Mattresses in the Compound?

Everyone who has worked Boxwell Staff is VERY familiar with the joys of cots and mattresses.  However, those who have worked in the last twenty years or so are familiar only with foam mattresses.  From the opening of Boxwell in 1960 until about 1994 or 1995, all of the mattresses at Boxwell were cotton.

The photo here shows Skip Marlin of the 1970 Boat Harbor staff on top of two boats being turned into the compound at the end of the summer.  What can be see quite clearly behind Skip are stacks upon stacks of cotton mattresses stored in the first bay of this compound shed.  For years–indeed decades–some mattresses were always stored up in the compound.

Cotton mattresses were a different beast than foam mattresses.  They were heavy and prone to mildew and mice.  Throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s, when the staff put out mattresses, they also covered those mattresses in sacks, lovingly referred to as “fart sacks.”  By the 1980s and early 1990s, mattresses were primarily stored in the dining halls during the off season. As you can imagine, this cut down on infestation pretty dramatically!

Pictured here is Skip Marlin of the “Ski Dock” staff, returning boats to the compound at the end of the summer. What matters for our story though are the huge stack of mattresses in the background!

Because of the 2014 Boxwell Staff Reunion we have run across some real jewels in terms of staff photos.  While we are still processing the immense load of photos, we have run across a couple that have allowed us to update some history on VirtualBoxwell.org!

Specifically, we have the opportunity to now post the 1954 Rock Island Staff photo.  This comes to us from Bob Alley, who worked at Rock Island from 1954 to 1958 and then at Old Hickory Boxwell in 1960.  We can also post the 1970 Boat Harbor Staff photo.  This is from the newly acquired collection of Joe Butt, who served on Boxwell staff from 1966 to 1971, including runs at Camp Murrey and the Boat Harbor (then known as the “Ski Dock”).

Check out the new photos at the links below:
Rock Island Staff Photos: http://www.virtualboxwell.org/rock_staff.php
Reservation Staff Photos: http://www.virtualboxwell.org/reservation_staff.php

The Travis/Adkins Aquatics Support Center

Summer Camp 2014 is over now.  There are still a few events that will take place at the Reservation, but the weeks of Scout Resident Camp are over and this staff will exist no more.  Another one for the history books!

In case you missed it, we wanted to showcase one of the newest additions to Boxwell. You may have missed it as it is a little hidden!  Located behind the sewer plant at Camp Stahlman, the Travis/Adkins Aquatics Support Center was built in the Fall of 2013 and used for the first time this summer.

What exactly is this building?  Essentially, it is a Boat Harbor Maintenance and Storage center.  There are three buildings in this fenced area.  One is clearly a storage area, while the other two are garages that can be used for repair or even teaching areas.  The Aquatics Support Center was funded by a donation from Phil Pfeffer, for whom the Boat Harbor itself is named for.

The Emblem on the new Support Center for the Pfeffer Boat Harbor

The Travis-Adkins Aquatics Support Center, located between CubWorld and the Sewer Plant. It was funded by monies donated by Phil Pfeffer.