Rock Island History

Obviously, as individuals interested in the history of Boxwell, we are interested in, odd as this sounds, the history of Boxwell. Since at least the 1950s, Boxwell has presented a history of itself in its Leaders’ Guides. This history has changed as the camp has changed.

This week we look at Rock Island’s history. There a couple of things to note here. First, note that even though this is the third Boxwell, there is no mention of the other two. The first 30 years of Boxwell might as well not have happened.

Second, note the efforts to create its own history. There are several items here: a buried Confederate treasure, a lodge that Andrew Jackson visited, a battle between white Tennesseans and Native Americans, part of the Trail of Tears, and a hanged horse theif. Some of this can be easily dismissed (the Trail of Tears was MILES from this site), but others are less clear. The Fielding Yost material is true.

Nevertheless, we see Boxwell trying to write a history for itself. It is a tradition that continues to this day…

History of Boxwell, or, more specifically, legends of Rock Island!

Scenes from 1960s Boxwell

We thought we would revisit some old promotional films in the future. Promotional films put a great face on Boxwell, but the film itself doesn’t always stand the test of time. Color film in particular doesn’t always do so well.

Nevertheless, this week we’re looking at what we believe is probably the first promotional film of the Old Hickory Boxwell. The film was professionally done and gives a really superb view of camp in the mid-1960s. We’ve picked several frames to show you how Boxwell looked in earlier days!

Top Row, left: This is the view coming into camp. Today, you woudl recognize this stretch of road by the Grizzard Gateway on the right.
Top Row, right: Approaching the Cripple Crab.
Middle Row, left: Staff Member leaves the Crab to greet arriving Scouts. Yes, this is the Crab.
Middle Row, right: Looking down the hill toward the Pump House with Explorer Island in the background. Essentially behind the trees at the amphitheatre.
Bottom Row, left: From Stahlman parking lot, looking back up the road into camp. Road to kitchen on the left.
Bottom Row, right: Unloading gear at the site stakes at Stahlman; same location as today.

Some frames from the the ca. 1967 Promotional film.

Council Professionals at the Crab

Seen here is one of those rare jewels that you run across every now and then. Not a whole lot of history to give here except that this is the Middle Tennessee Council Professional staff in the early 1960s.

If the photo looks familiar, it might be because you’ve seen a smaller version of it in Wilbur Creighton’s _Boys Will Be Men_. Creighton claims the photo was the 1963 staff, while the owner, Archie Crain, says 1960. We’re fairly certain the Crab wasn’t completed in 1960, so it is conceivably possible both men are wrong!

Nevertheless, according to Creighton, here are the names of the staff. Some should sound quite familar!

Kneeling, left to right: James Wright, Charles Biederman, Jim Johnson, Joe Gafford, Ward Akers, Richard Parks, Bill Jennings, Frank Lwrence, Bobby Chaffin, Ronnie Oakes.
Standing, left to right: Tom Atkinson, Cal Oravetz, Ralph Manus, All Wood, Bob HOlt, Ken Young, Archie Crain, Bruce Atkins, Bob Nash, unidentified, Don Coleman, John Scoble, Gene Hensley.

Middle Tennessee Council Professionals at the Cripple Crab, ca. 1963