From the Archives, March 17, 2024

The First Women

To our knowledge, there have been several “firsts” concerning women and Boxwell’s program. The first woman on staff at Boxwell Reservation was cook Norma Cardiff (1960 and 1961). The longest serving female staff member was cook Pearl Schleicher (1962-1994). The first woman on Parnell staff was Judi Eubank, serving as Kitchen Director in 1974. The first female program director was Elizabeth Nicholson at Camp Murrey (1960). The first female area director was Diane Gregory, Field Sports (1997).

But the very first female on Boxwell Staff appears to date all the way back to Rock Island. Nashville Banner “Scout correspondent” Louis Hine reported in June 1951 that two women had joined the Rock Island staff. Mrs. Jean Murdock and Mrs. Tom Pedigo joined cook Ike Davis and dish-washer Jim (possibly Davis). The two women were considered “Senior Staff” and planned the camp’s meals. Murdock in particular was a dietitian.

And that’s all we know. We don’t know their full names. We don’t know how many summers they served. We don’t know what they looked like as we have no photos of them. All we know for sure is they appeared in this article in the Nashville Banner and appear to be the very first women on Boxwell staff.

Louis Hines, “100 Boy Scouts Enjoy Activities at Scenic Boxwell Reservation,” Nashville Banner, June 28, 1951, pg. 15

From the Archives, March 10, 2024

Greater Camp Parnell

Some things at Boxwell have just disappeared, but they too have stories. Seen here is the sign that used to hang at the entrance to Camp Parnell, just by the Program Directors’ cabin. The sign reads:

You are now entering
GREATER CAMP PARNELL
WELCOME

Why “Greater” Camp Parnell? Before cell phones, radios, and even cabins, hard line telephones connected the camp office tents to the Crippled Crab, where a switchboard was located. According to former Stahlman Camp Director Ron Oakes (1964 & 1965), one day he was called by a Parnell Staff member. Not knowing who it was (no caller ID then!), Oakes answered with a light-hearted “Greater Camp Stahlman!” The answer upset the Parnell staff member and word spread. Oakes explains that the back and forth between the two staffs reached such a fevered pitch, the two groups gathered in the Athletic Field behind Parnell to have a physical altercation. Program Directors Chester LaFever and Jimmy Joe Jackson were able to bring down the intensity, but from this point forward, Parnell began referring to itself as “Greater Camp Parnell” and the sign was born from here.

This photo from 2002 was the last known sighting of the Greater Camp Parnell sign. It has since disappeared into history.

Collection of Kerry Parker

Greater Camp Parnell Hanging sign
The now lost “Greater Camp Parnell” Hanging sign. The test reads, “You are now entering Greater Camp Parnell Welcome”

From the Archives, March 3, 2024

Cow Testicles

It is well-known by this point that Boxwell Reservation had a working farm. The farm ran from 1960 to approximately 1976 and engaged in cattle, hogs, tobacco, and various row crops. But, what is not always well understood is that generally most of the staff did not work on the farm. Maintaining the farm was primarily the job of the rangers.

Still, connection with the farm came in mysterious ways. As Stahlman staff member George Burrus explained such a situation earlier this year, “You were not allowed to go anywhere near the farm. The only interaction that I had with the farm was I had a trot line to catch fish out off of the Stahlman, down stream from the waterfront, and I needed something to bait my trout line with. Farmer Bush gave me a gallon tin can of cow testicles. I caught more catfish on cow testicles than anything else. and they stayed on the hook, too.”

There you have it: fishing with cow testicles from Boxwell’s farm. You can’t make this stuff up.

We have no photo of this momentous day, so instead, here’s a photo of Stahlman Friday Night Campfire area in 1971. To the right of the campfire area would be right about the area where Burrus was doing his fishing.

Collection of Michael Seay

Stahlman Friday Night Campfire Area, July 1971
Stahlman Friday Night Campfire Area, July 1971. Collection of Michael Seay.

From the Archives, February 25, 2024

Break-down site

Have you ever wondered where Boxwell junk goes? By “junk,” we mean those pieces of equipment that are broken or no longer usable or simply undesirable.

Over the years, various approaches to “junk” have been used. There have been auctions and what amount to yard sales. Alternatively, some equipment–cars mostly–have literally been buried behind the compound. And sometimes material is given to local farmers.

Seen here is a farm on Woods’ Ferry, located directly adjacent to what is today Percy Dempsey Camporee Area. From the mid-1970s to early 1990s, the farm was owned by a man named Clarence and rented by Assistant Ranger Farmer Bush. It was private property. Nevertheless, if there was broken down, un-repairable equipment, usually something large like a water heater or oven, it was often taken here and deposited. What happened after that is open for speculation…

Collection of Kerry Parker

The Break Down Site on Woods Ferry
The place where broken equipment was often laid to rest. A private farm on Woods Ferry next to what is today Percy Dempsey Camporee Area, 1985.

From the Archives, February 18, 2024

Afternoons at Linton

Camp Boxwell at Linton and the Narrows of the Harpeth operated a little differently than summer camp does today. These differences included the Scout-directed Camp Council, the staff composed of adult volunteers, and even meals that required Scouts to bring their own mess kits.

These differences were true in program too. Camp Boxwell–and most other youth summer camp programs in the 1920s and 1930s–focused on instruction in the morning and activity in the afternoon. In other words, merit badges and Scout skillwere all done from about 9 a.m. until noon. The afternoon was primarily recreational activities, such as baseball, volleyball, and more. The afternoon activities were focused on team-building and group interaction. Teaching group cooperation and working together was believed to build better citizens.

Seen here is one such summer activity at Linton’s Boxwell. Tug-of-war was a popular activity in these years and a great example of the team-building spirit camp was supposed to instill.

“Scouts to revive Tug-of-War at Camp Boxwell,” Nashville Banner, June 20, 1926, pg. 22.

Scouts at Linton engage in Tug-of-War
Scouts engage in a tug-of-war at the first Camp Boxwell in Linton, 1926