On This Day, July 31

On this day–Saturday, July 31, 1954–the first Wood Badge course exclusively for Middle Tennessee Council was held at the Rock Island Boxwell. The week long course was actually the second Wood Badge session held at Boxwell with the first being for the whole Southern region in 1952. Middle Tennessee Council became the first Southern council approved to offer the course and so MT-1 came into being in 1954. Harry “Beany” Elam of Troop 144 in Springfield, TN was the Scoutmaster. Wood Badge would be offered every other year as a week long course in August while Boxwell remained at Rock Island.

MT-1
The very first Middle Tennessee Council Woodbadge Staff at Rock Island, 1954. The tall skinny man third from right is Harry “Beany” Elam.

Want to learn more about Boxwell history? Buy the first Boxwell history book, For the Good of the Program, available for pre-order until August 31, 2021 here: https://mtcbsa.doubleknot.com/event/a-century-of-middle-tennessee-scouting-at-boxwell-1921-2021-book-pre-order-cc120/2832417

On This Day, July 29

On this day–Monday, July 29, 1929–Camp Boxwell at Linton closed. The camp ran Monday to Monday at the time and July 29 was the last day of the regular summer. At the time, every indication was that Coach Anderson planned to return to the four acre site in 1930 when camp closed on the 29th. However, the construction of a new bridge brought Highway 100 (the Old Harding Road) closer to Boxwell and the Great Depression caused other area councils to fold, leading to the need for a larger site to take on those Boy Scouts. Thus, there was no formal goodbye to the first Boxwell. It just simply ended.

Linton inspection
Scouts at Camp Boxwell at Linton preparing for their daily inspection.

Want to learn more about Boxwell history? Buy the first Boxwell history book, For the Good of the Program, available for pre-order until August 31, 2021 here: https://mtcbsa.doubleknot.com/event/a-century-of-middle-tennessee-scouting-at-boxwell-1921-2021-book-pre-order-cc120/2832417

On This Day, July 28

On this day–Friday, July 28, 1961–the Crippled Crab was dedicated. Built after Boxwell Reservation at Old Hickory Lake opened in 1960, the Crab was funded primarily by the Nashville Kiwanis Club. The dedication began at 6:45pm that evening and including a family outing at the reservation. As the story goes, the building’s unique designed necessitated having a model brought on site so the builders could see how the awkwardly shaped administrative office was supposed to look.

Crab Construction
The Construction of the Cripple Crab in August 1961.

Want to learn more about Boxwell history? Buy the first Boxwell history book, For the Good of the Program, available for pre-order until August 31, 2021 here: https://mtcbsa.doubleknot.com/event/a-century-of-middle-tennessee-scouting-at-boxwell-1921-2021-book-pre-order-cc120/2832417

100th Anniversary Reunion Gatherings

All former Scouts and Scouters are invited to join us for the Scouting Alumni Reunion to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Middle Tennessee Council (MTC). On Saturday, September 25, 2021 the MTC will host an Alumni Reunion gathering as part of the Council 100th Anniversary Jamboree at Boxwell Reservation. The Alumni Reunion is opportunity for Scouts and Scouters from across generations to come together for friendship and fellowship and to celebrate Scouting. The reunion will take place at the Order of the Arrow Lodge at Boxwell from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm and will have a different theme every half hour. Each theme will include a short presentation. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like. A schedule of the themes is listed below.

Wood Badge Alumni (1:00 – 1:30)
Eagle Scout Alumni (1:30 – 2:00)
Boxwell Camp Staff Alumni (2:00 – 2:30)
Order of the Arrow Alumni (2:30 – 3:00)
Silver Beaver Alumni (3:00 – 3:30 )
Executive Board Alumni (3:30 – 4:00)

We hope to see you there to reminisce about old times while seeing Scouting in action today.

Questions? Contact Linda Carter, Assoc. Development Director at lcarter@mtcbsa.org

REGISTER here: https://mtcbsa.doubleknot.com/event/100th-anniversary-jamboree-reunions-cc657/2633215

For the Good of the Program Pre-Order

For the Good of the Program: A Century of Middle Tennessee Scouting at Boxwell, 1921-2021

Have you ordered your history of Boxwell yet? The book contains history on all four Boxwell locations, maps, photos, and stories.

On reader of an early draft commented, “I will say that even though my family and I have no history with scouting, I found it to be a highly engaging exploration of how various moments in U.S. and local history during the last century are reflected through the lens of a local youth organization such as scouting.”

The book is available for pre-order until August 31, 2021 here: https://mtcbsa.doubleknot.com/event/a-century-of-middle-tennessee-scouting-at-boxwell-1921-2021-book-pre-order-cc120/2832417