that the Pasadena Scouts were not the first to use their camp. Schools in the Los Angeles School District opened several weeks before the Pasadena schools, so Scouts from Los Angeles actually camped at Howlands Landing, under the direction of the Los Angeles Council, before the Pasadena Council got to use it. Camp Cherry Valley After four seasons at Howlands Landing, it was apparent that the council needed larger facilities. Several locations were offered, including Emerald Bay, but Cherry Valley was the ultimate choice. Skipper Robison, long-time Camp Director, once mentioned that the reason Cherry Valley was chosen was the tide pools. Because of the appearance and the smell of the tide pools, it was felt that no other group would want to come in and take the camp away from the BSA. Cherry Valley opened in 1923. It was very primitive that first year. There was no pier so campers had to wade ashore or be shuttled from the Betty-O to shore via rowboats. Scouts ate at an “open air” Dining Hall and were plagued by yellow jackets. Much of the camp was covered with cactus and much time was spent that year clearing it away. Camp Cherry Valley continued to grow and improve throughout its existence and continues to be the premier camp of the San Gabriel Valley Council. Camp Huntington Throughout the years, the Council has utilized many camps in addition to Cherry Valley. Camp Huntington, located in Eaton Canyon near the foot of Mt. Lowe, Pasadena, was a weekend camp used for troop camping and training conferences. It was operated from 1920 to the early 1960’s. Camp Huntington was used for OA meetings and ceremonies. Camp Blue Ridge Camp Blue Ridge was located in above Wrightwood and was used mostly as a winter camp. It was used from 1930/1931 until 1942. Camp San Antonio Because of the closing of Catalina Island to all except the military in 1942, Camp Cherry Valley was closed for the duration of the war. Wartime travel restrictions and gas rationing led to a need for a summer camp somewhat close to the Council’ Scouts. Camp San Antonio, located on Mt. Baldy, was opened in 1942. The buildings from Camp Blue Ridge and the equipment from Cherry Valley were moved to the new camp. Skipper Robison was Camp Director and lead a staff comprised of mostly younger boys due to the War. In 1947, Cherry Valley was re-opened, but because of an increased number of Scouts, San Antonio continued to be used as a summer camp until 1956. San Antonio was also used as a weekend camp, served as a site for OA ordeals, and served as the Council’s Winter Camp until 1969-1970. Camp Cedar Canyon/Holt Scout Ranch The Council had an opportunity to purchase land near Forest Home in the San Bernardino mountains. This became Camp Cedar Canyon, which was opened for camping in 1957. Cedar Canyon was used as a summer camp and for weekend camping and training courses, as well. It was also used for the OA, as a site for Ordeals, Fellowships, and Vigil Ceremonies. In 1968, it was renamed Holt Scout Ranch in memory of Herbert Brayson Holt who had sold the property to the Council. Holt Scout Ranch last operated as a summer camp in 1974 and was sold in 1976. Sky Valley Sky Valley was 160 acres located near Idyllwild and was an undeveloped property. The Council bought it in the mid 1950’s for $50,000. It was purchased because at one point the National Office mandated that Councils should have one acre of land for every Scout. (At this time we had about 3,000 Scouts).. The Council had to have some Scouts camp on the land to avoid being taxed, so several troops did camp there. There were also some OA ordeals held there. Just like Camp Huntington and Medicine Lodge, civilization encroached on the camp and it was sold during the mid 1970’s. Trask Scout Reservation Originally known as Monrovia Scout Reservation, Trask was bought in 1966 for $45,290. 160 Acres were originally bought, then in 1968, the Council leased an additional 320 acres from the City of Monrovia. The camp was formally dedicated as Tallman H. Trask Scout Reservation on May 13, 1972. The first official event at the camp was a Catholic Scout retreat held in October, 1970. Trask has served many purposes; a weekend camp, Summer Resident Camp, Cub Day Camp, Cub Resident Camp, Oak Badge and Wood Badge courses, and a site for OA Ordeals, Fellowships, and Vigils Camp Cumorah Crest/Camp Eaton The Camp was built by the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) sometime around 1941. In 1993 the Church decided to allow its lease with the Forest Service to lapse unless the Council was interested in taking it over. The Council took it over on a trial basis for several years and then decided that they would keep it. The Forest Lawn Foundation gave a sizeable sum of money to the Council for improvements to the Camp.