Rappelling Tower

Before there was the Al Hendrickson COPE Tower in Camp Light, there was the rappelling tower near the compound. Considerably smaller, the original rappelling tower had only side for rappelling and was only 60 feet tall. And as you can tell from the picture here, it was a much simpler operation than the tower today.

The original rappelling tower was found along the road to Camp Craig, before Beany Elam, across from the Frisbee Golf Course sign. If you know where to look, the stumps from the four corner posts are still in the ground.

This photo is 1979, when Perry Bruce’s troop came to camp. 1979 was not only one of the first summers with a rappelling tower, it was also the summer that Camp Stahlman was closed and Parnell and Craig were both open.

The original rappelling tower near Beany Elam, 1979. Photo by Perry Bruce.

The McGhees

Bob McGhee joined the Boxwell staff in 1960, working on the Parnell Waterfront that first summer. Boxwell was a different world.

“On first arriving at the waterfront,” McGhee explained, “I saw a lake, a beach, iron stakes sticking out of the water, and lots of brush and weeds. The swim docks were just arriving by barge and had to be moved in place and chained to their poles. Canoes, rowboats, paddles, life jackets were also arriving. A supply shed had been built but the area was not cleared… The Parnell dining hall was still under construction in 1960… There was little or no grass around Parnell Dining Hall the first summer. Frequent rain showers during the 1960 season resulted in a lot of mud around the dining hall. During the wet spells muddy shoes were left at the entrance by both the scouts and the staff… During the summer of 1960, staff members were assigned to bunk and campsites with the scout masters and troops. My campsite was down the hill southwest of the dining hall.”

McGhee moved to the Stahlman waterfront in 1961 and stayed there through 1964. At that time, waterfront staff (save the dockboy) were all eighteen years old or older. In 1965, McGhee moved to the Boat Harbor for his last summer.

By this time, McGhee, like many older staff, was married and living in Camp Murrey. Seen here is a photo of McGhee and his wife on Ann not long after their marriage in June 1964. Their first home together as husband and wife? “[A] beautiful four-man tent with two bunk beds directly beside Old Hickory Lake.”

Bob and Ann McGhee in 1964, shortly after getting married. Collection of Bob McGhee

Jet Potter Construction

Back in May, we published a series on the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Jet Potter Center. That event happened on May 29, 1975.

And then actual construction began.

Seen here is one of a handful of construction photos we have of the Jet Potter Center in the fall of 1975. Obviously, the construction of the Service Center is front and center, but if you are trying to orient yourself, look in the background. You can see the traffic lights at the intersection of Woodmont and Hillsboro Road in the lower right. You can also see in the center background the steeple of the Woodmont Christian Church.

Construction of the Jet Potter Center with Woodmont Christian in the background, 1975. Photo by Michael Seay.