J. Edgar Hoover’s Rifle Range

Early in Boxwell’s history, both the Stahlman and Parnell Rifle Ranges were named for J. Edgar Hoover. In short, the story here comes straight from _Boys Will Be Men_, though interestingly, only as a footnote!  According to Creighton, “The rifle ranges were established by the _Nashville Banner_ with reward money the Federal Bureau of Investigation could not accept, and the ranges therefore were named in honor of J. Edgar Hoover, chief of the F.B.I.” (pg. 151).

The Stahlman Range was later renamed after James “Jimmy” Stevens, a Council President, and Parnell’s was renamed for Nathan Wall, a long-time Scouter.  Parnell’s Range, now the site of the NRA Light Rifle program, is also unofficially (no plaque!) named for “Old Soldier” Pat Deugaw.

The photo below is something of a mystery.  It shows the dedication of the J. Edgar Hoover ranges, but we don’t know what year, who took the photo, or who the people are!  Nevertheless, it is an important part of Boxwell’s history.

Originally, Boxwell’s Rifle Ranges were named for J. Edgar Hoover! Sadly, we don’t know who any of these people are.

View from the Cripple Crab

Sometimes it is good to just remember the simple things…  Seen here is a view of Boxwell from the Cripple Crab in 1970.  As you look down the hill, you can clearly see the Pump House in the background (which was still working at this point in time).

What is interesting here is how much has changed between 1970 and now.  Note that there are no flag poles (added by the Freemasons in 1981), no Weaver Amphitheater (added in 1985), no trees around the amphitheater (added in 1993), and no sound booth or lights (added in 1997).  And let’s not even talk about how much the trees themselves have grown!

Of course, what is perhaps most interesting, though difficult to see, is Explorer Island.  You can see the Island in the background, but note how small the growth is.  Today, you can’t even see the field from the top of the hill!

The view from the “top of the hill” in 1970. You can clearly see the Pump House and Explorer Island from here. Photo by Chris “Kit” Eckert.

Camp Craig’s Second Treehouse

In 1994, Camp Craig’s Activity Yard Staff began a staff bonding project: A treehouse.

The treehouse was inspired by the original Activity Yard Treehouse, which was built in the 1980s.  The original treehouse used actual tent-platforms hauled up in trees above the AY staff site.  If you go to the back of the Green Bar Program Area, you can see some topped trees.  These are the last remaining evidence of the original treehouse.

The second treehouse (pictured here) was built in the woods between the AY Staff site and Site Three.  There were three platforms built of scrap wood, mostly from old tent platforms.  As the story goes, this was just the start of this project. There were to be more platforms as well as bridges connecting them.  Apparently, the idea was to build an AY equivalent of an “Ewok Village.”

Shown here are the remnants of the project.  This is a poor combination of two photos showing the treehouse, taken in May 2003.

Here are the remaining pieces of the 1994 Activity Yard Staff’s treehouse.