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Home -> History Click here to download The History as a Word Document
Historyof
SequoyahLodge
No. 184
Early History of Region
SequoyahLodge has a legacy rich in the early history of the nation and of Scouting.Pioneers cut through the forests and ferried rivers to establish the WildernessRoad ( map )where they built the Block House of the Virginia-Tennessee border. The Roadconnected Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee in what was considered to be part ofthe West at that time. Trailblazers such as DanielBoone came through southwest Virginia at Moccasin Gap to reach the Holston,Watauga and Nolichucky valleys. The area was the scene of skirmishes during theRevolutionary War. Located in our Davy Crockett Scout Reservation is a cemeteryplot that contains the remains of some of these patriots who paid the supremeprice for love of liberty. Around 1788, the area became the Stateof Franklin with Rocky Mount as its capitol. When Tennessee became a state,Jonesborough became the first capitol for organization purposes. The area produced citizens who were interested in abrotherhood of cheerful service on an individual basis. W. D. Boyce incorporatedthe BoyScouts of America under the laws of Washington, D.C. on February 8, 1910. Thearticles of incorporation named three vice-presidents, one of whom wasBenjamin L. Dulaney of Bristol, Tennessee. It followed that the first Scoutunits in the area were organized in Bristol, which has continued as a strongsupporter of Scouting through the years. D.K. Unkefer, Scout Executive, Sequoyah Council filed an application dated July22, 1940 for the institution of a Tribe of the Orderof the Arrow, A National Brotherhood of Boy Scout Honor Campers. A letterdated August 12, 1940 granted approval.
The Indian name selected for the tribewas “Sequoyah”and the totemselected was the “Beaver”. The tribe was intended to function at theSenior Scout Camp. In that year, A.D. Roper was Council President and WilburHammer was Camp Committee Chairman. Elmer L.S. Hawkins, schoolteacher andScoutmaster of Troop 100, Rogersville, Tennessee is credited as being a primeforce in the organization of Sequoyah Lodge.
Raymond T. Lee was the firstProfessional Advisor and Elmer Hawkins the first designated Lodge Chief. The first Ordeal was held on an island near Bridge Dock33 (Norris Lake) in August 1940. The first members to go through the Ordeal wereLuther Kesterson, Kingsport; Clyde Ross, Rogersville; Bill Britton and JamesEllis, Erwin.
The first formal meeting of the Lodge was held at theCivic Auditorium, Kingsport, Tennessee on March 15, 1941. The steak dinner waspriced at 35 cents. At this meeting ballots were cast for the first electedofficers.
Sidelights Theearly Council camping was at Camp Cherokee. This was on an island downriver fromCamp Unaka. Camp Unaka, leased from the Department of Agriculture, was used forseveral years with the name being changed to Camp Tom Howard in recognition ofthe dedicated services of Scouter Tom Howard. Camp Tom Howard is in Tennessee,United States, in Sullivan County, at the foot of Holston Mountain in theCherokee National Forest; its location is 36 ° 32’20”N81 ° 59’36”W; elevation is 2,110 feet. You may want to check the recordsof Troop 36 (Johnson City, TN). They contain records and photos of outingsat the Camp. These records are open for research at the Archives of Appalachiaat East Tennessee State University. Herman Dickey was the first delegateto a National OA Conference. Herman remained active on a unit, district andcouncil basis. As a volunteer worker at summer camp many scouts affectionatelyknew him as “Uncle Herman”. Therewas some objection to the use of the beaveras the totem for Sequoyah Lodge. National Council, B.S.A. feared there wouldbe confusion with the Silver Beaver, highest award given by a council to avolunteer Scouter. This was resolved when it was pointed out that the CrouchedBeaver was listed as No. 5 in the OA totems. In 1948, E. Urner Goodman, founder ofthe OA, built a home in South Londonderry, Vermont. At that time, Fred Davison,Professional Advisor to Sequoyah Lodge shipped a stone from this area to becomea part of the fireplace in the new home. Since the date of its organization,Sequoyah Lodge has been a part of the following OA Areas: Area VB, Area VD, andArea IIA. Sequoyah Lodge is now a part of the SoutheastRegion, Section VI. In 1986, we hosted the largest Conclave in the historyof Section VI at Camp Davy Crockett and hosted the Section Conclave again in2000. Sequoyah Lodge is made up of nearly400 members and celebrated its 50 th Anniversary in 1989-1990. The Lodge thanks Mr. Charlie Sine forthe time and effort he has put into preserving the Lodge History.
This page was last updated04/04/2005 |
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