The History of the Wazhazee Lodge #366 (1947-2012) of the Ouachita Area Council #14 (1917-2012) (This version completed on March 8, 2015) Researched and Written By David Elmore

Preface

The planning, research and writing of this document was based upon the official Order of the Arrow 100th anniversary lodge history requirements and other lodge examples that were provided.

Very brief histories of the geographical and political region, in which, arose the Louisiana Purchase, Territory (1819) and state of Arkansas (1836) were added to give context to the rise of in the same areas. Additionally, the brief story of Scouting in Arkansas gives way to the specific stories of the development of the Ouachita Area Council in 1917 and the creation of the Wazhazee Lodge in 1947. To add interest and further illustrate these stories images have been included.

The Ouachita Area Council and the Wazhazee Lodge never compiled a formal official history not even a basic timeline. There are two sets of two pages (of, at least, two different documents) where someone from ƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝůŝŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϰϬ͛ƐƉƵƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƐŽŵĞƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ about the first twenty-five years of the council history. Unfortunately, that document was fragmentary (It was evident there were other pages but they are missing.) and the use of factual information is questionable. The Wazhazee Lodge compiled a few paragraphs of the lodge history for a leaflet likewise not comprehensive nor filled with anything much more than basic, commonly known facts.

Wazhazee Word Origin

dŚĞǁŽƌĚ͞Wazhazee͟ comes down to us from ƚŚĞKƐĂŐĞ/ŶĚŝĂŶǁŽƌĚĨŽƌƚŚĞƚƌŝďĞ͛Ɛname for themselves ĂŶĚŵĂLJŵĞĂŶ͕͞ǁĂƚĞƌƉĞŽƉůĞ͘͟/ŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϲϬϬ͛ƐĂŶĚĞĂƌůLJϭϳϬϬ͛Ɛ͕&ƌĞŶĐŚĞdžƉůŽƌĞƌƐĨŝƌƐƚ encountered the native Osage people. They probably heard them call themselves what sounded like tĂnjŚĂnjŚĞ;ŽƌtĂǎĂǎĞͿ͘dŚĞLJǁƌŽƚĞŝƚĚŽǁŶŝŶ&ƌĞŶĐŚas "Ouasage."

tŚĞŶŶŐůŝƐŚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĞŶƚĞƌĞĚƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶƚŚĞLJůŝŬĞůLJƌĞŶĚĞƌĞĚΗKƵĂƐĂŐĞ͟ŝŶƚŽΗtĂƐŽƐŚΗŽƌ "Washoshee." Eventually, the English speakers took over the French spelling "Ouasage" and simplified it to ΗKƐĂŐĞ͘͟

The spelling of the word Wazhazee in the Osage alphabet

dŚĞ͞KƐĂŐĞKƌĂŶŐĞ͟ƚƌĞĞ;DĂĐůƵƌĂƉŽŵŝĨĞƌĂͿ

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The word ͞Osage͟ has also entered the English language through the ͞Osage Orange͟ tree (Maclura ƉŽŵŝĨĞƌĂͿŝƐĂůƐŽĐĂůůĞĚƚŚĞ͚ŚŽƌƐĞĂƉƉůĞ͛ŽƌŽŝƐĚ͛ƌĐ΀ďŽĚĂƌŬ΁͘dŚĞKƐĂŐĞKrange tree can be found in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and elsewhere. The orange comes from the faint orange smell when the large bulbous fruit is abraded or crushed. In Native American circles, the Osage Orange has been traditionally considered an excellent source for ͞bow making͟.

Image of an Osage Orange in the tree

The Hot Springs

The hot springs in what is now Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas is speculated as having been a EĂƚŝǀĞŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ͚ŶĞƵƚƌĂůŐƌŽƵŶĚ͛ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŚĞĂůŝŶŐǁĂƚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞŚŽƚƐƉƌŝŶŐƐ͘The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes.

Although Hot Springs was not the first National Park (Yellowstone) it was the first federally protected area in the United States in 1832. /ŶƚŚĞϭϵϮϬ͛ƐĂŶĚϭϵϯϬ͛Ɛ͕Hot Springs was famous for bathhouse row, Major League Baseball spring training, illegal gambling, speakeasies and gangsters such as Al Capone.

ƌŬĂŶƐĂƐ͛ƐEĂƚŝǀĞWĞŽƉůĞƐ

The original Native American population of what is now Arkansas consisted of three main tribes, those of the (very roughly from the eastern half of the state and from which the ǁŽƌĚ͚ƌŬĂŶƐĂƐ͛ĚĞƌŝǀĞƐ), Osage (very roughly from the northwest quadrant of the state) and (very roughly from the southwest quadrant of the state. Their imprint on the history of the state cannot be understated even if it is mostly unknown.

Painting representations of the Native Americans that inhabited what is now Arkansas. From left to right, by Artist Charles Banks Wilson (a Quapaw), unknown artist (an Osage) and artist George Caitlin (a Caddo). Note visual similarities but they are significantly different peoples.

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The Ouachita are a Native American tribe from north- eastern Louisiana along the . The Ouachita were loosely affiliated with the Caddo Confederacy. Their traditional homelands were the lower reaches of the Ouachita River and along the Black River. The Ouachita are known for their traditional practice of burying horses.

The of Oklahoma and Arkansas and Ouachita River of Arkansas and Louisiana were named for the tribe, as was . The Washita River, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and Washita County, Oklahoma, were also named for the tribe, as well as the town of Washita, Oklahoma.

According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the name comes from the French spelling of the Caddo word ͚wishita͕͛ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ͞ŐŽŽĚŚƵŶƚŝŶŐŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘͟dŚĞKƵĂĐŚŝƚĂƚƌŝďĞŝƐĐŽŵŵŽŶůLJĐĂůůĞĚ the Washita tribe, and they may also be known as the Yesito.

The Ouachita Valley Indian tribes began to disappear in the 1600s. Most disappearances were the result of tribal warfare. The Washita tribe was almost totally destroyed in 1690 by the Tensas tribe. The remaining remnant of the Washita tribe was driven out of the Ouachita valley by the tribe in 1734. Between 1803 and 1836, Native Americans were forced to cede their lands in Arkansas and move west.

Ouachita Mountains

The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. dŚĞƌĂŶŐĞ͛ƐƐƵďƚĞƌƌĂŶĞĂŶƌŽŽƚƐŵĂLJĞdžƚĞŶĚĂƐĨĂƌĂƐĐĞŶtral Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S. Interior Highlands, one of the few major mountainous regions between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains.

Ouachita Mountains The highest peak in the Ouachitas is Mount Magazine in west-central Arkansas that rises to 2,753 feet. 3

The word Ouachita is composed of two words: ouac, a buffalo, and chito, large. It means the country of large buffaloes, numerous herds of those animals having formerly covered the prairies of Ouachita. Of course, such a country of buffaloes would be ͞ŐŽŽĚŚƵŶƚŝŶŐŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘͟

The mountains were home to the Ouachita tribe, for which they were named. Later French explorers translated the name to its present spelling. The first recorded exploration was in 1541 by Hernando de Soto. The Spanish were the first Europeans to actually explore the Ouachita River Valley. Hernando de Soto, credited for discovering the Mississippi River, was recorded as having walked the entire length of the Ouachita River from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Jonesville, Louisiana.

Later, in 1804, President Jefferson sent William Dunbar and Dr. George Hunter to the area after the Louisiana Purchase. Hot Springs National Park became Hot Springs Reservation in 1832 and later became one of ƚŚĞŶĂƚŝŽŶ͛ƐŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůƉĂƌŬƐ. American Indians came here for thousands of years to quarry novaculite for their tools and weapons and use the springs for health purposes.

dŚĞĂƚƚůĞŽĨĞǀŝů͛ƐĂĐŬďŽŶĞǁĂƐĨŽƵŐŚƚŚĞƌĞĂƚƚŚĞƌŝĚŐĞŽĨƚŚĞƐĂŵĞŶĂŵĞŝŶϭϴϲϯ͘/ŶƵŐƵƐƚϭϵϵϬ͕ the U.S. Forest Service discontinued clear-cutting as the primary tool for harvesting and regenerating short leaf, pine and hardwood forests in the .

The three major rivers in the region are Saline, Ouachita and Caddo rivers. Also several US Army Corps of Engineers and municipal lakes in the area, De Gray, Ouachita, Hamilton, Catherine and Winona, Norrell, Balboa and many smaller lakes.

The Saline River at the Arkansas Game and Fish Lyle Park boat ramp in Benton, Arkansas

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Ouachita River near Malvern in Hot Spring County

Caddo River near Lake DeGray in Clark County

The Hunter-Dunbar Expedition (aka The Forgotten Expedition) ʹ From the Encyclopedia Arkansas

The more famous Lewis and Clark Expedition left St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804, on what would prove to be an 8,000-mile journey, lasting two years and four months. Dr. George Hunter and his son, along with William Dunbar and company would not return home to Philadelphia until April 1, 1805, and would travel almost 7,000 miles in traversing the Arkansas region and Ouachita River Valley exploration.

The Hunter-Dunbar expedition was one of only four ventures into the Louisiana Purchase commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. Between 1804 and 1807, President Jefferson sent Lewis and ůĂƌŬŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶƌĞŐŝŽŶƐŽĨƚŚĞƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ͖ĞďƵůŽŶWŝŬĞ;WŝŬĞ͛ƐWĞĂŬͿŝŶƚŽƚŚĞZŽĐŬLJDŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐand the southwestern areas, and two smaller forays; Thomas Freemen and Peter Custis along the Red River; and tŝůůŝĂŵƵŶďĂƌĂŶĚƌ͘'ĞŽƌŐĞ,ƵŶƚĞƌƚŽĞdžƉůŽƌĞƚŚĞ͞tĂƐŚŝƚĂ͟ZŝǀĞƌĂŶĚ͞ƚŚĞŚŽƚƐƉƌŝŶŐƐ͟ŝŶǁŚĂƚŝƐŶŽǁ Arkansas and Louisiana.

For Dunbar, HunteƌĂŶĚ:ĞĨĨĞƌƐŽŶ͕ƚŚĞƉƌŽƉŽƐĞĚ͞'ƌĂŶĚdžƉĞĚŝƚŝŽŶ͟ǁŽƵůĚďĞĂƚƌŝƉĂůŽŶŐďŽƚŚƚŚĞ Red and Arkansas rivers. Such a trip, if conducted, would rival the breadth of the one being planned by Lewis and Clark along the Missouri river.

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While the Ouachita River expedition was not as vast as and did not provide the expanse of ŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĐŽůůĞĐƚĞĚďLJ>ĞǁŝƐĂŶĚůĂƌŬ͛ƐŽƌƉƐŽĨŝƐĐŽǀĞƌLJ͕ƚŚĞ exploration of Dunbar and Hunter remains significant for several reasons. It provided Americans with the first scientific study of the varied landscapes as well as the animal and plant life of early southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. In fact, the expedition resulted in arguably the most purely scientific collection of data among all of the Louisiana Purchase explorations.

Following an appropriation of $3,000 by Congress, preparation began in earnest. During the initial planning stages, however, both Jefferson and Dunbar became worried about the warring activities of certain Osage Indians in what would become Arkansas and Oklahoma. A group led by a chief called Great Track had broken away from the main tribe. Because of his concerns for the safety and success of the expedition, Jefferson wrote to Dunbar that he was afraid that the Osage would hinder their travel along the Arkansas River ͞ĂŶĚƉĞƌŚĂƉƐĚŽǁŽƌƐĞ͘͟ Both Jefferson and Dunbar also had apprehensions over possible Spanish resistance above the Bayou Pierre in northwestern Louisiana and northeastern Texas.

In June 1804, Dunbar wrote to Jefferson asking for permission to attempt what both men initially considered a trial run up a tributary of the Red River, a smallĞƌƐƚƌĞĂŵĐĂůůĞĚƚŚĞ͞tĂƐŚŝƚĂ͘͟Dunbar wrote ƚŽ:ĞĨĨĞƌƐŽŶŽŶƵŐƵƐƚϭϳ͕ϭϴϬϰ͕ƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƌĞǁĞƌĞŵĂŶLJ͞ĐƵƌŝŽƐŝƚŝĞƐ͟ĂůŽŶŐƚhe Ouachita River, and in ƉĂƌƚŝĐƵůĂƌŚĞƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚƚŽĂůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶŚĞŶĂŵĞĚ͞ƚŚĞďŽŝůŝŶŐƐƉƌŝŶŐƐ͟Ͷthe present-day Hot Springs National Park.

