Preserving History

Preserving and collecting historical artifacts is an interesting gig. Sometimes you collect hings you know are old, but you don’t really know how–or if–the pieces fit together.

Seen here is a collection of growing artifacts at the STEM Center at Parnell. Over the last several years, items that are believed to be Parnell related are collected in an attempt to preserve the history of the camp, which closed in 1998.

Some of these artifacts go together, some don’t. The Parnell Trading Post sign and the square tables are probably kindred spirits, though the table are likely older (1960) than the sign (1973). The glass bottles could be from any period, but likely date to the soda machines at the Trading Post in 1970s. The Freedom Shrine sign though comes from Camp Craig and not Parnell. But if you don’t know, you don’t know!

The Single “Shift”

It’s hard to see from the modern perspective, but the split shift feeding style used as Boxwell is not the way meals have always been done. In fact, the split shift can be dated specifically to arrival of Reservation Director Ron Turpin in 1997. Anticipating larger attendance, meals were moved to shifts to better accommodate the numbers.

Before 1997, whether using cafeteria style or family style, meals were done in one “shift.” The entire camp ate together for each meal, enjoying program and songs and… announcements with an energy only a large group can bring. It also allowed more time, making post-meal activities that involved staff vs. leaders (baseball, volleyball) easier to accomplish.

Seen here is Stahlman Dining hall in July 1960. It’s a single shift, using family style feeding. With the food already on the table, this meal would be over in about 30 minutes!

Rock Island Life

Rock Island Boxwell was, in many ways, very similar to Old Hickory Boxwell. The general program approach was the same, with specific program areas taught by program area staffs. Family style feeding started here as did troop campsites.

The photos here from The Tennessean in August 1950. Not only do they give a great snapshot of Rock Island Boxwell’s activities, but they also feature some important Council figures when they were young.

The Amphitheatre

The flag poles at the top of the hill and the Weaver Amphitheatre are old hat today. With a sound booth and electric lights, the Amphitheatre is used every year, if not at summer camp, then at one of the fall or spring events. The flag poles fly three flags all summer long.

But it wasn’t always this way. Both are additions made during the Willhite era. The Amphitheatre was a 1985 OA project in honor of Bill Weaver. In addition to a long history in Scouting, Weaver was also the chairman on the 1972 Capital Development Campaign. The flagpoles joined the reservation landscape in February 1981, a gift of the Nashville Freemasons.

Here are both seen in the summer of 1989. There was no sound booth yet and the trees had not yet grown. Down the hill and even out to Explorer Island were still clearly visible. The view was still quite spectacular!