https://kiakimamuseum.org/files/original/89b4ac6d45f257c43e70ccf0346dcb3a.pdf 1057911b8c0e3a97ba4f01aab4806c9f PDF Text Text THE CHICKASAW COUNCIL, REGULATIONS OF SCOUT REQUIREMENTS [ BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 501-4 CENTRAL BANK BUILDING M EM PH I S, TENN ES S E E �Highlights of' the History of the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America The Chickasaw Council has been serving the youth of the Mid-South for 75 years. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Council's founding, we have tried to highlight some of the people that have made Scouting in this area. These arc only Scouting owes its brief highlights. success lo the efforts of many, many volunteer and professional leaders who have been committed to the Scout movement and been willing to devote their time, and many cases their money to make it successful - people like long-time Scoutmaster and council president Alvan Tate, Gordon Morris who served for 30 years as Scout Executive, Robert "Buddy" Irwin, who served continuously as Scoutmaster of Troop 97 for over 50 years to name just a few. Council Chickasaw Founded In 1916 The February 22, 1916 edition of The Commercial Appeal reported that "with 76 of the most prominent men in Memphis as members, Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts of America was organized last night." Officers elected at the meeting, which was held on sixth floor of the Businessmen's Club, included Bolton Smith as president and Charles Ninninger as commissioner. A finance campaign was completed, which raised $6,200 in cash and $300 in pledges. This put the council in position to begin operations. The Council also announced its plans to apply for a charter from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Chickasaw Council was the second south of the Mason-Dixon line to employ Edward Everett of a Scout Executive. Newark, N.J. arrived on February 23 to serve as the first Scout Executive of the Chickasaw Council. Ed Everett, a young graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, served as the first camp director of Kia Kima, while his wife ran the girls vacation camp a mile below Kia Kima on the South Fork. The list of original members included such Memphis notables as E.H. Crump, P.M. Canale, Bishop Thomas F. Gaitor, Millon S. Binswangcr, Abe Scharff, J.P. Norfleet and many others. Bolton Smith Memphis Scouting Pioneer More than any other early Scout leader, Bolton Smith was responsible for the organization and early development of Scouting in the Mid-South. He was an organizer and the first president of the Chickasaw Council. He served on the Executive Board of the National Council from 1918 until his death in 1935. He served as vice president of the National Council from 1922 until his death. He served as program chairman for the 1931 meeting of the National Council which was He is the only held in Memphis. Chickasaw Council Scoute,r ever to be awarded the Silver Buffalo, the National Council's highest award. Bolton Smith �1\011011 .S111i1h's grcalesl legacy lo the Boy Scouts of Arncrica was the work of the cnntrnittcc on inter-racial activities. Jlc promolcd inlcr-racial Se<nlling vigorously, an idea 1ha1 was hardly popular in those early days. lie served for many years as 1hc chairman of lhc nalional commillcc on inlcr-racial ac1ivi1ics and supported Scouling in the black communi1y of Memphis with his words and his pockclbook. As a result, Memphis was one of the first cities in the Unilcd S1ales to actively promote Scouting for black young men. the Stouls for sellin1-! war honds during World War I. lie has CSJH'cially clear ntcmorics of the firs! season of carnping at Kia Kima in 1916. Chickasaw Council Scouts contributed significantly to World War I, principally by selling war bonds. On.e troop, Troop 22, sold more bonds than any other troop in the ASA and was honored with a U.S. flag by President Wilson. The first Eagle Seoul in Memphis was Russell Wilkinson, ln1cr of Wilkinson & In 1916, Smith purchased 206 acres of land near !lardy, Arkansas and donated it to the Chickasaw Council. This property was the original Kamp Kia Kirna, used for 48 years until Ilic land was exchanged for the nearby present site of Kia Kima Scout Reservation. The Ueglnnlngs • The f<'lrst Troops There were several Scout troops operating in Memphis prior to the time the Chickasaw Council was formed. Among these were Troop I, sponsored by the Y.M.C.A., and Troop 2, sponsored by the Tennessee State Militia. Joe Nohsey was an early day Scout in Troop 3. The first Scoutmaster of Troop 3 was Robert M McRae, Sr. (the