Dr. George Hunter William Dunbar

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Arkansas BSA Council Development

It is known that between 1908 (and in Arkansas in 1915), and individual Boy patrols and troops sprang up in Arkansas and across the nation before the formation of the and before councils and districts were developed. Much of that history is unknown, missing or lost to us today.

tŚĂƚĨŽůůŽǁƐŝƐĂůŝƐƚŝŶŐŽĨƌŬĂŶƐĂƐĐŽƵŶĐŝů͛Ɛ͕ĚĂƚĞƐŽĨĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͕ĚŝƐďĂŶĚŝŶŐĂŶĚŵĞƌŐŝŶŐŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͘ Over the course of time from 1915 to now there have been 27 different Boy Scout councils in Arkansas. Most were short lived and disbanded; others were re-named and/or merged into co-existing councils.

Blytheville Council was formed in 1916 and disbanded in 1917 and its territory was later to come under the Eastern Arkansas Area Council.

Crowley's Ridge Council was formed in 1924 and it was renamed Mohawk Area Council in 1926, which disbanded in 1930, and its territory was later to come under the Eastern Arkansas Area Council.

De Soto Area Council was formed in 1924 and in 1934 it received some of the counties that made up the defunct Kanawha Area Council. In 1948, De Soto Area Council formed the Abooikpaagun Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Eastern Arkansas Area Council was formed in 1935 and merged with Quapaw Area Council in 2002. In 1949, Eastern Arkansas Area Council formed the ,ŝ͛>Ž,ĂŚLJ͛-La Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Fayetteville Council was formed in 1922 and disbanded in 1926 and its territory was later to come under the Westark Area Council.

Fort Smith Council was formed in 1920 and disbanded in 1924, in 1925 a new northwest Arkansas council was formed called Fort Smith-Van Buren Council. In 1928 it and Ozark Area Council (formed in 1926) were merged into the new Northwest Arkansas Council. In 1930, Northwest Arkansas Council became Fort Smith Area Council and finally in 1936 it was renamed to Westark Area Council.

In 1963, Westark Area Council formed the Wachtschu Mawachpo Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Hot Springs District Council was formed in 1917. It was briefly renamed to Ouachita District Council and then to Ouachita Area Council in 1925 and later merged with Quapaw Area Council in 2012. In 1947, Ouachita Area Council formed the Wazhazee Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Jefferson County Council was formed in 1919 and it was renamed to Kanawha Area Council in 1930 and its counties were later divided up between Quapaw Area Council and Desoto Area Council in 1934.

Jonesboro Council was formed in 1917 and in 1923 it was renamed to Saint Francis Valley Council, which disbanded in 1930, and its territory was later to come under the Eastern Arkansas Area Council.

Little Rock Council was formed in 1916 and it was renamed to Pulaski County Council in 1923 and later it was renamed to Quapaw Area Council in 1927. In 1934 it and Desoto Area Council divided up the counties

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that were in the former Kanawha Area Council. In 2002, Quapaw Area Council merged with Eastern Arkansas Area Council and ten years later in 2012, merged with Ouachita Area Council.

In 1939, Quapaw Area Council formed the Quapaw Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Memphis Council was formed in 1915 and it was renamed to Chickasaw Area Council in 1925 (Tennessee). Some of its territory is in and around West Memphis and Marion, Arkansas (Crittenden County) in eastern Arkansas. In 1946, the Delta Area Council (a later merger with Chickasaw Area Council) formed the Koi Hatachi Lodge of the Order of the Arrow. In 1948, Chickasaw Area Council formed the Chickasah Lodge from an earlier entity called the Order of Kamp Kia Kima. Camp Kia Kima is a still functioning camp near Hardy in Northeastern Arkansas run by the Chickasaw Area Council.

In 1994, Chickasaw Area Council formed the Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge from the merger of Delta Area Council with Chickasaw area council and the subsequent merger of their two lodges Koi Hatachi and Chickasah.

Texarkana Council was formed in 1919 and it was renamed to Texas-Arkansas Area Council in 1928 and later still it was renamed to Caddo Area Council in 1936. In 1943, Caddo Area Council formed the Akela Wahinapay Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Currently, Quapaw Area Council (Little Rock), Westark Area Council (Fort Smith), Desoto Area Council (El Dorado), Caddo Area Council (Texarkana) and Chickasaw Area Council (Memphis) remain chartered in the state of Arkansas. The current lodges in the state are: Abooikpaagun, Ahoalan-Nachpikin, Akela Wahinapay, Quapaw and Wachtschu Mawachpo.

In the early days of Scouting many councils and troops across the country saw a need to address older Scouts leaving the program, the Order of Arrow and many other competing type of entities took up that slack. Therefore you see such organizations such as the Order of Kamp Kia Kima and Mic-O-Say, etc. in the historical record.

Of course, as it turns out there was an Osage Lodge from the Ozarks Empire Area Council (founded in 1941 and later called the Ozarks Council and now Ozark Trails Council, in southwestern Missouri). According to the lodge history posted on the Wah-Sha-She Lodge ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͕͞/Ŷϭϵϵϰ͕ǁŚĞŶKnjĂƌŬƐŽƵŶĐŝůĂŶĚDŽ-Kan Area Council merged, creating the existing Ozark Trails Council. The merger of the two councils additionally caused ƚŚĞKƌĚĞƌŽĨƚŚĞƌƌŽǁ>ŽĚŐĞƐƚŚĂƚǁĞƌĞƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚďLJĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶĐŝůƚŽŵĞƌŐĞŝŶƚŽŽŶĞ͘͟

͞Osage Lodge and Nih-Ka-Ga-Hah Lodge gave birth to Wah-Sha-She Lodge. Wah-Sha-She can be ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚŝŶƚŽŶŐůŝƐŚĂƐŵĞĂŶŝŶŐΗtĂƚĞƌWĞŽƉůĞΗ͘͟EŽƚĞĂŶĚĐŽŵƉĂƌĞƚŚĞĐůŽƐĞƌĞŶĚĞƌŝŶŐŽĨƚŚĞŶĞǁůŽĚŐĞ ŶĂŵĞ͞tĂŚ-Sha-^ŚĞ͟ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŶŽǁĚĞĨƵŶĐƚ͞tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ͘͟

Ouachita Area Council Founding

It is known that there were Scouts and Scouting units in Arkansas towns and cities prior to the formation of the various councils proper. Hot Springs was no exception.

Ouachita Area Council͕ηϭϰǁĂƐĨŽƌŵĞĚĂƐĂ͞second͟ĐůĂƐƐĐŽƵŶĐŝů;ŬŶŽǁŶĂƐthe Hot Springs District Council) in 1917 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽƚŚĞ,Žƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐZŽƚĂƌLJůƵď͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͕͞KŶ:ƵůLJϭϮ͕ 8

1917, the club voted to donate $100.00 toward the organization of the Boy Scout movement in Hot Springs. The club has continued through the years to render substantial support to this great character-building organization. ůĂƌŐĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨZŽƚĂƌŝĂŶƐŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞĚĂŶĚƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚƚŚĞ^ŝůǀĞƌĞĂǀĞƌǁĂƌĚ͘͟

By 1925, it was called Ouachita District Council in council board minutes. It was briefly named this until the formal change was made later in the year to Ouachita Area Council.

dŚĞĨŝƌƐƚĐŽƵŶĐŝůŽĨĨŝĐĞƐǁĞƌĞĂƚŝƚLJ,ĂůůƵŝůĚŝŶŐŝŶ,Žƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐ͘>ĂƚĞƌŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϲϬ͛ƐƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝůŽĨĨŝĐĞƐ were moved to a location on Central Avenue across the street from the Oaklawn Racetrack and Jockey Club. The final location of Ouachita Area Council offices was off of Malvern Avenue at 102 Chippewa Court, Hot Springs, AR in 1976.

Ouachita Area Council offices at Chippewa Court circa 1983

In 1924 the council encompassed these Arkansas counties, Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Little River, Montgomery, Pike, Polk, Saline, Scott and Sevier. Sevier County would be relinquished to Caddo Area Council out of Texarkana, Texas. Polk and Scott Counties were turned over to the Fort Smith ʹ Van Buren Council in December of 1928 that would later become the Westark Area Council.

The first Ouachita Area Council strip 9

A panoramic photograph of the 4th Biennial Conference of Scout Executives in 1926

The 4th Biennial Conference of Scout Executives was held at Hot Springs, Arkansas from September 22- 29, 1926. It was at this conference that National BSA got the ball rolling on a new Scouting program for younger boys, called Cub Scouts. In attendance at that conference was , James E. West, the Scout executives for all of the U.S. including those from Arkansas (John B. Floyd, Ouachita Area Council Scout Executive and host) and future governor of Arkansas and Eagle Scout from Ouachita Area Council, Sidney Sanders McMath.

Governor (and OAC Eagle Scout) ^ŝĚDĐDĂƚŚ͛ƐŽĨĨŝĐŝĂů gubernatorial photographic portrait, 1951

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Ouachita Area Council had five known newsletters over the years: Ozark Trail, Ouachita Trail, Ouachita Scouter, Messenger Brave and The Messenger.

dŚĞĞĂƌůŝĞƐƚ,Žƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐŝƐƚƌŝĐƚŽƵŶĐŝů͞KnjĂƌŬdƌĂŝů͟ŶĞǁƐůĞƚƚĞƌŵĂƐƚŚĞĂĚ;ǁĂƐŬŶŽǁŶƚŽŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚƚŽ͞KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂdƌĂŝů͟ŶĞǁƐůĞƚƚĞƌďLJϭϵϮϲͿ

The second oldest Ouachita Area Council newsletter masthead indicating another newsletter (Ouachita Trail not extant)

Masthead for The Messenger Brave council newsletter 1976

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Ouachita Area Council would comprise Clark, Garland, Hot Spring and Montgomery, Pike and Saline counties in west central Arkansas. It had a number of districts over the years their names were (in the early years) Hot Springs, Benton, Malvern, Arkadelphia, (later) Saline County, Garland County, Clark County, Hot Spring County, Pike County, Lake Ouachita, Foothills, Caddo, District One, District Two, Diamond Lakes, Nischa Sipo and Eagle Lakes.

It finally settled down to Diamond Lakes and Nischa Sipo districts in the last decade or so of the council history. Montgomery County was never officially formed into a district until it was subsumed into Lake KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂŝƐƚƌŝĐƚŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϲϬ͛Ɛ͘There were concomitant OA chapters after 1947.

Inclusion

Racial segregation was the norm for most of ŵĞƌŝĐĂďĞĨŽƌĞƚŚĞϭϵϲϬ͛Ɛ ĂŶĚϳϬ͛Ɛ. Ouachita Area Council and Wazhazee Lodge were no exceptions to this. The earliest evidence we have dates back to the ϭϵϮϬ͛Ɛ͘One can read in the council board minutes from the mid-ůĂƚĞϭϵϮϬ͛ƐĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƚŽĂĚŵŝƚ African American youth into the council. A motion was passed. They were then accorded secondary status.

Although there were districts named after the various counties covered by the Ouachita Area Council, as revealed in the council board minutes and newspapers clippings, there was something called the Carver ŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ͘dŚŝƐǁĂƐƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝů͛ƐŶĂŵĞĨŽƌƚŚĞ͞ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ͟ĨŽƌĨƌŝĐĂŶŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ^ĐŽƵƚƐ͘^ŝŶĐĞƚŚĞLJǁĞƌĞƐƉƌĞĂĚ out over the council there was no individual district to represent their interests. The council was racially segregated.

/ƚŝƐƐƉĞĐƵůĂƚĞĚƚŚĂƚ͞ĂƌǀĞƌ͟ŝŶĂƌǀĞƌŝǀŝƐŝŽŶǁĂƐĂϭϵϮϬ͛ƐŚŽŵĂŐĞƚŽƚŚĞĨƌŝĐĂŶŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐĐŝĞŶƚŝƐƚ͕ educator, inventor and botanist George Washington Carver. Carver reputedly discovered three hundred uses for peanuts and hundreds more for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes. He also did important research on cotton. He is credited as inventing peanut butter but research has shown that the ancient Aztecs invented it long ago.

