From the Archives, September 14, 2025

Final Goodbyes

A new era official begins today. This afternoon, the Middle Tennessee Council dedicates the Aubrey Harwell Leadership Center, the replacement to the Stahlman dining hall. A new age begins at Boxwell as the Harwell Leadership Center becomes the hub of future events and the anchor upon which the reservation relies.

So as we pass the baton to the new generation, let us take a minute to mourn the last moments of the Stahlman Dining Hall. Built in 1960, Stahlman Dining Hall was named after _Nashville Banner_ co-owner Edward Bushrod Stahlman, Jr. “EeeBee” chaired the 1959 Capital Development Campaign that built Boxwell Reservation on Old Hickory Lake. For almost 65 years, the dining hall that bore his name housed the only working Kitchen on the Reservation.

And then, the first dining hall to be built became the first dining hall to be demolished. While other dining halls have been renovated or repurposed, Stahlman dining hall was torn down in the last week of July 2024. Seen here is the start of that process. Ranger Wes Oakley walks through the opening that used to be the chimney of the dining hall.

As we embrace the new dining hall and prepare to build new memories there, let’s remember six and a half decades with the late, great Stahlman Dining Hall.

Stahlman Dining Hall Demo with Wes Oakley

Ranger Wes Oakley walks through what used to be the chimney at Stahlman Dining Hall, July 2024. Photo by Grady Eades.

The Passing of Chris Raney

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to report the passing of Chris Raney.  Chris served on the Parnell staff in 1984, specifically in the Activity Yard.  He only worked the one summer, but went on to join Army, serving in Screaming Eagles Air Assault Division.  He went on to complete a masters degree and work for the postal service in Knoxville. He passed in May of 2010 at the age of 43, leaving behind a wife and stepson. We discovered Chris’s passing in our preparations for the staff reunion next year.

You may read Chris’ obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/knoxnews/name/christopher-raney-obituary?id=9365196#:~:text=RANEY%2C%20CHRISTOPHER%20STEPHEN%20-%2043%2C,grew%20up%20in%20Algood%2C%20Tennessee.

Seen here is the 1984 Parnell staff.

Parnell Staff, 1984

Parnell Staff, 1984

The Passing of Mary Lee Moncrief

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to announce the passing Mary Lee Moncrief. Mary was part of the adult cooking staff at Stahlman from 1984-1986. Unfortunately, we don’t know much else about her, though it is likely she was a cook in the local school system.  She passed in 2008 at the age of 76. We discovered his passing as we updated our records for next year’s staff reunion.

Here is her obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tennessean/name/mary-moncrief-obituary?id=49589792

Seen here is the 1984 Stahlman Staff.

Stahlman 1984

Stahlman Staff, 1984

The Passing of Carl Hyland

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to announce the passing Carl Hyland.  Carl first served on the Stahlman staff in 1984 as Field Sports Director.  He returned in 1985 and 1986 as the area director for the brand new COPE program.  He was the program’s  first director.  Carl was 88 years old when he passed in October 2000.  Unfortunately, no online obituary exists.  We discovered his passing as we updated our records for next year’s staff reunion.

Seen here is the 1984 Stahlman Staff.

Stahlman 1984

Stahlman Staff, 1984

From the Archives, September 7, 2025

Renovating the Pump House

By 2019, the Pump House had been derelict for almost 45 years. Given that the building had only been in operation for about 17 years, this was a remarkable span of time to sit untouched. The tanks, pipes, and electronics that were housed inside had been removed in the late 1970s after the pump house was closed at the end of 1976. For decades, the pump house was thus little more than a well-constructed home for raccoons, squirrels, and whatever other small woodland creatures chose to take up residence.

But in 2019, the OA (specifically Ray Capp) established a committee to do something people had been talking about since the 1990s: turning the pump house into a museum. With funding from Phil and Pam Pfeffer and an incentive brought on by the Council’s impending centennial in 2020, work began. The projected was spearheaded by the OA and involved several former Boxwell Staff members. The museum officially opened at the Council Centennial Jamboree in September 2021.

Seen here is a photo of the final stage of the renovation process. Several of the wires and controls for the pumps and tanks are still on the wall, though the electronics were cut years before. Animal droppings still pepper the floor. The building has long way to go, but it will make it the journey!

Pump House Interior

The inside of the Pump House in the final push before the Centennial Jamboree, May 2021. Collection of Ian Romaine.