father of Judge Robert M. McRae, Jr.). McRae served only briefly as Scoutmaster, but was considered a good organi1.er and organi1.cd several other troops as well as a sort of unpaid Scout executive, before the Council was chartered. Joe recalls vividly his Scouting days. Soon after the troop was organized, the group camped for a week in the middle of the racetrack at the fairgrounds. He recalls Seoul Rallies in Overton Park, camping in the Piney Woods and winning a medal from ~-...1111,.. Early Day !'holograph or Troop 25 The oldest conlinuously operating troop in the Chickasaw Counci I is believed to be Troop 25, chartered lo Temple Israel. An Early Day Scouting Adventure Troop 22 was formed when Troop I split into two troops. "Old Troop 22" became one of the most famous Roy Seoul Troops in the United S talcs. In 1917, Charley Wailes was the troop wireless "bug." He made a habit of sitting late into the wee hours in search of new stations. During the early days of the World War I, Charley sat up late one night �when he heard a strange whispe r hu1n faintly across his set. It was a cipher, bul pure Greek to Charley , though he sat over it all nigh!. The strang e calls kepi rambli ng in [rom time 10 time, and they were as weird as ever. No one had to tell Charle y ii was a Germa n spy clickin g away. 1-ie rushed to his Scoutm asler, iv1.tv1. (Mindy ) Rosenb ush with the story. "Well, what can we do about it except to w am the authori ties ?" Rosenb ush wanted to know. "We can do lots," was Charle y's answer and he began to do it. He was sure that the station was in Memph is for it drowne d out all the others. Charle y had a "statio n-find er" and he began to use it. Armed with a Scout ax and a primiti ve set of wireles s receive rs, he ramble d about Memph is. He spent one whole night in East End Park while he search ed for the strange station , but the task seemed hopele ss. The one cold night he nailed the station . Again, he sought Rosenb ush. "I've got it, Chief ! " he cried. Its near 500 Vance and its operati ng right now. The Depart ment of Justice was called in and raided the house. One of the most powerf ul sets of the Germa n espiona ge system was found in the allic. Charley had outgue ssed the agents of both Germa ny and the United States. The Nation al Counc il Comes to Memp his The 1931 meetin g of the Nation al Counci l of the Boy Scouts of Americ a was held in Memp his. May 5-6, 1931. The event, which was billed as "Scout ing's Comin g of Age Celebr ation" in honor of the twenty first annive rsary of the BSA, brough t many Scouti ng lumina ries to Memp his. Among those attendi ng were Walter W. Head, nation al presid ent, Mortim er L. .Schiff , New York mullim illiona ire, nationa l vice preside nt and interna tional commi ssione r and Daniel Caner Beard, patriar ch of Scouti ng in Ameri ca and Nation al Scout Comm issione r, James E. West, Chief Scout Execut ive and Colin II. Living stone, firsl nationa l preside nt of the f3SA. Lord Han1pton, chief con1rnissioncr of the Boy Scouts Associ ation of Great Britain was a special guest and represe nted Lord Baden- Powell , who was travelin g in Austral ia. ) ) "Uncle " Dan lleard Scouti ng Throu gh the Years World War II was another difficult time for Scoutin g. Many Scoutm asters and other leaders were called into active service in the military. The Scouts again were asked to partici pate in the nation al war effort, includ ing plantin g victor y garden s, collect ing metal, etc. Thoug h the war years were certain ly challen ging, Scoutin g saw its greates t growth during the years followi ng the war and followi ng the "Raby Boom" generat ion. It would not see such membe rship growth again until the Raby Roome rs childre n began having large numbe rs of childre n of Scout age in the 1980's . During this period, Cub Scoutin g, which was only official ly launch ed in 1930, saw tremen dous growth and quickly surpass ed Boy Scouti ng as the larges t progra m phase. The first Cub Scout pack in Memp his was Pack One at ldlewi ld Presby terian Churc h, which is still operati ng today. J \ �( During the fifties, the program for older Scouts, Explorer Scouts (later just Explorers) was evolving. There had been an early program called Sea Scouting. Later, there was Air Scouting. Air Scouting, Sea Scouting and Explorer Scouting all came under the heading of Memphis investment banker and first president of the Chickasaw Council purchased 205 acres of land near Hardy, Arkansas and donated it to the council for use as a camp. This camp was known as Kan1p Kia Kima and was located a few miles from the present