See also the photograph of Troop 40 from Hot SƉƌŝŶŐƐĚĂƚĞĚĐŝƌĐĂůĂƚĞϭϵϮϬ͛ƐƚŽĞĂƌůLJϭϵϯϬ͛Ɛ͘ One of KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂƌĞĂŽƵŶĐŝů͛ƐĞĂƌůLJĨƌŝĐĂŶŵĞƌŝĐĂŶŽLJ^ĐŽƵƚƚƌŽŽƉƐ͘

dƌŽŽƉϰϬ͕,Žƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐ͕ƌŬĂŶƐĂƐĐŝƌĐĂůĂƚĞϭϵϮϬ͛ƐƚŽĞĂƌůLJϭϵϯϬ͛Ɛ 12

National BSA formally issued a statement of desegregation in 1974. Although many of the councils throughout the United States had already done so, there were a few holdouts in the south. The Ouachita Area Council and Wazhazee Lodge were desegregated sometime ŝŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϲϬ͛Ɛ͘

In 1970, the federal standards of sales of federal surplus property (such as military surplus equipment) had to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This finally forced most of the holdout councils into desegregating as many received items, equipment and materiel from the federal government.

Since then the lodge has had many active African American, Latin American, Asian American, and disabled members. Unfortunately, the first African American member of Wazhazee Lodge remains unknown at this time. Honor is due the former African American members in future editions. The following listed persons are from our records who were the first persons of their ethnicity and disability known in the lodge, Henry Montalvo (Latin American, 1976, Vigil), Tsunemi Yamashita (Asian American, 1979), Joe E. Ioup (acute hearing impairment, 1982).

The lodge lagged behind in one important area, women. /ƚǁĂƐŶ͛ƚƵŶƚŝůƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϵϬ͛ƐƚŚĂƚǁŽŵĞŶ were first admitted into the Wazhazee Lodge.

Scoutmaster Gail Boeckman, from Troop 34 of Benton, Arkansas the first female Scoutmaster in the Ouachita Area Council beginning in 1997. She was to become the first woman to be inducted into the Wazhazee Lodge as an Ordeal member in June 1998 and, in June 1999, became the first female Brotherhood member. She remains involved in Scouting as a district and council leader long after her son Eagled out and started his own career and family.

The KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂƌĞĂŽƵŶĐŝůƐƚƌŝƉƉŽƉƵůĂƌĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĞĂƌůLJϭϵϳϬ͛ƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞϭϵϵϬ͛Ɛ ;EŽƚĞ͗ĂŵƉdƵůĂŝƐŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚŽŶƚŚĞƉĂƚĐŚďLJƚŚĞĐĂƉŝƚŽů͞d͟ƐƵƉĞƌŝŵƉŽƐĞĚŽǀĞƌ the black outlined white Tee Pee.)

Most famous person from Ouachita Area Council is former President Bill Clinton. He was a ŝŶWĂĐŬϭĨƌŽŵZĂŵďůĞůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ^ĐŚŽŽůŝŶ,Žƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϱϬ͛Ɛ͘

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Official Presidential photographic portrait of William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States

Although there were established troops in Arkansas and in area of the future Ouachita Area Council, none stayed in continuous charter. Troop 1 from First Presbyterian Church of Hot Springs is the oldest continuously registered Boy Scout Troop in Arkansas. One of its early Scoutmasters (Richard L. Craigo) was ƚĂƉƉĞĚƚŽďĞƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝů͛Ɛ^ĐŽƵƚdžĞĐƵƚŝǀĞĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĨŽƌŵĂƚŝǀĞLJĞĂƌƐŽĨƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝůŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϮϬ͛ƐĂŶĚϯϬ͛Ɛ͘It was founded in 1921 by the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club and in 1923 the charter was taken over by the First Presbyterian Church. More about this in future editions.

Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut

͞/ŶĂƉƌĞƐƐƌĞůĞĂƐĞďLJƵďƌĞLJtŝůůŝĂŵƐ͕džĞĐƵƚŝǀĞŝƌĞĐƚŽƌŽĨƚŚĞEĂƚŝŽŶĂůzŽƵƚŚĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ on 24 September 1937, Williams stated:

City recreation departments, ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛ƐĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ͕zD͛Ɛ͕zt͛Ɛ͕ƐĞƚƚůĞŵĞŶƚŚŽƵƐĞƐ͕ institutions for the blind, public schools, orphanages, hospitals for handicapped and crippled children, ďŽLJ͛ƐĐůƵďƐ͕ŽLJ^ĐŽƵƚƐ͕ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJĐĞŶƚĞƌƐĂŶĚĐŚƵƌĐŚĞƐǁĞƌĞƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚĂƐĐŽŽƉĞƌĂƚŝŶŐĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐŝn supervising the students and providing facilities for increased recreational programs to all young ƉĞŽƉůĞŝŶƚŚĞĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘͟ͶAubrey Williams

The Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut was constructed from 1938 to 1939 as a National Youth Administration (NYA) project. It is an example of the typical type of buildings constructed by the New Deal's Works Progress 14

Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and NYA during the Great Depression. However, it is the only known building constructed by the NYA and the only building designed in a Rustic style that remains standing in Arkadelphia that was designed and constructed during the New Deal era.

Image of the Arkadelphia Scout Hut built in 1939 by the National Youth Administration (NYA) the only known surviving building built by that organization; also note the plaque for the National Register of Historic Places

The Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut, located in Central Park, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Since the roof and the original shutters and windows were replaced in 1953, in the Hut is preclude from being listed on the National Register under Criterion C. However, it listed under Criterion A as a "property that made a contribution to the major pattern of American history.

While the Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut was constructed specifically as a meeting place for two local Boy Scout troops, and its use is controlled by the Boy Scouts, the building is actually owned by the city of

15

Arkadelphia. Starting around 1958, the Boy Scouts allowed the local Girls Scout troops to use the building and currently Cub Scout Pack 3024 and Girl Scout Troop 454 use the building.͟ʹ Wikipedia

Members of Wazhazee Lodge helped with the maintenance and upkeep of this building over the years.

Benton De Soto Historical Trail

The 1976 edition of the Benton De Soto Historical Trail patch

Established in 1976, the Benton De Soto Historical Trail was influenced by the bicentennial of the United States of America. Long time Scouter; Edith Ziegler was the Saline District Bicentennial Committee Chair that developed the trail. Members of Wazhazee Lodge were tasked to assist in the planning, marking of the trail and erecting of a monument to Boy Scouting on the Saline County Courthouse lawn. It was the only official Boy Scout hiking trail in Ouachita Area Council and remains in use today.

Ouachita Area Council and Wazhazee Lodge were the only council and lodge founded and headquartered in a U.S. National Park (Hot Springs National Park).

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The Boy Scouts of America put out a series of National Park patches during the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts in 2010. The also released a special BSA 100th anniversary patch in kind.

Camp William G. Maurice

The Hot Springs District Council developed a Scout camp northwest of Hot Springs, called Camp Bonanza Springs, later shortened to Camp Bonanza and then finally renamed as Camp Maurice (after prominent and wealthy businessman William Gilbert ͞hŶĐůĞŝůů͟Maurice, owner of the Maurice Bathhouse of Hot Springs and Scouting benefactor). Coincidentally, William Gilbert Maurice was one of the fifteen charter members and the founding President of the Hot Springs Rotary Club on July 1, 1916.

William Gilbert Maurice

The council had leased Camp Bonanza since 1927 before the widow of William Maurice purchased and donated the property to the Ouachita Area Council in 1938. Prior to that date it was simply on loan to the Boy 17

Scouts for their private use. The camp was used heavily and even had a weekly newsletter (during summer ĐĂŵƉͿĐĂůůĞĚ͞dŚĞŽŶĂŶnjĂůĂŚ͘͟ĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐĨŽƌƚŚĞ͞ZŽLJĂůKƌĚĞƌŽĨ^ŝĂŵ͟ǁĞƌĞƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚĂƚƚŚĞ weekending campfires. It is still conducted today.

Summer camp usually consisted of three weeks during the mid-summer with the third or sometimes fourth week ďĞŝŶŐƚŚĞ͞EĞŐƌŽ^ƵŵŵĞƌĂŵƉ͟(see article from the 1934 edition of the Ouachita Scouter below).

Article from the 1934 Ouachita Scouter newsletter

ϭϵϯϬĂƌƚŝƐƚŝĐƌĞŶĚĞƌŝŶŐŽĨĂŵƉŽŶĂŶnjĂ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐ͛ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶƐ;ƚŚĞĨƵƚƵƌĞĂŵƉtŝůůŝĂŵ'͘DĂƵƌŝĐĞͿ͕ŶŽŬŶŽǁŶŵĂƉŚĂƐďĞĞŶĨŽƵŶĚ of the camp. 18

In 1934, Camp Maurice was still called Camp Bonanza Springs. It was located five miles northwest of Hot Springs out of the city via Highway 7. Off of Highway 7 onto Cedar Street then onto Cedar Glades Road for about one ½ miles to Wildcat Road passed a couple of intersections to the camp proper. /ƚƐŶĂŵĞ͞ŽŶĂŶnjĂ ^ƉƌŝŶŐƐ͟ĐĂŵĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐĨĞĚĐƌĞĞŬƚhat was dammed up to create the aquatics area.

Circa mid to late ϭϵϮϬ͛Ɛ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚƚĂŬĞŶĂƚĂŵƉDĂƵƌŝĐĞƐŚŽǁŝŶŐƚŚĞĐĂŵƉ͛ƐĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͞ZĞĂĚLJƚŽƐǁŝŵ͘͟;EŽƚĞ͗WĞŶĐŝůĞĚŝŶZŝĐŚĂƌĚ>͘͞ŝĐŬ͟ƌĂŝŐŽ;ĨŽrmer Troop 1 Scoutmaster and Council Scout Executive at that time.)

ϭϵϮϬ͛ƐƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚŽĨLJŽƵƚŚĂƚƐƵŵŵĞƌĐĂŵƉĂƚĂŵƉDĂƵƌŝĐĞ (note the man in Native American regalia at the far right)

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In 1938, the widow of William G. Maurice donated the camp property to Ouachita Area Council.

Examples of a Pre and Post-WWII felt patches and a twill patch from 1953 from Camp Maurice

Wazhazee Lodge Founding

It is unclear why the founders of the lodge chose Wazhazee for the name but there are a few ideas floating around. The three major Arkansas Native tribes were Quapaw, Caddo and Osage. Quapaw and Caddo Lodge names were already taken. So those names were out.

The Order of the Arrow, Wazhazee Lodge #366 of the Boy Scouts of America, Ouachita Area Council #14 in Hot Springs, Arkansas was founded on August 15, 1947 at Camp Maurice. The first and founding (1947) Lodge Chief, Lodge Advisor (and founding lodge members) remains unknown at this time.

As was to become the custom in the early years the Lodge Staff Advisor would have been the Ouachita Area Council Executive O. E. Standfield of that time. Indeed, the Lodge Officers for the first five years of the lodge are currently unknown. However, the first recorded Lodge Chief is Leonard Phillips of Hot Springs in 1952.

Newly discovered OA membership cards from 1949, with two early lodge member names on them have come to light on eBay and have been collected and are being absorbed into the Wazhazee historical collection ΀ƐĞĞZŽďĞƌƚ>͘ƵƌŚĂŵĂŶĚ:ŽĞ,ĂƌĚŝŶ͛ƐĐĂƌĚƐ͕ŶŽƚĞƵƌŚĂŵ͛ƐƐŝŐŶĂƚƵƌĞŽŶďŽƚŚĐĂƌĚƐŵĂLJŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞ that he was the Lodge Secretary or Lodge Chief at the time].

Robert L. Durham has his signature over a line with Netami Lehiket printed beneath it. Netami Lehiket means in the Lenni language of Delaware Indians (Netami = the first) + (Lehiket [sic, Lekhiket] = writer) = the first Lodge Secretary?

