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Council History |
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A BRIEF STORY OF CAMP OTETIANA, 1918-1926, -cont.
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For some time Otetiana Council also had a Red Jacket District. Even more significant is the fact that the name inspired the council's contingent to the 1953 National Jamboree to purchasered wool Pendelton jackets at McCurdy's department store in Northgate Plaza. The jackets attracted much attention to the group and led to the BSA adopting a red wool coat as the official jacket. When Otetiana Council designed their first council shoulder patch (CSP) in the 1970's a traditional Iroquois design was chosen and is still being used.
Camp Otetiana opened in 1918 under the leadership of Director W. Arthur McKinney. He had previously served as physical education instructor at East High School, in Rochester, and as Scoutmaster of Brick Presbyterian Church Troop 12. McKinney had started a professional Scouting career in Rochester the previous April.
The campsite was very open and only had a few trees here and there, most notably along the edge of one portion ofthe shore. It became very hot on sunny days. During its first few years camp was extremely rustic. Scouts lived in a single row of tents which backed-up to the edge of the lake forming the camp street. The tents were pyramidal shaped surplus World War One army squad tents that stood about ten feet high. They had elevated wooden floors and vents at the top which could be closed by ropes attached to a canvas cover.
Up to twelve Scouts and one leader slept in each tent on double-decker bunks made of canvas and 2x4s without the aid of sleeping bags. A Scout's tent was his home away from home. Living with so many boys to a tent was sometimes confusing for new Scouts. But they soon became familiar with the other campers and a good time was had by all. The number of tents varied from ten to fourteen, depending on the number of campers. Personal and tent inspections were held daily with all the troops lining up at one time. Felt banners were awarded to the winners each day and competition was intense with one tent sometimes winning both banners.
Behind each tent was a path down the bank to the lake, worn there by many Scouts going down to the water to wash hands and faces and clean their teeth, the water being very clean. The smell of carbolic acid, from the Lifebuoy Soap, was quite strong early in the morning. The lake was used since there was no shower facility and only one latrine. The facility was located near the eastern edge of camp and known as the "Better Ole." In later years the original latrine was replaced by a larger one called "Genun-da-wah," named after a well known nine hole golfcourse. The short name "Genun" was in use for quite a few years in the later camps.
Other features of Camp Otetiana were a basketball court, a baseball diamond, the campfire amphitheater, the water front and of course the mess hall in the Beach House, with sleeping facilities on the second floor for the camp staff. A signal tower was another attraction in camp, built by campers and climbed by almost every Scout at one time or another. Setting up exercises were conducted every morning on the basketball court, the emphasis being on physical fitness, the influence of other years at the Y.M.C.A. camp.
Radio was in its infancy and one of the staff, "Foggy" Hopkins, had a crystal et in the upstairs of Stein Lodge (previously the Beach House) which could be used to listen to music. A goat was another attraction at camp. The understanding was that it belonged to Central Presbyterian Church Troop 16,
but no one would claim ownership, as that would entail policing the grounds around the goat.
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To be continued...
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Austin "Pete" Blyer, once a familiar face around camp. |
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Rowing crew, lakeside, Camp Otetiana. |
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