site of Kia Kima Seoul Senior Scout prograrris. Reservation. \Vhile these programs grew slowly, the BSA continued to address the needs of older youth. Ultimately these programs were combined into Exploring (although Sea Exploring retains its own identity through a unique uniform and advancement program. By the I 970's, Exploring was coeducational and growing. ~ ~-' I Scouting faced some tough times and adverse publicity in the Seventies, but by 1980, the BSA had begun a back to basics trend. We had the ninth edition of the Official Boy Scout Handbook, authored by a genuine Scouting pioneer in William (Green Bar Bill) Hillcourt. The election of Ronald Reagan focused attention on traditional values and Scouting once again was very popular in many areas, including Memphis. The l 980's brought solid membership growth, as well as greatly improved finances. Kia Kima Scout Reservation in the foothills of the Ozarks Kia Kima Scout Reservation is almost as old as the Chickasaw Council. In 1916, Bolton Smith, prominent From the very beginning, Kia Kima was a unique experience. Approximately 125 miles from Memphis, most Scouts rode the train. The train stopped at Hoxie and if you wanted, you might get off and grab a hot tamale from a vendor at the station. Upon arrival at Hardy, the Scouts were met by staff members, who loaded the trunks on wagons while the Scouts hiked the half mile or so to the Spring River. There was no bridge to Kia Kiina, so the Scouts were ferried across in boats by staff members. Joe Nohsey, who camped at Kia Kiina the very first summer, recently recalled that every morning, the Scouts would run down to the river stark naked for a quick dip in the South Fork River before breakfast. He also recalls Scouts working on the first cabins at camp that summer. The camp experience in those early days was quite different from what modern day Scouts see. Campers stayed in cabins, called lodges. They say that it was the custom for campers to paint or carve their names in the cabins for posterity. The cabins are still there on the old camp property and occasionally someone visits it and mentions the now-famous names they saw. Kia Kima, like most Boy Scout camps of the day, was originally operated as a "mass camp." Scouts did not come with a troop, but were assigned to a lodge, with a staff member as the counselor. In some years, the Council invited Scoutmasters to spend a week in camp at no cost. Few did for many reasons, mostly because the customs �of providing paid vacation were not what they are today. A typical day in camp was nol too differenl from loday. Reveille al 7:00, followed by breakfast at 7:30. After breakfas1 came lodge inspection and an hour and a half of Scouiing inscruc1ion, foiiowed by a morning swim. Afternoons fealured a rest and writing period, games, stun1s and hikes and an afternoon swim. Each evening included games and a campfire, followed by Taps al 9:30. In 1937, the council hegan a summer camp program at Camp Currier, which was cheaper and did not require the train fare. Kia Kima was closed during the war years beginning in 1940. The Camp was reopened in 1947. The highest honor available at Kia Kima was to be elected as a Council Seoul. Scouts were elected who best exemplified the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law. Council Scouts were led to a secret campfire, deep in the woods near camp and given an fodian name. lnl948, Chickasah Lodge of the Order of 1he Arrow was founded at Kia Kima and replaced the Council Scouls for honor campers. Chickasah Lodge has continued to play a big part in Kia Kima to this day. In the early 1960'1 a major development was planned near Hardy called Cherokee Village. Arkansas developer John Cooper headed the project and was interested in the land on which Kia Kima s!ood. He offered a much larger tract of land a few miles away on the South Fork in exchange and prnmised to construct buildings, roads and a lake. Camp Osage, a dining hall-style camp opened in 1964 and Camp Cherokee, a patrol-cooki ng camp, opened in 1965. Troops could chose their own preferred method of ealing. Cooper Lake al Camp Cherokee was named for John Cooper. A plaque near the front door to the administralio n building also commemorale s the contribulions of John Cooper to Kia Kima Scout Reservation. Kia Kima has been constantly improved through the years as the council has conducted capital campaigns. Among the more recent additions is the Golightly Chapel, high atop a hill. The view is brealhlaking and inspiring to the Scouts and Scouters who journey their each week for Vespers or at other times to