It is presumed though not confirmed that the Quapaw Lodge from Quapaw Area Council from Little Rock assisted in the formation of the Wazhazee Lodge, further information about this will be added in future editions. The first OA activities and ceremonies in Ouachita Area Council (OAC) took place at Camp Maurice, northwest of Hot Springs on Highway 7 in 1947. The earliest proof of this is the two or three surviving scanned 20

OA membership cards that note that the persons listed on it got their Ordeal and/or their Brotherhood in 1950-ϱϯĂƚĂŵƉDĂƵƌŝĐĞ΀ƐĞĞtĂůƚĞƌZĂƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ͕ŚĂƌůĞƐ DĂnjĂŶĚĞƌ͛ƐĐĂƌĚƐ΁͘

It is known that the founding totem for Wazhazee Lodge ǁĂƐƚŚĞ͞ƐŶĂŝů͘͟/ƚŝƐƵŶŬŶŽǁŶǁŚLJƚŚŝƐtotem was chosen. Later the toteŵǁĂƐĐŚĂŶŐĞĚƚŽƚŚĞ͞ďĞĂǀĞƌ͟ĂŶĚĂƐŽĨƚŚĞǁƌŝƚŝŶŐŽĨƚŚŝƐpaper; it is unknown exactly when or why this choice or change of totem was made.

Unfortunately, there are no surviving lodge or council newsletters or council board minutes/records from the critical period of the mid-ϭϵϰϬ͛ƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞŵŝĚ-ϭϵϲϬ͛Ɛ͘^ĂĚůLJ͕ƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝůŽĨĨŝĐĞŵŽǀĞĚfrom the Garland County Courthouse to a location across from the Oaklawn Racetrack before landing at its final location on Malvern Avenue in Hot Springs. Moving, as we all know, is the opportune time to clean house, perhaps, documents and records were thrown out or lost during those moves.

It is also known that there was at least one plumbing failure at the Malvern Avenue office that then ruined a number of records that were stored in the basement under the stairs. Finally, Frankie Jo Herron, the longtime council office manager (48 years) and a number of othĞƌ͞ŽůĚƚŝŵĞƌƐ͟ŚĂǀĞrecently passed away before they could be interviewed about council and lodge history.

All is not lost, however. The complete record of Ouachita Area Council neǁƐůĞƚƚĞƌ͞DĞƐƐĞŶŐĞƌƌĂǀĞ͟ ;ůĂƚĞƌŬŶŽǁŶĂƐ͞ƚŚĞDĞƐƐĞŶŐĞƌ͟Ϳfrom October 1976 until April 2010 (when the last issue was published) have been collected and scanned. A collection of OA lodge membership record cards with much data has also been recovered and scanned.

Plans are afoot to find and conduct oral histories with what ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐŽĨƚŚĞ͞ŽůĚƚŝŵĞƌƐ͘͟dŚŝƐƐŚŽƵůĚ render some light on the early days of the lodge and fill in some of the gaps of information. Further information about this to be added in future editions.

And finally, the council board minutes have survived from the mid-ϭϵϲϬ͛ƐƵŶƚŝůƚŚĞĐŽƵŶĐŝůĂŶĚůŽĚŐĞ merged with Quapaw Area Council and Quapaw Lodge in January 2012. The board minutes from the early ϭϵϮϬ͛ƐƵƉƵŶƚŝůϭϵϰϲƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ͘DŝƐƐŝŶŐĂƌĞƚŚĞĐƌŝƚŝĐĂůLJĞĂƌƐŽĨƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϰϬ͛ƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞŵŝĚ-ϭϵϲϬ͛Ɛ͕ƚŚĞǀĞƌLJ time period when the Wazhazee Lodge was formed and Camp Tula was founded.

Tula People

The only ƐŽƵƌĐĞŽŶƚŚĞ/ŶƚĞƌŶĞƚƚŚĂƚŵĂƌƌLJƚŚĞǁŽƌĚƐ͞dƵůĂ͟ĂŶĚ͞ƌŬĂŶƐĂƐ͟ŝƐtŝŬŝƉĞĚŝĂ͘dŚĞ following information is most of the Wikipedia entry. It has been sourced from various books on the subject. ͞dŚĞdƵůĂƉĞŽƉůĞǁĞƌĞĂEĂƚŝǀĞŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƚƌŝďĞƚŚĂƚůŝǀĞĚŝŶǁŚĂƚŝƐŶŽǁǁĞƐƚĞƌŶƌŬĂŶƐĂƐ͘dŚĞǁŽƌĚ͞dƵůĂ͟ŝƐ not a Caddo word. The tribe and province are also known as Tulia. The Tula are known to history only from the chronicles of Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto's exploits in the interior of North America.

The Tula were possibly a Caddoan people, but this is not certain. Based on the descriptions of the ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐĐŚƌŽŶŝĐůĞƌƐ͕͞dƵůĂWƌŽǀŝŶĐĞ͕͟ŽƌƚŚĞŝƌŚŽŵĞůĂŶĚ͕ŵĂLJŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶĂƚƚŚĞŚĞĂĚǁĂƚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞKƵĂĐŚŝƚĂ͕ Caddo, Little Missouri, Saline, and Cossatot Rivers in Arkansas. They are also thought to have lived in the northern Ouachita Mountains in the Petit Jean and Fourche valleys.

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De Soto entered Tula territory on September 30, 1541 near present-day Fort Smith, Arkansas and violently clashed with the tribe multiple times during the beginning of October 1541. His secretary, Rodrigo Ranjel described the TuůĂĂƐ͕͞ƚŚĞďĞƐƚĨŝŐŚƚŝŶŐƉĞŽƉůĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞŚƌŝƐƚŝĂŶƐŵĞƚǁŝƚŚ͘͟ƐƚĂƚƵĞǁĂƐĞƌĞĐƚĞĚŝŶ the late 20th century to commemorate the Tula, but De Soto scholars suspect that the location of the statue ĚŽĞƐŶŽƚĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞdƵůĂ͛ƐĂĐƚƵĂůŚŽŵĞůĂŶĚ͘dŚĞdula are thought to be the first Caddo band to encounter Europeans.

The 16th century Spanish chroniclers wrote that the Tula practiced cranial deformation and tattooed their faces. They fought with large spears.͟

Camp Tula

Later the Wazhazee Lodge was pivotal in the opening of Camp Tula on Lake Greeson near Kirby, ƌŬĂŶƐĂƐŝŶWŝŬĞŽƵŶƚLJŝŶϭϵϱϳ͘/ƚŝƐƵŶŬŶŽǁŶǁŚLJƚŚĞŶĂŵĞ͞dƵůĂ͟ǁĂƐĂƌƌŝǀĞĚĂƚĨŽƌthe camp, other than the speculation ƚŚĂƚ>ĂŬĞ'ƌĞĞƐŽŶĂŶĚĂŵƉdƵůĂƌĞƐŝĚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞƉŽƚĞŶƚŝĂůƌĞŐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞ͞Tula Indian ƚƌŝďĞ͟.

Camp Tula was located on Camp Tula Road, also known as; County Road 602 off of US Highway 70 just passed Daisy (and Daisy State Park), Arkansas.

Circa late 1ϵϳϬ͛Ɛ, view from the parking lot of the Camp Tula Trading Post front porch (Lodge member James Browning standing under the sign.) 22

First came something known as the ͞dƵůĂdƌĞŬϭϵϱϱ͘͟This is speculation, but it is assumed that the trek was some sort of hike to the newly developing property by the Corps of Engineers on Lake Greeson that became Camp Tula. Further information about this to be added in future editions.

The 1955 Tula Trek Patch

Shortly thereafter, Camp Tula was formally opened. Construction began on the facilities at the location in 1956. The camp was formally opened in the summer of 1957. For decades, the council and the camp relied ŽŶƚŚĞKƌĚĞƌŽĨƚŚĞƌƌŽǁůŽĚŐĞ͛ƐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐƚŽŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĂŶĚƉƌĞƉĂƌĞƚŚĞĐĂŵƉƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJĨŽr summer camp and other events. Many a blissful summer was had by thousands of boys at Camp Tula. Happy memories abound, even with ƚŚĞĐĂŵƉ͛Ɛ annual bountiful crop of poison ivy.

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The Camp Tula Staff of 1971

/ŶƐŝĚĞĂŵƉdƵůĂŝŶŝŶŐ,ĂůůĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞďƵƐLJŵĞĂůƐ;ŝƌĐĂĞĂƌůLJϭϵϴϬ͛ƐͿ͕EŽƚĞthe ĂŵƉZĂŶŐĞƌWĂƵůdƌŽƵƚƚ͛Ɛ(beloved by all) Wife/Head Cook (Laverne) through the doorway in the background almost obscured by blurred image of a fast moving Scout.

Underneath the pavilion ends of the new Camp Tula Trading Post circa mid-ϭϵϴϬ͛Ɛ͘

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>ĂƚĞϭϵϳϬ͛ƐƉŚŽƚŽŽĨ^ĐŽƵƚƐƐĞƚƚŝŶŐƵƉĂƚĞŶƚĨŽƌĂŵƉŝŶŐŵĞƌŝƚďĂĚŐĞĂƚĂŵƉdƵůĂŝŶ-between the old Trading Post and the Health Lodge.

DŝĚƚŽ>ĂƚĞϭϵϳϬ͛Ɛ, learning to Row in Rowing merit badge class at Camp Tula waterfront. Note swimming area in the background on the point. 25

ĂƌůLJϭϵϴϬ͛ƐƉŚŽƚŽŽĨĂĂŶŽĞŝŶŐŵĞƌŝƚďĂĚŐĞĐůĂƐƐŝŶƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐĂƚĂŵƉdƵůĂ͘EŽƚĞŝƚĂƉƉĞĂƌƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞLJĂƌĞŽƵƚƐŝĚĞŽĨƚŚĞĐĂmp waterfront confines in an ͞KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂ͟ brand canoe.

Branding was quite popular at Camp Tula and self-created patches proliferated 26

The Camp Tula patch with all of the rockers available (Note the first year campers got the tent, second year axe, third year paddles, fourth year rifle and staff is self- evident.)

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OA Campfire Ring

The OA Campfire Ring at Camp Tula was the site of many, many Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil ceremonies over the years. There was a secret entrance trail behind the camp rifle range.

Two views ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŵŝĚƚŽůĂƚĞϭϵϳϬ͛ƐŽĨƚŚĞĂŵƉdƵůĂZŝĨůĞZĂŶŐĞ͘EŽƚĞŝŶƚŚĞĐŽůŽƌŝŵĂge to the right may be the best image that can be had of the area and direction in which the trail leading to the formal Wazhazee Lodge Ceremonial Campfire Ring once stood (The trail was never visible or known to campers unless they were members of lodge. The entrance into the woods would have been far to the right in the image and a little behind where the rifle shooters lay).

Camp Tula Campfire Ring

The main camp campfire ring lead from the parking lot on a trail next to the Wazhazee Lodge Log Cabin.

A view of the Camp Tula Campfire ring 1984 at the Section SC-2 Conclave hosted by Wazhazee Lodge, Pow Wow is about to begin 28

Wazhazee Lodge Log Cabin

At Camp Tula, the Wazhazee Lodge built a log cabin as an official lodge building. Although it was never fully completed it mostly served as a changing room for the dance and ceremonies teams and impromptu lodge and chapter meetings.

The only known image of the Wazhazee Lodge Log Cabin circa 1980

Indeed, four Section Conclaves were held at Camp Tula and hosted by Wazhazee Lodge over the years. Numerous OA fellowships, , conferences and trainings were held at Camp Tula in its 40-year history. At least, two courses (SC-178 and SC-233) were held there as well.

Five youth lodge members are being beaded with their Wood Badge (SC-233) regalia at a Summer Camp campfire, they are front row from left to right, James Browning, Jim Bush, David Elmore, Chip Culpepper and Tommy Wright, back row left to right are Wood Badge beading party adults, Don Elmore, Unknown, Bob Johnson and G.W. Covert circa 1984 29

A map of Camp Tula circa 1975

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Note in the above map of Camp Tula the tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞ͛Ɛ>ŽŐĂďŝŶŶĞdžƚƚŽƚŚĞƚƌĂŝůůĞĂĚŝŶŐŽĨĨŽĨ the Parking Lot to the Campfire Area. Also note that the trail to the Nature Area on the left hand side of the map shows that the Nature Area is off the map, additionally, off the map is the ͞ŚŝĚĚĞŶ͟ƚƌĂŝůƚŽƚŚĞOA Ceremonial Ring (both not shown), which was located north and east of the Rifle Range.

