First a Spark, then a Flame…. A History of the Order of the Arrow in Southeast Texas Hasinai Lodge #578 Three Rivers Council Beaumont, Texas A History of the Order of the Arrow in Southeast Texas 1928 - 2015 Hasinai Lodge #578 Three Rivers Council Researched and Written by Dale Beaty Hasinai Lodge Adviser Special thanks to Glenn Cummings, Michael Pitts, Herb Spangler, Floyd Broussard, Emil Olesky, and Paul Sanders for preserving Hasinai Lodge history over the years through photos, Arrowpoints newsletters, newspaper clippings and other lodge documents. Many thanks to Harold Rayburn and Jo Ed Smith for keeping scrapbooks of their youth documenting many scouting events and Ralph Wilson for the Mitigwa Photos. Les Bentley Chief Executive Office Three Rivers Council Doug Moore District Director Hasinai Staff Adviser Three Rivers Council First, a Spark…….. On September 16, 1911, in the parlor of Tom Holland’s Photographic Studio, Troop 1 of Beaumont, Texas was formed. Tom Holland was the Scoutmaster. One of the young scouts in Troop 1 was J. Rucker Newberry, who would go on to a very distinguished career as a professional scouter. It began in 1922 as Scout Executive of the Beaumont Council. With the Scout movement going strong in Southeast Texas in the Beaumont and Sabine Area Councils in the mid 20’s, a new Scout Executive arrived in Beaumont from Chicago. Walter H. Gunn brought the Order of the Arrow with him. He was called out in 1921 by Carrol A. Edson, co-founder of the Order of the Arrow. In a very short order, the Grand Lodge granted a charter for the Mitigwa Lodge #36 on May 25, 1928. Ray Asbury, David Abelman, and Curtis Cook were believed to be the first three Mitigwa Lodge members. Camp Mitigwa had been in operation since the early 20’s, with the Mitigwa Lodge in place to provide a good balance to summer camp that recognizes honor campers at the end of each session. While details are not known about the early years of the OA in Southeast Texas, the 1930’s were good years for scouting. The Sabine Area Council applied for and received a charter for Sioux Lodge #62 on June 13, 1932. As time goes along in the 30’s, scouting grows after the country begins to recover from the Depression. The number of scouts in the OA slowly grows with each year of summer camp in 1938. A parcel of land is named for the father of a wealthy timber and oil philanthropist, Camp Bill Stark comes into being. In 1940, Walter Gunn and a small contingent of scouts attend the National Lodge meeting held at Camp Twin Echo in Ligonier, PA. The next year the Beaumont Council changes its name to Trinity-Neches Council to better reflect the area of the council. As World War II was winding down, Walter Gunn takes a position with the Sam Houston Area Council in 1945. This brought a close to an 18 year tenure as Scout Executive and lodge staff adviser that showed growth for the OA in Southeast Texas. After WWII, scouting grows along with the OA program. In 1948, land was purchased south of Woodville, Texas which becomes Camp Urland. By 1949, the Order of the Arrow was working feverishly to develop the new property. In 1950, the Mitigwa Lodge send a petition to National requesting a name change. It was granted on March 7, 1950. The Neche Lodge #36 becomes the newest old lodge in the country. Later that year, Harry Massingill, Jr. and Ellsworth Sperling, Jr. accompanied by Lodge Adviser, A.C. Love, better known as “Unk” attended the 1950 National Conference in Bloomington, Indiana. The 50’s brought about the newsletter that’s published by Neche Lodge known as the Pow-Wow. It contained various articles detailing events and upcoming events. The Fiftieth Anniversary of scouting in 1960 marks the beginning of a decade that would end in major changes for the OA in Southeast Texas. Region Nine composed of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma with a small portion of Arizona had divided into different ‘areas’. Southeast Texas was located in Area 9B. There had been conferences held at various camps since the first one held at Camp Tom Wooten in 1941, hosted by Tonkawa Lodge. Area 9B at the time was a lot of councils and Southeast Texas was on the fringe much like today. Beginning in 1955 this Area was divided and Area 9B was made into six lodges: Colonneh, Wihinipa Hinsa, Huaco, Sioux, Tejas, and Neche. The new and smaller Area 9B began a rotation on an annual basis where each year the conference would be held at the host lodge camp. In 1961, the host was Sioux Lodge held at Camp Bill Stark. Don Grimes was the Area Chief from Neche. The theme was ‘Weld