meditate. Chickasah Lodge of the Order of the Arrow conslructed a large reservation campfire ring in 1989. Kia Kim• offers a varied program, including swimming and lifesaving. sailing, canoeing rowing and kayaking, as well as Scoulcrafl, Pioneering, nature and shooling sports. One of the most popullli parts of the camp is the COPE course for older Scouts. COPE slands fo, Challenging Ou1door Personal Encountei and is a team confidence building experience that lasts all week. COPE is a "ropes" course 1hat eventually takes participanls high above the Arkansas hillside where ii is located. Camp Currier Provides Weekend Camping for 65 years Camp Currier, located west of Eudora, Mississippi has served much of the Chickasaw Council's weekend camping needs since it was acquired in 1925. Mrs. Elizabeth Currier donated the down payment for Camp Currier in memory of her husband Charles C. Currier, for whom the camp is named. Mrs. Currier who lived in Geneva, Switzerland the rest of her life, continued supporting the camp with annual contributions and paid to build the dam, �gravel the roads and build the original mess hall and swimming pool. Currier was conceived as a weekend and "event" campsite, much the same as it is used today. Much of the early day camping was in large areas. Well-dev eloped separate troop sites as we know them today were a much later innovation . Much of this work was done in 1947 as part of a major developme nt plan that included constructio n of several buildings and the developme nt of eight distinct troop sites, with a troop lodge, wash house, tent sites and fire circle. Currier was designed as weekend camping and major event location. Each year, Currier logged many thousands of Scout camper nights. It was also the site of the annual Council jamboree, later called a "camporee ." In the days when such events were held on a Council basis, it was not unusual for 1,000 Scouts, plus leaders and staff to attend. In the early years, these events were fiercely competitiv e. In the middle Thirties, they took on the format we know today, measurem ent against standards - if every troop performed well, everyone could earn a blue ribbon. It is interesting to note that there was little emphasis on patrols in the early days. While the term was used, it was not really until the Thirties, after the Patrol Leader's Handbook by Bill Hillcourt was published, that the patrol method was really emphasized in the United States.Scou ting. Currier has always been immensel y popular. The growth of the Council, together with the Camp's popularity led to an expansion of the facility in the early J980's. Even today, the land added in the most recent acquisition is usually referred to as the "New Property." Currier as it now stands is large enough to handle three to four district camporees, and maybe have some room left for troop camps. It is bustling with activity almost every weekend of the year, except perhaps during the hottest of the summer. It is the site of numerous district and council training events, including Boy Scout Leader Wood Badge advanced training now being held on a biannual basis. A Look to the Future 1991 finds the Chickasaw Council in good condition. The Council serves almost 20,000 young people, with nearly 5,000 leaders, making it the largest volunteer organizatio n in the Mid-South . A large percentag e of our youth and adult membershi p represents ethnic minorities. President Marvin Bruce set the goal in 1990 of increasin g the visibility of Scouting in the communit y and, as the result of the public rclations effort, Scouting is receiving a great deal of attention from the media. Acknowle dgements and a Request These highlights have been compiled from personal interviews , articles appearing in the Commerci al Appeal and the PressScimitar, material in the files of the Shelby County Room of the MemphisShelby County Public Library, the files of the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the llistory of the Boy Scouts of America (1937). A project is under way to complete a more in-depth history of the Council. If you have informati on (photogra phs, clippings, or other material) to contribute, please contact Ron Edmonds or the Scout Service Center. �Compliments of Memphis' foremost store for men's and boys' clothing, hats, furnishings and shoes -and official Boy Scout outfitters in Memphis ,, '-Yo!t~·,11ithJ•, MEMPHIS' GREATEST STORE ' " � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chickasaw Council Publications and Papers Description An account of the resource Contains miscellaneous publications and papers by and about the Chickasaw Council. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document [ THE CHICKASAW COUNCIL, REGULATIONS OF SCOUT REQUIREMENTS BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 501-4 CENTRAL BANK BUILDING M EM PH I S, TENN ES S E E Highlights of' the History of the Chickasaw Council Boy Scouts of America The Chickasaw Council has been serving the youth of the Mid-South for 75 years. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Council's founding, we have tried to highlight some of the people that have made Scouting in this area. These arc only brief highlights. Scouting owes its success lo the efforts of many, many volunteer and professional leaders who have been committed to the Scout movement and been willing to devote their time, and many cases their money to make it successful - people like long-time Scoutmaster and council president Alvan Tate, Gordon Morris who served for 30 years as Scout Executive, Robert "Buddy" Irwin, who served continuously as Scoutmaster of Troop 97 for over 50 years - to name just a few. Chickasaw Council Founded In 1916 The February 22, 1916 edition of The Commercial Appeal reported that "with 76 of the most prominent men in Memphis as members, Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts of America was organized last night." Officers elected at the meeting, which was held on sixth floor of the Businessmen's Club, included Bolton Smith as president and Charles Ninninger as commissioner. A finance campaign was completed, which raised $6,200 in cash and $300 in pledges. This put the council in position to begin operations. The Council also announced its plans to apply for a charter from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Chickasaw Council was the second south of the Mason-Dixon line to employ a Scout Executive. Edward Everett of Newark, N.J. arrived on February 23 to serve as the first Scout Executive of the Chickasaw Council. Ed Everett, a young graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, served as the first camp director of Kia Kima, while his wife ran the girls vacation camp a mile below Kia Kima on the South Fork. The list of original members included such Memphis notables as E.H. Crump, P.M. Canale, Bishop Thomas F. Gaitor, Millon S. Binswangcr, Abe Scharff, J.P. Norfleet and many others. Bolton Smith Memphis Scouting Pioneer More than any other early Scout leader, Bolton Smith was responsible for the organization and early development of Scouting in the Mid-South. He was an organizer and the first president of the Chickasaw Council. He served on the Executive Board of the National Council from 1918 until his death in 1935. He served as vice president of the National Council from 1922 until his death. He served as program chairman for the 1931 meeting of the National Council which was held in Memphis. He is the only Chickasaw Council Scoute,r ever to be awarded the Silver Buffalo, the National Council's highest award. Bolton Smith 1\011011 .S111i1h's grcalesl legacy lo the Boy Scouts of Arncrica was the work of the cnntrnittcc on inter-racial activities. Jlc promolcd inlcr-racial Se<nlling vigorously, an idea 1ha1 was hardly popular in those early days. lie served for many years as 1hc chairman of lhc nalional commillcc on inlcr-racial ac1ivi1ics and supported Scouling in the black communi1y of Memphis with his words and his pockclbook. As a result, Memphis was one of the first cities in the Unilcd S1ales to actively promote Scouting for black young men. In 1916, Smith purchased 206 acres of land near !lardy, Arkansas and donated it to the Chickasaw Council. This property was the original Kamp Kia Kirna, used for 48 years until Ilic land was exchanged for the nearby present site of Kia Kima Scout Reservation. The Ueglnnlngs • The f<'lrst Troops There were several Scout troops operating in Memphis prior to the time the Chickasaw Council was formed. Among these were Troop I, sponsored by the Y.M.C.A., and Troop 2, sponsored by the Tennessee State Militia. Joe Nohsey was an early day Scout in Troop 3. The first Scoutmaster of Troop 3 was Robert M McRae, Sr. (the father of Judge Robert M. McRae, Jr.). McRae served only briefly as Scoutmaster, but was considered a good organi1.er and organi1.cd several other troops as well as a sort of unpaid Scout executive, before the Council was chartered. Joe recalls vividly his Scouting days. Soon after the troop was organized, the group camped for a week in the middle of the racetrack at the fairgrounds. He recalls Seoul Rallies in Overton Park, camping in the Piney Woods and winning a medal from the Stouls for sellin1-! war