Also not shown are later additions to the camp of a new Trading Post (between the Dining Hall and the Staff Area) and Campsite 8 (between the fork of the road leading to the Boathouse and the one leading to Campsites 5-7.) ĂŶĚĂƚƌĂŝůǁĂƐĂĚĚĞĚĨƌŽŵĂŵƉƐŝƚĞϮƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŽƚŚĞ͞ŚĂƉĞůdƌĂŝů͟ŝƚǁĂƐŬŶŽǁŶĂƐ ͞ƵůƉĞƉĞƌƵƚKĨĨ͘͟dŚĞƚƌĂŝůůĞĂĚŝŶŐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŝŶŝŶŐ,ĂůůƚŽƚŚĞ BoathousĞǁĂƐŬŶŽǁŶĂƐ͞ĂƌĚŝĂĐ,ŝůů͘͟The Swimming Area was out on the point down from Campsite 5 where the trail ends, while the Boating Area was on the shoreline nearest to the Boathouse.

Camp Tula Spring Ordeal Service Projects

Spring Ordeal 1978 service project underway at Camp Tula.

Another view, Spring Ordeal 1978 service project underway at Camp Tula. 31

Still another view, Spring Ordeal 1978 service project underway at Camp Tula.

/ŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϴϬ͛Ɛ͕ƚhe US Army Corps of Engineers, due to a massive infestation of the Southern Pine Beetle, eventually closed down Camp Tula. This infestation led the Corps to clear-cut large sections of the ĐĂŵƉƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJƌĞŶĚĞƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĐĂŵƉ͛ƐŶĂƚƵƌĂůĨĞĞůŵŽŽƚ, the landscape turned moonscape. The last summer camp held there was in 1991. The Camp Tula lease (from the Corps of $1.00 a year for twenty-five years) lapsed in 1995 and was not renewed.

A new Corps owned camp property was found on DeGray Lake. It was a former Air Force rest and relaxation camp. It eventually became known as the Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation.

Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation

The lodge aided in the opening of the DeGray Scout Camp (then DeGray Scout Reservation and Training Center) on Lake DeGray near Bismarck, Arkansas in Clark County later to become known as the Ross- Rhodes Scout Reservation. This was the last camp of the Ouachita Area Council. It was closed upon the merger of Ouachita Area Council and Quapaw Area Council in January 2012. It remained closed for about a year while a private foundation comprised of Scouters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ross Foundation was formed and called, the Ouachita Camp Foundation. The Ross-Rhodes Camp is still available for use by Scouts today.

The Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation patch 32

Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation was located at Route 3, Box 2, Bismarck, AR on DeGray Lake administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Directions from US Interstate 30 to Highway 7 to Arlie Moore Road also known as County Road 254 to Chestnut Drive also known as County Road 966 on to Boy Scout Road into the camp proper.

On the left the 2010 sign on Highway 7 out of Caddo Valley/Arkadelphia to the Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation, on the right the camp entrance sign.

Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation Map 33

Main Pavilion and Camp Kitchen

Main Pavilion and Kitchen circa 2006

Cabe Outpost

The Cabe Outpost circa 2009

Early OA Campfire Ring (back by the old Nature Trail, this item to be added in future editions)

Old OA Campfire Ring (on the Ross Property across the road from the main camp gate, this item to be added in future editions)

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Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation OA Campfire Area (out on the point on the lake)

The main Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation Campfire area out on the point on the lake, 2010.

Weyerhaeuser Building

A 2010 view of the Weyerhaeuser Building at Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation where Wazhazee Lodge stored equipment and ceremonial materials as well as held meetings and events.

Camp Chapel

Wazhazee Lodge Vigil member, Ken Armstrong, (Scoutmaster of Hot Springs Troop 1, the Oldest continuously chartered Boy Scout troop in Arkansas), delivering the chapel service at the Ross-Rhodes Chapel at a lodge event, circa 2006. 35

Arkansas Philmont Reunion

The Ouachita Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America held a Reunion on Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Garrison Student Center at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. All who had been, either a camper or a staff member, or had been associated with Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico in any way, and their guests, attended.

The event featured Philmont music, a Philmont lunch, and a special guest speaker, Philmont Program Director and former Ouachita Area Council Scout Executive Mark Anderson. A tour of the Ross Rhodes Scout Reservation on beautiful Lake DeGray was conducted.

Those who attended were invited to bring their scrapbooks and share photos and memories of the fun they have had at Philmont Scout Ranch. Dress was scout or staff uniforms or casual civilian attire. Wazhazee Lodge Order of the Arrow members participated in staffing the event.

Lodge Flaps and Patches

The lodge ŚĂĚĂĐŝƌĐƵůĂƌƉĂƚĐŚďĞĨŽƌĞ͚ůŽĚŐĞĨůĂƉƐ͛ďĞĐĂŵĞǁŝĚĞůLJƉŽƉƵůĂƌ͘

dŚĞtĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ͞ZŽƵŶĚ͟ƉĂƚĐŚ;ƚŚĞĨŝƌƐƚƉĂƚĐŚ ŝƐƐƵĞĚďLJƚŚĞůŽĚŐĞŝŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϰϬ͛ƐĞĂƌůLJϭϵϱϬ͛ƐͿ

The first flap (date of creation and creator unknown) ǁĂƐĂďůƵĞĨŝĞůĚǁŝƚŚĂďůĂĐŬďŽƌĚĞƌĂŶĚĂĐŚŝĞĨ͛Ɛ head with bonnet centered on it, the beaver totem under the word Wazhazee on the left ;ƚŚĞnjĞĞ͛ƐŝŶ tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞǁĞƌĞnjĞĚ͛Ɛ͕Ă͚njĞĚ͛ďĞŝŶŐĂ͚njĞĞ͛ǁŝƚŚĂĐƌŽƐƐďĂƌŝŶƚŚĞŵŝĚĚůĞ), on the right, a red arrow piercing (from right to left) the center W in the WWW underneath ƚŚĞǁŽƌĚŝŶŐ͞Lodge 366, WWW.͟ The original tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞĨůĂƉƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ͚njĞĚƐ͛command a premium price on eBay at nearly $1,000 (Seen below). 36

The original Wazhazee Lodge flap with tŚĞ͞ĞĚƐ͟;ůĂƚĞƌƚŽďĞĐŽŵĞƚŚĞƌŽƚŚĞƌŚŽŽĚĨůĂƉǁŝƚŚŽƵƚƚŚĞ͞ĞĚƐ͟Ϳ

This served as the one and only patch for many years. Members received one lodge flap for Ordeal membership, one for Brotherhood membership and one for the Vigil Honor for life. The rule allowed for you to turn in and destroy damaged or ruined flaps for new ones. The transaction must have been conducted in the presence of a lodge officer(s) and noted on their membership card.

/ŶƚŚĞĞĂƌůLJϭϵϳϬ͛Ɛ, a trading flap was designed by OA youth member, Roger Tilley and used for Ordeal membership; ƚŚĞŽůĚĨůĂƉ;ŵŝŶƵƐƚŚĞnjĞĚ͛Ɛ in the word Wazhazee) remained in use for Brotherhood and Vigil honor. Then later in and around 1977, Roger adapted the brotherhood flap with a yellow border that became the Wazhazee Vigil Honor flap. dŚĞŽƌŝŐŝŶĂů͚ĨŝƌƐƚ͛ůŽĚŐĞĨůĂƉĐŽŶƚŝŶƵĞĚŝŶƵƐĞĂƐƚŚĞƌŽƚŚĞƌŚŽŽĚĨůĂƉƵŶƚŝůƚŚĞ merger of Wazhazee Lodge with Quapaw Lodge on January 1, 2012.

Ordeal Flap Vigil Flap

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dŚĞůĂƐƚ͞LJŽƵƚŚ͟ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚĨůĂƉĂŶĚƉŽĐŬĞƚƉĂƚĐŚďLJDŝƚĐŚŽŶŝŶŐĂŶĚĐĂůůĞĚ͞'ŽŝŶŐKƵƚŝƚŝŶŐ͟;EŽƚĞ͚͗ŐŽůĚ͛ůĞƚƚĞƌŝŶŐĚĞŶŽƚŝŶŐƚŚĞLJĞĂƌƐŽĨƚŚĞůŽĚŐĞŝŶĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJůŝƐƚĞĚ as 1948-2011.)

ůŽĚŐĞ͚ĚĞĂƚŚ͛ĨůĂƉǁĂƐĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ(by Lodge Associate Adviser Gary Henningsen) ƚŚĂƚǁĂƐĂ͚ďůĂĐŬ͛ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚĂŶĚďŽƌĚĞƌǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƌĞƐƚŽĨƚŚĞĨůĂƉĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ͚ŐŚŽƐƚĞĚ͛ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĞdžĐĞƉƚŝŽŶŽĨĂ͚ŐƌĞLJ͛ĐŚŝĞĨ͛ƐŚĞĂĚ with bonnet ĂŶĚ͚ŐŽůĚ͛ůĞƚƚĞƌŝŶŐĚĞŶŽƚŝŶŐƚŚĞLJĞĂƌƐŽĨƚŚĞůŽĚŐĞŝŶĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJůŝƐƚĞĚĂƐϭϵϰϴ-2011.

dŚĞ͞ĞĂƚŚ͟ĨůĂƉ 38

Hosted Section Conclaves

Left to right, top; Section 5A Conclave 1967 and 1971, Section SC-1A Conclave 1978, bottom; Section SC-2 Conclave 1984, Section SR-ϯŽŶĐůĂǀĞ͞Ž-,ŽƐƚ͟ϭϵϵϲĂŶĚ SectŝŽŶϴŽŶĐůĂǀĞ͞Ž-,ŽƐƚ͟ϮϬϭϮ;dhis is the last patch to bear the tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞ͞ϯϲϲ͟ number on it. At this point the lodge had officially merged with Quapaw Lodge #160.).

Wazhazee Lodge hosted four Section Conclaves in 1967 Area 5A, in 1971 Area 5A, in 1978 SC-1A and again in 1984 SC-2, all at Camp Tula and Co-Hosted two conclaves, one in 1996, SR-3B with Akela Wahinapay #232, at Camp Pioneer and in 2012 SR-8 during its merger with Quapaw Lodge #160, at Camp Rockefeller. Wazhazee assisted in its final conclave. Although merged into Quapaw Lodge by this time the conclave patches all indicate Wazhazee Lodge #366 as co-host. These are the last patches created with the Wazhazee >ŽĚŐĞŶƵŵďĞƌ͞ϯϲϲ͟ŽŶƚŚĞŵ͘

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The opening flag ceremony to the 1984 Section SC-2 Conclave hosted by Wazhazee Lodge and held at Camp Tula on the campfire ring trail

The Wazhazee Lodge Ordeal Team won the Section 3 Conclave Achievement Honor in the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony Competition in 2007. Lodge Vice Chief Chris Coning was awarded the Section 3 Award of Merit at the 2007 Section 3 Conclave.

Conclave Circa 2008

National Order of the Arrow Conferences (NOAC)

It is also known the lodge had sent a number of contingents to various National Order of the Arrow Conferences (NOAC) ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞϭϵϲϬ͛ƐŽŶǁĂƌĚ, and substantial representation on Philmont, Northern Tier, Florida Sea Base contingents and National in the past.

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The Wazhazee Lodge 2009 commemorative NOAC patch

Lodge Newsletters

dŚĞtĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞŚĂĚĂƚůĞĂƐƚƚǁŽĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶƚůLJŶĂŵĞĚŶĞǁƐůĞƚƚĞƌƐ͕ĞĂǀĞƌŚŝƉƐŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϳϬ͛Ɛ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞϭϵϴϬ͛ƐĂŶĚĞĂǀĞƌdĂůĞƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞϭϵϵϬ͛ƐƵŶƚŝůŵĞƌŐĞƌŝŶϮϬϭϮ͘KŶůLJĂŚĂŶĚĨƵůŽĨƚŚĞŵare currently known to exist.

Masthead for the mid-ϭϵϳϬ͛ƐtĂnjhazee Lodge ͞ĞĂǀĞƌŚŝƉƐ͟newsletter

Masthead for the last published issue of the ͞Beaver Tales͟ newsletter of the Wazhazee Lodge 2010

E. Urner Goodman Camping Award

During this time, Wazhazee Lodge earned the E. Urner Goodman Camping Award in 1976. The lodge was presented the award at the Area I Conclave in August 1976 at Camp Pioneer in Caddo Area Council. It was one of only twelve lodges nationally to receive the award that year. 41

1976 1978

In November 1978 at the OA Father/Son Banquet held at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Wazhazee Lodge was presented with their second E. Urner Goodman Camping Award. Wazhazee Lodge was one of only two lodges in the South Central Region and twelve in the nation to receive this award. The whereabouts of the actual award plaques are unknown.