Tightly Ever Link’. The 1964 conference was held at Camp Strake with Ray Mathis from Sioux Lodge serving as Area Chief. The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Order of the Arrow was celebrated in 1965 at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. The Area 9B conference was held at Camp Urland, hosted by Neche Lodge. Jerold Byron of Neche served as secretary. The 1966 conference held at Camp Pirtle was hosted by Tejas Lodge with Don Landry serving as Vice Chief of the Sioux. In 1967, James Clayton of Sioux served as Chief at Camp Karankawa, hosted by Wihinipa Hinsa. A new era begins in 1969 when the conference is taken to a colleg campus. Ken Hayman of Neche Lodge would serve as secretary. Then a Flame… In 1970, the national office would bring about a merger of the Trinity-Neches Council and the Sabine Area Council on March 1, 1970. As a result of this merger, the two lodges would also merge to form a new lodge. Mr. Arden Cambre, Chairman of the Camping and Activities Committee would appoint a study committee to work on the formation of a new lodge. This committee included: Richard Eveland, Mark Merrill, Mr. John Brechin, Kent Hannegan, Charles Temple, Mr. Tony Booth, Mike Linden, Mr. Buddy Morrison, Mr. Bill McLaughlin, Frank Galloway, Mr. Tom Culp, and Mr. Denver Knowles. After much research and study the following recommendations were proposed: Lodge Name: Hasinai Lodge #578 The Hasinai Tribe is a part of the Caddo Nation. Early Spanish explorers called the Hasinai-Tejas meaning ‘friend.’ Tejas became the name of Texas. Lodge Totem: Wood Duck A species of duck native to this area and is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl. A slate of officers was developed and presented at a meeting of all lodge members on May 23, 1970. The Hasinai lodge name, wood duck totem, and the first lodge officers passed unanimously. Hasinai Lodge and Three Rivers Council had the same #578 being the first council/lodge to have the same number in the BSA. Now that the lodge members had approved a lodge name, totem, patch, by-laws and officers; it was time to get down to the business of running the lodge. With two camps holding summer camp, this meant that they would continue to perform their own callout ceremony. The lodge chief would not necessarily play Allowat Sakina, instead a camp chief would play the part. Hasinai also was the host lodge of the Area 9B Conference, being held at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Our special guest was founder, E. Urner Goodman. Ken Hayman would serve as 2nd Vice Chief. With the year half over only 2 or 3 events would remain for the first year. Nineteen seventy-one would be the first full year for Hasinai. Lee Hickman would serve as Chief, Ken Hayman would be the Area 9B Chief and a contingent of youth and adults would attend the 1971 National Conference held at the University of Illinois. As with any new lodge growing pains were experienced. Changes to the by-laws occurred at the annual business meeting also presented was a new lodge patch, neckerchief and, back patch designs. Some designs were good ideas, some were not. The lodge newsletter Arrowpoints had made its appearance early and was published at least quarterly. Keith Casey would serve as the 1972 lodge chief with Lee Hickman serving as 2nd vice chief of the Area 9B Confernce. 1973 Changes and First: National would reorganize the regions that had been in place since 1920, instead of being in Region 9 we would now be in the South Central Region, and our local conferences would be called ‘conclaves.’ Lee Hickman would be the first SC3A conclave chief. A contingent from the lodge would travel to the National Conference held at the University of California at Santa Barbara, California. The cost was $44.00. The campus bordered the Pacific Ocean; you couldn’t go any further West. At the conference, Ken Hayman would be awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given by the Order of the Arrow. Usually given for service at the National and Region level, Ken would be the first individual from this area. What does it Cost: The lodge dues for most of the 1970’s would be $1.00 per year. A lodge event would cost $4.50. The annual lodge banquet held in January would cost $3.50 and the conclave in 1972 cost $15.00 (two nights in a dorm room, 4 meals, a patch and program). With a minimum of participation you could earn a ceramic coffee mug which was a big hit with the adults. Mid 1970’s The council is still operating summer camp at both Camp Urland and Camp Bill Stark for six weeks during the summer.