honds during World War I. lie has CSJH'cially clear ntcmorics of the firs! season of carnping at Kia Kima in 1916. Chickasaw Council Scouts contributed significantly to World War I, principally by selling war bonds. On.e troop, Troop 22, sold more bonds than any other troop in the ASA and was honored with a U.S. flag by President Wilson. The first Eagle Seoul in Memphis was Russell Wilkinson, ln1cr of Wilkinson & ~-...1111,.. Early Day !'holograph or Troop 25 The oldest conlinuously operating troop in the Chickasaw Counci I is believed to be Troop 25, chartered lo Temple Israel. An Early Day Scouting Adventure Troop 22 was formed when Troop I split into two troops. "Old Troop 22" became one of the most famous Roy Seoul Troops in the United S talcs. In 1917, Charley Wailes was the troop wireless "bug." He made a habit of sitting late into the wee hours in search of new stations. During the early days of the World War I, Charley sat up late one night when he heard a strange whisper hu1n faintly across his set. It was a cipher, bul pure Greek to Charley, though he sat over it all nigh!. The strange calls kepi rambling in [rom time 10 time, and they were as weird as ever. No one had to tell Charley ii was a German spy clicking away. 1-ie rushed to his Scoutmasler, iv1.tv1. (Mindy) Rosenbush with the story. "Well, what can we do about it except to w am the authorities ?" Rosenbush wanted to know. "We can do lots," was Charley's answer and he began to do it. He was sure that the station was in Memphis for it drowned out all the others. Charley had a "station-finder" and he began to use it. Armed with a Scout ax and a primitive set of wireless receivers, he rambled about Memphis. He spent one whole night in East End Park while he searched for the strange station, but the task seemed hopeless. The one cold night he nailed the station. Again, he sought Rosenbush. "I've got it, Chief ! " he cried. Its near 500 Vance and its operating right now. The Department of Justice was called in and raided the house. One of the most powerful sets of the German espionage system was found in the allic. Charley had outguessed the agents of both Germany and the United States. The National Council Comes to Memphis The 1931 meeting of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America was held in Memphis. May 5-6, 1931. The event, which was billed as "Scouting's Coming of Age Celebration" in honor of the twentyfirst anniversary of the BSA, brought many Scouting luminaries to Memphis. Among those attending were Walter W. Head, national president, Mortimer L. .Schiff, New York mullimillionaire, national vice president and international commissioner and Daniel Caner Beard, patriarch of Scouting in America and National Scout Commissioner, James E. West, Chief Scout Executive and Colin II. Livingstone, firsl national president of the f3SA. Lord Han1pton, chief con1rnissioncr of the Boy Scouts Association of Great Britain was a special guest and represented Lord Baden-Powell, who was traveling in Australia. "Uncle" Dan lleard Scouting Through the Years World War II was another difficult time for Scouting. Many Scoutmasters and other leaders were called into active service in the military. The Scouts again were asked to participate in the national war effort, including planting victory gardens, collecting metal, etc. Though the war years were certainly challenging, Scouting saw its greatest growth during the years following the war and following the "Raby Boom" generation. It would not see such membership growth again until the Raby Roomers children began having large numbers of children of Scout age in the 1980's. During this period, Cub Scouting, which was only officially launched in 1930, saw tremendous growth and quickly surpassed Boy Scouting as the largest program phase. The first Cub Scout pack in Memphis was Pack One at ldlewild Presbyterian Church, which is still operating today. J \ ) ) ( During the fifties, the program for older Scouts, Explorer Scouts (later just Explorers) was evolving. There had been an early program called Sea Scouting. Later, there was Air Scouting. Air Scouting, Sea Scouting and Explorer Scouting all came under the heading of Senior Scout prograrris. \Vhile these programs grew slowly, the BSA continued to address the needs of older youth. Ultimately these programs were combined into Exploring (although Sea Exploring retains its own identity through a unique uniform and advancement program. By the I 970's, Exploring was coeducational and growing. ~ ~-' I Scouting faced some tough times and adverse publicity in the Seventies, but by 1980, the BSA