Notable Lodge Members

/Ŷ:ƵŶĞŽĨϭϵϳϵ͕tĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞ͛ƐŵŽƐƚĨĂŵŽƵƐŵĞŵďĞƌǁĂƐŝŶĚƵĐƚĞĚĂƐĂŶKƌĚĞĂů member. Chester ͚ŚĞƚ͛>ĂƵĐŬǁĂƐ͞>Ƶŵ͟ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚĨĂŵŽƵƐϭϵϯϬ͛Ɛ-ϰϬ͛Ɛcomedy ƌĂĚŝŽƐŚŽǁ͞>ƵŵĂŶĚďŶĞƌ͘͟dŚĞƌĞǁĞƌĞ ĂůƐŽŵĂŶLJĨŝůŵƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĂƚƚŝŵĞĂŶĚĂϭϵϱϬ͛ƐdsƐŚŽǁĂƐǁĞůů͘,ĞĂŶĚŚŝƐŐƌĂŶĚƐŽŶ^ĐŽƚƚǁĞƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌƐĨƌŽŵ Troop 3 in Hot Springs. Scott became Ordeal the year before in 1978͘ŚĞƚ͛ƐƐŽŶ(Jr.) later came into the lodge in 1986 from Troop 15, also from Hot Springs.

ƉƵďůŝĐŝƚLJƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚŽĨ͞>ƵŵΘ ďŶĞƌ͟ŝŶŵĂŬĞƵƉĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŝƌƌĂĚŝŽƐĞƌŝĞƐ;ŚĞƐƚĞƌ͞>Ƶŵ͟>ĂƵĐŬ͕ůĞĨƚĂŶĚEŽƌƌŝƐ͞ďŶĞƌ͟'ŽĨĨ͕ƌŝŐŚƚͿ͕ƚŚĞŝŵĂŐĞŽŶƚŚĞƌŝŐŚƚŝs of the ͞:Žƚ͚ĞŵŽǁŶGeneral ^ƚŽƌĞ͟ŝŶƚŚĞthen non-existent town of Pine Ridge, Arkansas, now a tourist attraction

Sandy Huckabee, son of Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, was a Vigil Honor member from Troop 75 out of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He received his Vigil Honor from the Akela Wahinapay Lodge #232 in Caddo Area Council.

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Mark S. Anderson, former OAC Council Executive and Vigil Honor member of Wazhazee lodge, was for six years the Ouachita Area Council Scout Executive headquartered in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In addition to serving as the OA staff adviser during these years, he worked on staff for three National Jamborees. He now is the Director of Program at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

͞ZĞdžEĞůƐŽŶŝƐƚŚĞƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚŽĨƌŬĂŶƐĂƐΖ/ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚŽůůĞŐĞƐĂŶĚhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚŝĞƐŝŶ>ŝƚƚůĞZŽĐŬ͘,ĞŝƐĂ regular columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and appears regularly on various radio shows. He has also been a gubernatorial and presidential advisor. ,ĞĂůƐŽƌƵŶƐŚŝƐŽǁŶŽŶůŝŶĞďůŽŐĐĂůůĞĚZĞdžEĞůƐŽŶ͛Ɛ Southern Fried.͟ʹ ZĞdžEĞůƐŽŶ͛Ɛ^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ&ƌŝĞĚ Online Blog

Lodge Traditions

/ŶƚŚĞϭϵϳϬ͛Ɛ͕ƚŚĞtĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞŚĂĚKƌĚĞĂů͞ĐĂůůŽƵƚ͟ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐĂƚĂŵƉdƵůĂĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƐƵŵŵĞƌ͘ LJƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϳϬ͛Ɛ͕ƚŚĞůŽĚŐĞŚĂĚĐŚĂŶŐĞĚŽǀĞƌƚŽƚŚĞ͞ƚĂƉŽƵƚ͟KƌĚĞĂůĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐ͘ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕͞ƚĂƉŽƵƚ͟ ceremonies are mostly extinct as of this writing (a form of hazing) they were very popular in those days. One ŽĨƚŚĞǁĂLJƐƚŚĂƚĂŶKƌĚĞĂůĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞǁŽƵůĚŬŶŽǁŝĨƚŚĞĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJƚĞĂŵůŝŬĞĚLJŽƵǁĂƐ͕LJŽƵǁĞƌĞ͞ƚĂƉƉĞĚ͟ harder than the other candidates. As one could see this could and would eventually get out of hand and is likely why it is forbidden nowadays.

During those public ceremonies (usually a spring or even summer camp) and after the ͞ƚĂƉƉŝŶŐŽƵƚ͕͟ĂůĞĂƚŚĞƌƚŚŽŶŐǁĂƐĚƌĂƉĞĚĂƌŽƵŶĚĞĂĐŚĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ͛ƐŶĞĐŬ͘ĨƚĞƌƚŚĞLJǁĞƌĞĞƐĐŽƌƚĞĚŽĨĨƚŚĞ field and taken to a quiet place for instructions they given the admonishment for silence and to wear the necklace at all times until told to take it off at the Ordeal ceremonies (exceptions were for religious reasons and bathing/swimming).

They were to wear the thong throughout the Ordeal weekend and were informed to carve an arrow out of a piece of wood and tie it onto the thong by morning of the next day (after arrival on Friday night). As a part of the admonishment of silence, a member in good standing could notch the carved wooden arrow if the Ordeal Candidate was caught speaking. Of course, as with today, the admonishment exception was for those who, as a part of their service work, had to speak for safety or clear communication.

If you got three notches on your arrow, a vague threat of imminent action of some sort was intimated. However, since the author did not get three notches and did not witness the end result of such action toward someone who did get three, it is unknown what that action would have been. This is speculation, but the author suspected something on the order of being thrown into the lake fully clothed.

Another way an Ordeal candidate would know if he were liked was during lunch while being administered the sparse rations. In those days the rations were a slice of bread, a chunk of bitter chocolate and a large spoonful of honey. How you knew you were liked was when the bread was laid on the outstretched hand, the bitter chocolate was ground into it until the bread tore and then the glop of honey was then poured over it. This would, of course, result in a very sticky mess. You gladly ate it though.

These traditions have gone away today. Although a vestige has stayed around until today in the Nischa ^ŝƉŽŚĂƉƚĞƌ͕ŝƚŝƐƚŚĞŚĂŶŐŝŶŐĂƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞŶĞĐŬŽĨĂůĞĂƚŚĞƌƚŚŽŶŐĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞ͞ĐĂůůŽƵƚ͟ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐŚĞůĚĞǀĞƌLJ year at the Spring Expo and Camporee.

43

The lodge members had a leg up in getting positions at summer camp at Camp Maurice and Camp Tula, staffing council spring and fall camporees, expos, Cub Scout day camps, and many other council or district events and activities during the entire course of the history of the lodge and the council.

A number of the Wazhazee youth lodge members have participated in the Philmont OA trail crews over the years.

Lodge Banquets, Fellowships and Other Events

The lodge held annual Lodge Banquets, early on called Father/Son Banquets (later called Family Banquets) usually at a university or hotel conference center, church fellowship hall or restaurant banquet room. Eventually, the banquets would become known as Lodge Banquets.

That last Wazhazee Lodge Banquet was held in December 2011 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall in Hot Springs. sŝŐŝů,ŽŶŽƌĐĞƌƚŝĨŝĐĂƚĞƐĂŶĚ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ͛ƐǁĂƌĚƐǁĞƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ͕ĨŽŽĚ ǁĂƐĐŽŶƐƵŵĞĚŽůĚƉĂƚĐŚĞƐǁĞƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚƚŽĂƚƚĞŶĚĞĞƐĂŶĚƚŚĞŶĞǁ͞ĞĂƚŚ͟ĨůĂƉĂŶĚĨŝŶĂůĨůĂƉĂŶĚƉŽĐŬĞƚ patch designs were shown and orders taken for purchase.

Fellowship and Ordeal events were held every year in the spring and fall. For many, many years they were held at old Camp Tula. The weekend events were well planned, well attended affairs with good food, lots of work projects and plenty of fun, camaraderie and solemn ceremonies.

The lodge also usually had a Winter Fellowship purely for aesthetic purposes. It was to camp, fellowship and usually conduct a seasonal service project such a preparing, setting and lighting luminaries for the Christmas holidays at churches or public venues such as museums, historic properties and libraries.

The lodge hosted council-ǁŝĚĞ͞&ƵŶ&ĞƐƚŝǀĂůƐ͟ƐƚĂƌƚŝŶŐŝŶƚŚĞůĂƚĞϭϵϳϬ͛ƐĂŶĚŐŽŝŶŐŽŶƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞŵŝĚ ƚŽůĂƚĞϭϵϴϬ͛Ɛ͘dŚĞƐĞ Fun Festivals were for Troops throughout the council to come to Camp Tula and enjoy a weekend of fun activates sponsored and staffed by the Wazhazee lodge.

Council and District Camporees and Scout Expos

Many lodge members earned the OA 50th Anniversary Award in 1965 and the 75th Anniversary Award in 1990 and the 90th Anniversary Award in 2005.

The 2002 Spring Camporee patch indicating the involvement of the Wazhazee Lodge in planning, staffing and running a council camporee. 44

Cub Scout WŽǁtŽǁ͛Ɛ

Cub Scout Pow Wow circa 2006 (Christopher Coning in Regalia)

Scouting for Food

dŚĞtĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞ͛ƐƌŽůĞŝŶ^ĐŽƵƚŝŶŐ&Žƌ&ŽŽĚ in Ouachita Area Council was critical for success, circa 1983

45

Cub Akela Camp

Wazhazee Lodge Dance-Ceremony Team at Ross-Rhodes Campfire Ring for Ordeal call outs event circa 2005? (Kyle Langston and Jason Schaffer)

Dance and Ceremonies Teams

Paul Walker, Olen Robinson, Dance Team Advisor and Frank Mund, Saline/District Two/Nischa Sipo District Executive and Lodge Staff Advisor were deeply involved in the Dance and Ceremonies teams. The ƚĞĂŵƐ;ŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϲϬ͛ĂŶĚϳϬ͛ƐͿŽĨƚĞŶƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚŝŶƌĞŐĂůŝĂ͞ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚŽ͟ƐƚLJůĞ͕ƉƌŽŚŝďŝƚĞĚƚŽĚĂLJ͘KĐĐĂƐŝŽŶĂů wardrobe malfunctions eventually lead to more prudent dance and ceremonial costuming.

46

The Wazhazee Lodge Vigil Spears

Former Wazhazee Lodge Brotherhood member Glenn Dinsmore demonstrating the placement of one of three Vigil spears.

In latter years, the Wazhazee Lodge made use of three steel spears used during a danced Vigil call out ceremony. The Vigil triangle, located above spear point, was wrapped and wired with a kerosene soaked towel that was lit by the ceremonial fire during a dance performance conducted by the ceremony/dance team of the lodge. The dance proceeded around the ceremony fire ring when at a preordained moment in the dance the spear was thrust into the ground in front of the Vigil candidate.

Since the lodge was rather small in the last years the Vigil numbers were three, hence the three spears. Usually, two youth and one adult recipients were chosen. The photo above shows the spears and other memorabilia, one spear is behind Glenn Dinsmore and only partially visible sticking up from the back of his neck.

47

The Wazhazee Lodge WWW Candelabra

The Wazhazee Lodge WWW Candelabra (free standing) in 2010

The Wazhazee Lodge Tipis

The painted Wazhazee Lodge Tipi circa 2006 The unpainted Wazhazee Lodge Tipi in 2010 at the Fall Council Camporee 48

Dance Team Practice

Wazhazee Lodge Dance-Ceremony Team drum Ordeal call outs circa 2007 (Nathan Smith, Mitch Coning, unknown and Lodge Adviser Glenn Benjamin sitting in back.)

dŚĞKƌĚĞĂůĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐdĞĂŵǁĂƐŶŽƚĂďŽǀĞ͞dĂƉƉŝŶŐKƵƚ͟ĐŽƵŶĐŝůďŽĂƌĚŵĞŵďĞƌƐat the council board meeting as seen in the May 15, 1980 council board minutes.

