Blue Ridge Mountains Council
Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
| Tutelo Lodge 161 - Order of the Arrow | |
Blue Ridge Mountains Council Boy Scouts of America |
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF In January, 1973 with the merger of 456 Powhatan and 161
Koo Koo Ku Hoo. Both Powhatan and Koo Koo Ku Hoo had been original charter
lodges in old Area III-C. The lodge retained the older number 161 and
chose the new name of Tutelo. The Tutelo tribe was the last Indian tribe
to inhabit the area where Camp Powhatan is now located. An Indian in a
war bonnet had been the totem of Powhatan. These items were later honored
in a service flap issued in 1978. The original honor flap of Tutelo had
an old stone iron furnace highlighted on it. HISTORY OF POWHATAN LODGE 456 In the summer of 1951, Carl Hildebrand, past Scout Executive of the Blue Ridge Council (Roanoke), tapped the first Arrowmen into the new Powhatan Lodge #456. Among the first chiefs were Don Mitchell, Keith Haley, Dave Brumbaugh, Don Haley, Louie Whitescarver, and Sandy Mullin. The first Ordeal ceremony was held at the site immediately to the right of where the bridge crosses Macks Creek (7 Year Bridge?) above Camp Powhatan. In 1950, the present Camp Powhatan was built. Before that, Camp Powhatan was located in Bedford County on the south side of the James River near Glasgow. Coincidentally, there is an old iron furnace about a mile down the road from the Old Camp Powhatan as well. The old entrance pillars, swimming pool foundation, and building foundations may still be seen by hiking the Belfast Trail in the Jefferson National Forest. The camps were named after Chief Powhatan, who led the powerful Powhatan Confederacy of Virginia. Both lodges served their respective councils and camps with cheerful service and many projects. Camp Monocan became the center of Koo Koo Ku Hoo’s activity and the pageant called “The Legend of the Monocan Indians” became a major boost for Order of the Arrow public relations. They were both represented at area pow wows, conclaves, and were charter members of the new Area III-A when it formed in 1953. Powhatan and Koo Koo Ku Hoo Lodges were strong in Indian dancing and ceremonies. In 1950, Koo Koo Ku Hoo was cited for its fine display of Indian dress and accoutrements at the Area III-A Pow Wow. Camp Powhatan became the site of many service projects, including the planting of trees, new campsite clearance, and the building of new activity shelters. The original ceremony grounds were not used very often and in 1956 a new ring was completed above the reservoir. In 1964 another ring was built in a more isolated location to allow both Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies to be held at the same time. The two lodges hosted area meetings at Camp Monocan in 1960 and 1964 and at Camp Powhatan in 1957, 1963, and 1968. They also provided the following area chiefs: 1959: Tom Carroll, 1961: Larry Horne, 1965: Donald Cox, and 1971: Richard Bryant. The job of area chief was similar to that of the present-day section chief, except the area chiefs were appointed, not elected. The lodge chief of the conclave host lodge would become the area chief for that year. Koo Koo Ku Hoo’s totem was an owl with outspread wings and Powhatan’s was an Indian in a war bonnet. These totems were abandoned when the two lodges merged in 1973 and were replaced by the new totem of three arrows. In the early 1990s, the totem was modified to be three red arrows crossed in the center of a bronze shield. This is the best interpretation of the totem of the Tutelo Tribe, the last known Indians to inhabit the site of Camp Powhatan. Tutelo became the new lodge name, and the lower number of 161 was kept.
Official Web Site of Tutelo Lodge 161 -
Order of the Arrow - BSA |
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