had begun a back to basics trend. We had the ninth edition of the Official Boy Scout Handbook, authored by a genuine Scouting pioneer in William (Green Bar Bill) Hillcourt. The election of Ronald Reagan focused attention on traditional values and Scouting once again was very popular in many areas, including Memphis. The l 980's brought solid membership growth, as well as greatly improved finances. Kia Kima Scout Reservation in the foothills of the Ozarks Kia Kima Scout Reservation is almost as old as the Chickasaw Council. In 1916, Bolton Smith, prominent Memphis investment banker and first president of the Chickasaw Council purchased 205 acres of land near Hardy, Arkansas and donated it to the council for use as a camp. This camp was known as Kan1p Kia Kima and was located a few miles from the present site of Kia Kima Seoul Reservation. From the very beginning, Kia Kima was a unique experience. Approximately 125 miles from Memphis, most Scouts rode the train. The train stopped at Hoxie and if you wanted, you might get off and grab a hot tamale from a vendor at the station. Upon arrival at Hardy, the Scouts were met by staff members, who loaded the trunks on wagons while the Scouts hiked the half mile or so to the Spring River. There was no bridge to Kia Kiina, so the Scouts were ferried across in boats by staff members. Joe Nohsey, who camped at Kia Kiina the very first summer, recently recalled that every morning, the Scouts would run down to the river stark naked for a quick dip in the South Fork River before breakfast. He also recalls Scouts working on the first cabins at camp that summer. The camp experience in those early days was quite different from what modern day Scouts see. Campers stayed in cabins, called lodges. They say that it was the custom for campers to paint or carve their names in the cabins for posterity. The cabins are still there on the old camp property and occasionally someone visits it and mentions the now-famous names they saw. Kia Kima, like most Boy Scout camps of the day, was originally operated as a "mass camp." Scouts did not come with a troop, but were assigned to a lodge, with a staff member as the counselor. In some years, the Council invited Scoutmasters to spend a week in camp at no cost. Few did for many reasons, mostly because the customs of providing paid vacation were not what they are today. A typical day in camp was nol too differenl from loday. Reveille al 7:00, followed by breakfast at 7:30. After breakfas1 came lodge inspection and an hour and a half of Scouiing inscruc1ion, foiiowed by a morning swim. Afternoons fealured a rest and writing period, games, stun1s and hikes and an afternoon swim. Each evening included games and a campfire, followed by Taps al 9:30. In 1937, the council hegan a summer camp program at Camp Currier, which was cheaper and did not require the train fare. Kia Kima was closed during the war years beginning in 1940. The Camp was reopened in 1947. The highest honor available at Kia Kima was to be elected as a Council Seoul. Scouts were elected who best exemplified the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law. Council Scouts were led to a secret campfire, deep in the woods near camp and given an fodian name. lnl948, Chickasah Lodge of the Order of 1he Arrow was founded at Kia Kima and replaced the Council Scouls for honor campers. Chickasah Lodge has continued to play a big part in Kia Kima to this day. In the early 1960'1 a major development was planned near Hardy called Cherokee Village. Arkansas developer John Cooper headed the project and was interested in the land on which Kia Kima s!ood. He offered a much larger tract of land a few miles away on the South Fork in exchange and prnmised to construct buildings, roads and a lake. Camp Osage, a dining hall-style camp opened in 1964 and Camp Cherokee, a patrol-cooking camp, opened in 1965. Troops could chose their own preferred method of ealing. Cooper Lake al Camp Cherokee was named for John Cooper. A plaque near the front door to the administralion building also commemorales the contribulions of John Cooper to Kia Kima Scout Reservation. Kia Kima has been constantly improved through the years as the council has conducted capital campaigns. Among the more recent additions is the Golightly Chapel, high atop a hill. The view is brealhlaking and inspiring to the Scouts and Scouters who journey their each week for Vespers or at other times to meditate. Chickasah Lodge of the Order of the Arrow conslructed a large reservation campfire ring in 1989. Kia Kim• offers a varied program, including swimming and lifesaving. sailing, canoeing