Ouachita Area Council Board Minutes excerpt from May 15, 1980

49

>ŽĚŐĞŚŝĞĨ͛ƐĂŐůĞ&eather Bonnet ;ĐŝƌĐĂϭϵϱϬ͛Ɛʹ ϲϬ͛ƐͿʹ See image below

ϭϵϲϬ͛ƐĚĂŶĐĞͬĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĞƐƚĞĂŵƉƌĞƉƉŝŶŐĨŽƌa Tap Out, an event or dance at a council camporee (They are showing off regalia and dance steps and note the ĂĨŽƌĞŵĞŶƚŝŽŶĞĚ΀ŶŽǁƉƌŽŚŝďŝƚĞĚ΁ƌĞŐĂůŝĂŝŶ͞ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚŽ͟ƐƚLJůĞ, note the full length war bonnet hanging up to the left in the image, that is probably the only known image of the Wazhazee Lodge Eagle feather ĐŚŝĞĨ͛Ɛ bonnet. The bonnet has been lost to history.)

E. Urner Goodman Scholarship

>ŽĚŐĞŵĞŵďĞƌĂŶĚ&ŽƌŵĞƌ>ŽĚŐĞŚŝĞĨ͞>ŝƚƚůĞ͟:ŽŚŶDĐEĂŵĞĞǁĂƐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚďLJŽƵŶĐŝů^ĐŽƵƚ Executive, Ralph Young, as having received the E. Urner Goodman Scholarship of $2,000 in the October 18, 1984 council board minutes. He was one of only five youth in America to receive the scholarship that year.

50

Arrow Corps 5

Arrow Corps 5 Service Project Teams

Wazhazee Lodge #366 had 12 Arrowmen to attend the ArrowCorps 5 project at the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri on June 7th ʹ 14th, 2008.

Lodge Chiefs

The first and founding Lodge Chief in 1947 is currently unknown. Tanner Ross of Troop 15 became the last Lodge Chief on January 1, 2012.

Year Lodge Chiefs

1947 Currently Unknown 1966 Ken Brown 1948 Currently Unknown 1967 Olen Robinson 1949 Currently Unknown 1968 Terry Burruss 1950 Currently Unknown 1969 Jeff Davenport 1951 Currently Unknown 1970 Jim Cooley 1952 Leonard Phillips 1971 Billy Gaither 1953 John Mason Clem 1972 Jeff Strack 1954 Frankie Cutcher 1973 Currently Unknown 1955 Bill Payne 1974 Paul Mills 1956 Jimmy Payne 1975 Paul Mills, Bill Covert (There is some 1957 Currently Unknown question as to whether Bill was Lodge Chief.) 1958 Warfield Teague 1976 David Jones 1959 Warfield Teague 1977 David Jones 1960 Harley Brinkley 1978 Alan Sandifer 1961 Harley Brinkley 1979 Randy Moore 1962 Don Wilson 1980 "Little John" McNamee 1963 Currently Unknown 1981 "Little John" McNamee 1964 Currently Unknown 1982 "Chip" Culpepper 1965 James Hendren 1983 "Chip" Culpepper 51

1984 Michael Hattabaugh 1998 Josh Wright 1985 Currently Unknown 1999 Josh Wright 1986 Bryan McDonnell 2000 Ross Benson 1987 Lawson Rener (There is some question as to 2001 Ross Benson whether he was Lodge Chief.) 2002 Currently Unknown 1988 John Horner, III 2003 Currently Unknown 1989 Jason Musteen 2004 Colin (last name currently unknown) 1990 Lester M. James 2005 Mitch Coning 1991 Tim Jones 2006 Christopher Coning 1992 Currently Unknown 2007 Mitch Coning 1993 Chad Burks 2008 Mitch Coning 1994 Scott Venable 2009 Alex Coning 1995 Robert Shearer 2010 Daniel Johnson 1996 Stephen Compton 2011 Tanner Ross 1997 Zach Stevens

Lodge Advisers

The first and founding Lodge Adviser in 1947 is currently unknown. The last Lodge Adviser was Rusty Coning of Troop 99 in Salem, Arkansas.

Year Lodge Advisers

1947 Currently Unknown 1970 Edward Arlie Smith 1948 Currently Unknown 1971 G. W. Covert 1949 Currently Unknown 1972 G. W. Covert 1950 Currently Unknown 1973 G. W. Covert, Hollis Hughes? 1951 Currently Unknown 1974 Hollis Hughes? 1952 Currently Unknown 1975 Paul Walker? 1953 Currently Unknown 1976 Paul Walker? 1954 Currently Unknown 1977 John Thomas 1955 Currently Unknown 1978 John Thomas 1956 Currently Unknown 1979 Don Atkins 1957 Currently Unknown 1980 Frank Bolton 1958 Currently Unknown 1981 Dr. J.T. Wright 1959 Currently Unknown 1982 Currently Unknown 1960 Currently Unknown 1983 Currently Unknown 1961 Currently Unknown 1984 G. W. Covert 1962 Currently Unknown 1985 Currently Unknown 1963 Currently Unknown 1986 Currently Unknown 1964 Charles Mazander? (Lodge Lay Advisor) 1987 Currently Unknown 1965 Charles Mazander? (Lodge Lay Advisor) 1988 Currently Unknown 1966 Charles Mazander? (Lodge Lay Advisor) 1989 Mark Douglass 1967 Charles Mazander? (Lodge Lay Advisor) 1990 Mark Douglass 1968 Bill Harder (Lodge Lay Advisor) 1991 John Rima 1969 Edward Arlie Smith 1992 John Rima 52

1993 John Horner 2003 Larry McWherter 1994 John Horner 2004 Larry McWherter 1995 John Horner 2005 Larry McWherter 1996 John Horner 2006 Larry McWherter 1997 John Horner 2007 Glenn Benjamin 1998 Tom Bailey 2008 Glenn Benjamin 1999 Tom Bailey 2009 Glenn Benjamin 2000 Ernest Goulding, Jr. 2010 Glenn Benjamin 2001 Ernest Goulding, Jr. 2011 Rusty Coning 2002 Ernest Goulding, Jr.

Lodge Staff Advisers

The first and founding Lodge Staff Advisor would have been the Ouachita Area Council Executive O. E. Standfield. The last Lodge Staff Adviser was Joe Farrell (Council Executive) in 2011.

Year Lodge Staff Advisers

1947 O. E. Standfield 1975 Jimmie D. Gibson 1948 O. E. Standfield 1976 Jimmie D. Gibson 1949 O. E. Standfield 1977 Frank B. Mund 1950 Walter Rather 1978 Frank B. Mund 1951 Walter Rather 1979 Frank B. Mund 1952 Walter Rather 1980 Frank B. Mund 1953 Walter Rather 1981 Frank B. Mund 1954 Walter Rather 1982 Frank B. Mund 1955 Walter Rather 1983 Frank B. Mund 1956 Walter Rather 1984 Frank B. Mund 1957 Walter Rather 1985 Wes Jurey 1958 Walter Rather 1986 Wes Jurey 1959 Walter Rather 1987 Wes Jurey 1960 Walter Rather 1988 John Dalrymple 1961 Walter Rather 1989 John Dalrymple 1962 Walter Rather 1990 John Dalrymple 1963 Walter Rather 1991 John Dalrymple 1964 Walter Rather 1992 Hartley Jones 1965 Walter Rather 1993 Hartley Jones 1966 Walter Rather 1994 Hartley Jones 1967 Walter Rather 1995 Chris Reichardt 1968 Walter Rather 1996 Chris Reichardt 1969 Walter Rather 1997 Eric Gnann 1970 Clewis M. Clark 1998 Eric Gnann 1971 Clewis M. Clark 1999 Eric Gnann 1972 Clewis M. Clark 2000 John J. Archibald 1973 Clewis M. Clark 2001 John J. Archibald 1974 Clewis M. Clark 2002 Frank Schultz 53

2003 Frank Schultz 2008 Jacob Lynn 2004 Frank Schultz 2009 Jacob Lynn 2005 Frank Schultz 2010 Joe Farrell 2006 Frank Schultz 2011 Joe Farrell 2007 Jacob Lynn

Vigil Honor

The first Wazhazee Lodge Vigil Honor recipients were Bobby Wilson and Dr. Earl McWherter on August 12, 1955 at Camp Maurice.

The last Wazhazee Lodge Vigil Honor recipients were awarded on October 25, 2011. They were from Troop 15 of Hot Springs, youth, John Charles and his Scoutmaster Danny Ross at the Ross-Rhodes Scout Reservation.

Vigil Honor Recipients

1. Dr. Earl McWherter 1955 30. John DeLaughter 1969 2. Bobby Wilson 1955 31. William Harper 1969 3. Lynn Darin 1956 32. Bill Richardson 1969 4. None 1957 33. Doyle Wilson 1969 5. John Cramer 1958 34. Alvin Burruss 1970 6. Charles Mazander 1958 35. James Cooley 1970 7. Warfield Teague 1958 36. Donald Harper 1970 8. Harley Brinkley 1959 37. David Hunton 1970 9. Joe Keene 1959 38. Kelly Clyde 1971 10. Douglas Rather 1959 39. Bill Gaither 1971 11. Currently Unknown 1960 40. Clyde Scott 1971 12. Currently Unknown 1961 41. Howard Simerson 1971 13. Currently Unknown 1962 42. Jeff Strack 1971 14. Bob Houston 1963 43. Dick Cooley 1972 15. Kirk Reamy 1964 44. Bill Harris 1972 16. Donald Wilson 1964 45. Joe Saunders 1972 17. Harley Bledsoe 1965 46. Roger Tilley 1972 18. James Hendren 1965 47. George "G.W." Covert, Sr. 1973 19. Kenneth Browning 1965 48. George "Bill" Covert, Jr. 1973 20. James Starks 1965 49. Daniel Grace 1973 21. Paul Walker 1965 50. Allen Standridge 1973 22. Charles Robinson 1966 51. Roy Smith 1973 23. William "Bo" Rutledge 1966 52. Benjamin Clifton 1974 24. William Harris 1967 53. Wayne Delavan 1974 25. Charles Walker 1967 54. John Miles 1974 26. Terry Burruss 1968 55. Paul Mills 1974 27. Edmond "Ed" Davenport 1968 56. Roger Gaither 1975 28. Walter Rather 1968 57. Tom Hunton 1975 29. Jeff Davenport 1969 58. John Petz 1975 54

59. Lewis Delavan 1976 105. John Horner 1989 60. Mark Douglass 1976 106. Jason Musteen 1989 61. Jimmy Tarvin, Sr. 1976 107. Shawn Neel 1989 62. John Thomas 1976 108. Jeff Speer 1989 63. Richard "Dick" Batson 1977 109. Thomas Bailey 1990 64. David Jones 1977 110. John Dalrymple 1990 65. Bill Nabors 1977 111. James Lester 1990 66. Harold Nabors 1977 112. Jim White 1990 67. Alan Sandifer 1977 113. Kevin Clark 1991 68. David Hunter 1978 114. Paul Edleblute 1991 69. Randy Moore 1978 115. Charlie Etchieson 1991 70. Bill Ragan 1978 116. Hartley Jones 1991 71. Jimmy Tarvin, Jr. 1978 117. William Schmieder 1991 72. Donald Atkins 1979 118. Chad Burks 1992 73. John "Little John" McNamee 1979 119. Tim Jones 1992 74. Edward Mills 1979 120. Gus Parsons 1992 75. Gregory Nalley 1979 121. Terry Boyd-Ormsby 1993 76. Douglas Tolleson 1979 122. Steven Schultz 1993 77. John Covert 1980 123. Michael Sharp 1993 78. John Manz 1980 124. Walt Daves 1994 79. Michael Trice 1980 125. John Hunnicutt 1994 80. Joe Williams 1980 126. Chris Reichardt 1995 81. Mark Culpepper 1981 127. Charles Shearer 1995 82. Bobby Johnson 1981 128. Robert Shearer 1995 83. Bradley Johnson 1981 129. Scott Venable 1995 84. Henry Montalvo 1981 130. Steven Compton 1996 85. Jim Bush 1982 131. Gary Deaton 1996 86. James "J. T." Wright 1982 132. Ronnie Patterson 1996 87. James Browning 1983 133. Eric Gnann 1997 88. Keith Covert 1983 134. Brian Steinmiller 1997 89. Capos "Chip" Culpepper 1983 135. Zachary Stevens 1997 90. Michael Hattabaugh 1983 136. Steve Warr 1997 91. Joe Covert 1984 137. James "Marty" Helmich 1998 92. Eddie Culpepper 1984 138. Bill Stevens 1998 93. Clay Stanley 1984 139. William Ursery 1998 94. Tommy Wright 1984 140. Jacob Lynn 1999 95. Dr. Robert Olive 1984 141. Lawrence McWherter 1999 96. John Horner 1985 142. Christopher Warr 1999 97. Jerry Nobels 1985 143. Joshua Wright 1999 98. Lawson Rener 1985 144. None 2000 99. John Wolf 1985 145. Ross Benson 2001 100. Bryan McDonnell 1986 146. James Helmich 2001 101. Kevin Springer 1986 147. Josh Leibovich 2001 102. James Wells 1987 148. William Helmich 2001 103. Michael "Mike" Wells 1987 149. Frank Schultz 2001 104. None 1988 150. None 2002

55

151. None 2003 164. Michael McCabe 2009 152. None 2004 165. Gary Henningsen 2010 153. Glenn Benjamin 2005 166. Tyler Henningsen 2010 154. Mitch Coning 2005 167. Matthew McCabe 2010 155. Phillip Smith 2005 168. John Hill 2011 156. Chris Coning 2006 169. Nathan Hill 2011 157. Rusty Coning 2006 170. Tanner Ross 2011 158. Alex Coning 2007 171. John Charles 2011 159. Nathan Smith 2007 172. Danny Ross 2011 160. Jacob Kirschman 2008 173. Thomas Butcher, Jr. ʹ Date Unknown 161. Steve Kirschman 2008 174. Hollis Hughes ʹ Date Unknown 162. James Johnson 2009 175. Carl Walls ʹ Date Unknown 163. Daniel Johnson 2009

According to the National OA chartered list in 1960 there were 4 Vigil and 1961 there were 10. Where are they? Future editions will address this.

