Boxwell Greats: James Johnson

The very first Reservation Director at Boxwell at Old Hickory was, not surprisingly, the LAST Camp Director at Rock Island, a man by the name of James Johnson.  He went by the nickname “Foxy” in part because of his red fox-like hair.

To be honest, we don’t know lots about Johnson. He was at Rock Island by 1956 and stayed on at the “new” Boxwell through 1965.  Obviously, as the Reservation Director at the new camp, he was responsible for hiring several critical individuals (such as the Schleichers as well as Jimmy Joe Jackson and Chester LeFever) and establishing what would become “Boxwell” for the next several years.

Of course, for younger staff, he was “the boss.”  Generally, all accounts seem to be point to Johnson being strict, but fair.  Every now at then though, a story bubbles up of Johnson hiding in the bushes across from Parnell Waterfront, keeping an eye on his staff.  Perhaps the “foxy” nickname wasn’t about his hair!  No one is really sure.

Johnson is pictured here on the far left.  It is the only photo of Johnson we have.

James “Foxy” Johnson and unknown others.

CubWorld Development, 1994

Capital Campaigns are exciting occassions.  They hold the promise of major renovations and upgrades. However, as we have seen previously with both the 1959 and 1972 campaign, things don’t always quite work out as originally planned.  The same is true for the 1994 Capital Campaign.

Below is a blueprint for the renovations at Camp Murrey, or, more appropriately, for the development of Gaylord CubWorld.  This is one of the 1994 blueprints for CubWorld developed by Grisham, Smith and Partners.  Take a close look and you’ll notice some important differences!

There are only eight sites on this map, not the nine that actually exist.  The Pirate Ship is in a different location and the parking area is a expanded as well.  This Disabled Access Site is site 6, not site 1.  There is also an expanded field sports area, including a soccer field, a baseball diamond, and a volleyball court!

But perhaps the most imporant difference here is that in the original plans for CubWorld there is an extensive Family Camp Sites area! Located across from what is the Stahlman Staff Site today and near the Travis-Adkins Boat Harbor Maintenance Area, the family camp area continued the Murrey tradition of family camping.  Of course, as the area was to be completely paved, it was definitely a different kind of family camping than had existed previously.

Why did this not materialize? Honestly, we don’t know.  It is a question we are currently researching.  Nevertheless, it is a fascinating dead-end!  Another example of the Boxwell that “could have been”!

A blueprint of the plans for CubWorld, August 1994. Note the changes from the actual CubWorld.