rowing and kayaking, as well as Scoulcrafl, Pioneering, nature and shooling sports. One of the most popullli parts of the camp is the COPE course for older Scouts. COPE slands fo, Challenging Ou1door Personal Encountei and is a team confidence building experience that lasts all week. COPE is a "ropes" course 1hat eventually takes participanls high above the Arkansas hillside where ii is located. Camp Currier Provides Weekend Camping for 65 years Camp Currier, located west of Eudora, Mississippi has served much of the Chickasaw Council's weekend camping needs since it was acquired in 1925. Mrs. Elizabeth Currier donated the down payment for Camp Currier in memory of her husband Charles C. Currier, for whom the camp is named. Mrs. Currier who lived in Geneva, Switzerland the rest of her life, continued supporting the camp with annual contributions and paid to build the dam, gravel the roads and build the original mess hall and swimming pool. Currier was conceived as a weekend and "event" campsite, much the same as it is used today. Much of the early day camping was in large areas. Well-developed separate troop sites as we know them today were a much later innovation. Much of this work was done in 1947 as part of a major development plan that included construction of several buildings and the development of eight distinct troop sites, with a troop lodge, wash house, tent sites and fire circle. Currier was designed as weekend camping and major event location. Each year, Currier logged many thousands of Scout camper nights. It was also the site of the annual Council jamboree, later called a "camporee." In the days when such events were held on a Council basis, it was not unusual for 1,000 Scouts, plus leaders and staff to attend. In the early years, these events were fiercely competitive. In the middle Thirties, they took on the format we know today, measurement against standards - if every troop performed well, everyone could earn a blue ribbon. It is interesting to note that there was little emphasis on patrols in the early days. While the term was used, it was not really until the Thirties, after the Patrol Leader's Handbook by Bill Hillcourt was published, that the patrol method was really emphasized in the United States.Scouting. Currier has always been immensely popular. The growth of the Council, together with the Camp's popularity led to an expansion of the facility in the early J 980's. Even today, the land added in the most recent acquisition is usually referred to as the "New Property." Currier as it now stands is large enough to handle three to four district camporees, and maybe have some room left for troop camps. It is bustling with activity almost every weekend of the year, except perhaps during the hottest of the summer. It is the site of numerous district and council training events, including Boy Scout Leader Wood Badge advanced training now being held on a biannual basis. A Look to the Future 1991 finds the Chickasaw Council in good condition. The Council serves almost 20,000 young people, with nearly 5,000 leaders, making it the largest volunteer organization in the Mid-South. A large percentage of our youth and adult membership represents ethnic minorities. President Marvin Bruce set the goal in 1990 of increasing the visibility of Scouting in the community and, as the result of the public rclations effort, Scouting is receiving a great deal of attention from the media. Acknowledgements and a Request These highlights have been compiled from personal interviews, articles appearing in the Commercial Appeal and the PressScimitar, material in the files of the Shelby County Room of the MemphisShelby County Public Library, the files of the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the llistory of the Boy Scouts of America (1937). A project is under way to complete a more in-depth history of the Council. If you have information (photographs, clippings, or other material) to contribute, please contact Ron Edmonds or the Scout Service Center. Compliments of Memphis' foremost store for men's and boys' clothing, hats, furnishings and shoes -and official Boy Scout outfitters in Memphis ,, " '-Yo!t~·,11ithJ•, MEMPHIS' GREATEST STORE ' Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991 Title A name given to the resource 1991 <em>The Chickasaw Council Regulations on Scout Requirements</em> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ron Edmonds Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Duane Klink & Chuck Schadrack Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Ron Edmonds 75th Anniversary History Kia Kima