&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ͛ƐǁĂƌĚ

dŚĞĨŝƌƐƚ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ͛ƐǁĂƌĚƌĞĐŝƉŝĞŶƚƐǁĞƌĞLJŽƵƚŚƐ͕:ŽŚŶŽǀĞƌt and John McNamee and adults, Doyle Wilson and Dr. J.T. Wright on May 23, 1982. Thirty-ƚŚƌĞĞŵĞŵďĞƌƐŽĨtĂnjŚĂnjĞĞ>ŽĚŐĞƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚƚŚĞ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ͛Ɛ Award between 1982 and 2012.

dŚĞůĂƐƚ&ŽƵŶĚĞƌ͛ƐǁĂƌĚƌĞĐŝƉŝĞŶƚƐǁĞƌĞLJŽƵƚŚƐ͕ĂŶŝĞů:ŽŚŶƐŽŶĂŶĚdĂŶŶĞƌZŽƐƐ͕ƚhey were awarded on January 5, 2012.

Founders Award Recipients

1. John Covert 1982 18. Christopher Coning 2004 2. John McNamee 1982 19. Duane Coning 2004 3. James Wilson 1982 20. Alex Coning 2005 4. James Wright 1982 21. Cara Smith 2005 5. Chip Culpepper 1983 22. Larry McWherter 2006 6. Frank Mund 1983 23. Joshua Allen 2006 7. George Covert 1984 24. Mitch Coning 2007 8. Michael Hattabaugh 1984 25. James Johnson 2007 9. Tom Bailey 1992 26. Jacob Kirschman 2008 10. Tim Jones 1992 27. Steven Kirschman 2008 11. Chad Burks 1993 28. Nathaniel Smith 2010 12. Hartley Jones 1993 29. Glenn Benjamin 2010 13. Steven Schultz 1994 30. Michael McCabe 2011 14. Zack Stephens 2001 31. Danny Ross 2011 15. Josh Wright 2001 32. Daniel Johnson 2012 16. Ernest Gooding 2002 33. Tanner Ross 2012 17. Andrew Jones 2002

56

Arrowman Service Award

In 2005, 22 members (names not found) of the lodge received the Arrowman Service Award.

In 2006, Chris Coning, Rusty Coning, Alex Coning, Jacob Woodall, Kevin Langston, Carl Langston, Kyle Langston, Nathan Hill, Jacob Kirschman, Michael McCabe, Leonard Peterson, Russ Bennett, Robert Bennett and Glenn Benjamin were the recipients of the Arrowman Service Award.

In 2007, 20 members (names not found) of the lodge received the Arrowman Service Award.

Award image will come in future editions.

Wazhazee Lodge Appreciation Award

A new award for 2006 is the Wazhazee Lodge Appreciation Awards, which, were given out to Rusty Coning, Dan Schaffer, James Johnson, Steve Kirschman and Glenn Benjamin.

Award image will come in future editions.

Wazhazee Lodge Outstanding Service Award

A new award for 2006 is the Wazhazee Lodge Outstanding Service Awards, which, were given out to Daniel Johnson, Alex Coning, Jacob Kirschman and Larry McWherter.

Three Arrowmen were recognized for outstanding service to Wazhazee Lodge during 2007 with a Wazhazee Lodge Outstanding Service Award. They were Michael McCabe, Tyler Henningsen, and Ryan Shell. Each Arrowman was presented with a special plaque that was made by Arrowman Steve Kirschman.

The 2008 award to Associate Lodge Adviser John C. Hill. 57

Region, Area and Sectional OA Officers

The following are the ͚known͛ Wazhazee Lodge youth members that went on to serve the Order of the Arrow at Section/Area levels.

1. Christopher Coning, Section 8 Vice Chief 2008- 7. Randy Moore, Section Secretary 1978 2009 8. Olen Robinson, Area 1st Vice Chief 1967-68 2. John Covert, Section Vice Chief 1981 9. Alan Sandifer, Section Vice Chief 1977-78 3. ͞Chip͟ Culpepper, Section Chief 1984 10. Roger Tilley, Area Vice Chief 1972-73 and Area 4. Tyler Henningsen, Section 8 Secretary 2011 Chief 1973-74 (Section 1A) 5. ͞>ŝƚƚůĞ:ŽŚŶ͟DĐEĂŵĞĞ͕ƌĞĂŚŝĞĨϭϵϴϮ 11. Doug Tolleson, Section Vice Chief 1979 6. Paul Mills, Section Secretary 1974-76

Council and Lodge Merger

In the last year of Ouachita Area Council and Wazhazee Lodge (2011), there were two district and chapters with the same names, Diamond Lakes and Nischa Sipo. On January 1, 2012, during what would have been its 65th year, Wazhazee Lodge #366 officially merged with Quapaw Lodge #160, which was a part of the merger between Ouachita Area Council #14 and Quapaw Area Council #18.

The final Ouachita Area Council strip

The youth designed 100th anniversary Ouachita Area Council strip

58

Ouachita Area Council masthead for the final issue of the ŶĞǁƐůĞƚƚĞƌ͞dŚĞDĞƐƐĞŶŐĞƌ͟ϮϬϭϭ

Diamond Lakes and Nischa Sipo districts and chapters remain as the vestiges of the honorable past of the Ouachita Area Council and the Wazhazee Lodge. Now, in the Quapaw Area Council and Quapaw Lodge, many of the Scouts and Scouters of that venerable council and lodge continue the traditions of the brotherhood of cheerful service with renewed vigor and dedication to the greatest youth organization in the world, the Boy Scouts of America.

Acknowledgements

The people listed below have been very helpful in creating this document. Without their assistance, both great and small, it would not have been possible. Some have passed and I am deeply indebted to them.

My gratitude and many thanks go to: Jarel Amox, Mark Amox, John Archibald, Ken Armstrong, Dick Batson, Glenn Benjamin, Mrs. Gail Boeckman, Frank Bolton, Dr. David Briscoe, John Carman, the Coning family (Rusty, Mitch, Chris and Alex), G.W. Covert, Joe Covert, Jeff Crowson, Glenn Dinsmore, Don Elmore, Mark Elmore, Jason Elmore, Joe Farrell, Jim Helmich, Dr. James Hendren, Gary Henningsen, Tyler Henningsen, Mrs. Frankie Jo Herron, John C. Hill, Tom Hunnicutt, Rick Holland, Eric Gnann, Daniel Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Aaron Jones, Hartley Jones, Steve Kirschman, Charles Mazander, Larry McWherter, Frank Mund, Greg Nalley, Mike Newman, Chris Phillips, Bill Price, Mrs. Walter Rather, Bill Richardson, Ed Riddick, William Ridgeway and Troop 0045, Danny Ross, Tanner Ross, Dan Schaffer, Frank Schultz, Terry Sharp, Mrs. Lisa Smith, Nathan Smith, David Sparks, Jeff Stephens, Bill White, Greg White, Don Wilson, Marcal Young, the staff at National Order of the Arrow and the , and many other Scouts, Scouters and persons residing in the Diamond Lakes and Nischa Sipo Districts of Quapaw Area Council.

Sources

Sources of information include the: Ouachita Area Council (OAC) Board Minutes, Beaver Tales and Beaver Chips OA newsletters, The Messenger Brave and the Messenger OAC newsletter collection, OAC scrapbooks, photo albums and newspaper clippings collections, the personal collection of ĂǀŝĚůŵŽƌĞ͛Ɛ Scouting records, photographs & image scans and memorabilia, the personal collection of 'ůĞŶŶŝŶƐŵŽƌĞ͛Ɛ Scouting records and memorabilia, the Troop 34 collection of Scouting records and memorabilia and other ancillary records, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Saline Courier, Hot Springs Sentinel, Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald, Hot Springs Village Voice, Malvern Daily Record newspapers.

Additional sources of information include: Internet historical research including information from EĂƚŝŽŶĂů^͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ;scouting.org), EĂƚŝŽŶĂůKƌĚĞƌŽĨƚŚĞƌƌŽǁ͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ (oa-bsa.org), Southern Region OA website (southern.oa-bsa.org), Section 8 OA website (sr-8.org), K^ĞĐƚŝŽŶƐ>ŝƐƚ͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ;oasections.com), 59

Quapaw Area Council website (quapawbsa.org), Caddo Area Council website (caddobsa.org), Westark Area Council website (westarkbsa.org), former Eastern Arkansas Area Council historical website (eaac.org), Chickasaw AƌĞĂŽƵŶĐŝů͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ;chickasawbsa.org), DeSoto Area Council website (desotoareacouncil.org), KƵĂĐŚŝƚĂĂŵƉ&ŽƵŶĚĂƚŝŽŶ͛ƐǁĞďƐŝƚĞ;ouachitacampfoundation.com), Ozark Trails Council website (ozarktrailsbsa.org), the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Encyclopedia of Arkansas website (www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net), Wikipedia, the Hot Springs National Park Service website (www.nps.gov/hosp/), Rotary Club of Hot Springs National Park website (hsnprotary.org), the Garland County Historical Society website (garlandcountyhistoricalsociety.com) and other online sources.

Author Notes

This daunting project was undertaken to fulfill the request of the National Order of the AƌƌŽǁ͛ƐĐĂůůƚŽ lodges to create lodge histories for the upcoming 100th anniversary celebrations of the Order of the Arrow. It was meticulously researched and written by David Elmore, a former Wazhazee Lodge member. David is a long time Scouter with an extensive and varied 29-year career in radio, television, motion pictures and mass media.

He joined Scouting as a Cub Scout in 1970 in the Ouachita Area Council. As a member of Troop 34, First Baptist Church of Benton, Arkansas, he became an Ordeal member of the Wazhazee Lodge in 1978 and Brotherhood member the following year. In 1979, he became an Eagle Scout later becoming a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). David became the last recipient of the from Ouachita Area Council in 2012 when the council merged with the Quapaw Area Council.

He was awarded the prestigious National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award from the Quapaw Area Council in 2015. David has gone through both the ͞ŽůĚ͟ĂŶĚ͞ŶĞǁ͟tŽŽĚĂĚŐĞ͕ĞĂƌŶĞĚŚŝƐ ŽĐƚŽƌĂƚĞŽĨŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĞƌ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ͕ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚƚŚĞYƵĂƉĂǁ>ŽĚŐĞ͛Ɛ<ŽƐŬĂůĂŬĂƐǁĂƌĚĂŶĚŝƐĂƌĞĐŝƉŝĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞ Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award.

He currently sits on the Nischa Sipo District Committee as Camping Chair, serves as the Nischa Sipo Chapter OA Adviser, sits on the Quapaw Area Council Scouting Alumni Association Committee (SAA) and Chairs the council NESA committee.

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