1947

From WikiBPSC

Boy Scout Resident Camp was held at Bear Paw from June to August in 1947.

1 What's New at Bear Paw
2 When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes On Bear Paw Lake
3 1947 Bear Paw Staff
- 3.1 Camp Staff
4 Links to WikiBPSC
5 Links to BPSC.org
6 References

[edit] What's New at Bear Paw

The following was taken from a 1947 camp promotional flyer

Dining Hall

Again this year, we are planning on using our Store and Storage Building that was used last year as our dining hall. New floors have been laid and doors and screening have been added.

Shower House

The central Shower House is located in the control center of the Camp. It will be in use this year with hot water on tap twenty-four hours a day.

Map from 1947 promotional flyer

Health Lodge

By the opening of camp, our Health Lodge, that is located on the hill among the pines, will be completed.

Boat House

The Boat House, which is located near the Boat Landing at the waterfront, will be used during the camp season principally as the Camp Store and Storage Building.

Staff Lodge

Over the Boat House we have now completed the permanent quarters for the Central Camp Staff. This will be a private quarters not accessible to all campers.

Waterfront

Our fleet of sixteen canoes will include eight brand new ones which are just being purchased. Plans call for the addition of several rowboats to the water-craft fleet which also includes one sailboat. The pier will be completed to form an "F" shape providing well marked areas for each class of swimmers.

Latrine

Each Camp Unit will be equipped with a structure housing a latrine. Primary Camp sites, or those that have been well established, will have a permanent structure which will house in addition to a latrine the Troop wash shelter.

Cathedral Point

The Peninsula that was last year used for Camp Site No. 2 is to be given over to Chapel area. On it will be located the camp Chapel at which will be carried on the religious services of the various denominations. There will be Catholic Mass every Sunday morning for all Catholic Scouts under the supervision of the Diocesan Chaplain. Protestant services will be conducted every Sunday morning under the supervision of the Ministerial Associations in the various parts of the Council. This will provide Scouts with a splendid opportunity to practice the twelfth part of the Scout Law and still remain at Camp.

Ranger's Lodge The CCC Building that was moved into Camp last summer and located on the knoll just to the right of the entrance road has been remodeled in to a very comfortable and adequate dwelling for our Camp Ranger, Ralph Riggio, and his family.

Garage & Repair Shop

A second CCC Building that was moved in and located near the entrance road a little to the southeast of the Ranger's Lodge has been remodeled and is now the Camp Garage and Repair Shop.

Central Water Supply

The drilled wells which will supply the water for the camp have been completed and water under pressure will be supplied to the Shower Building and the Kitchen and Dining Hall this year.

[edit] When The Yanks Raised The Stars & Stripes On Bear Paw Lake

On 15 June 1947, the Elks Lodges of Green Bay, Marinette-Menominee, and Oconto sponsored a belated Flag Day celebration at Bear Paw. The Elks were on hand to preside over the dedication of the new, wooden flagpole for central camp.

16 June 1947 Green Bay Press Gazette

The speaker at the event was Pharmacists Mate Second Class John H. Bradley. Bradley, an Antigo, Wisconsin native, was one of six American servicemen who were immortalized on film planting the flag atop of Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima, 23 February 1945. Bradley, accompanied by an honor guard of Scouts of all ages, raised a new, 48 star flag, donated by the Elks Club for the first time on Bear Paw's flagpole.

The Elks club was also at Bear Paw to announce their intention to raise $15,000 for the construction of a new Elks Memorial Lodge. The 70 foot building with two 60 foot wings was to serve as a new dining hall and kitchen as well as house the commissary and camp offices. This main lodge was to be constructed with two large fireplaces, able to accommodate 250 scouts for dining, and serving as a rainy day program area and winter camp facility. Elks Memorial Lodge was to be constructed of half logs to match existing buildings and sit overlooking the waterfont and Bear Paw Lake. While this building was never built, many of the concepts and likely funding was incorporated into the relocation and expansion of the Camp Store into the new Nicolet Dining Hall.

Elks Pledge 15,000 Lodge Building for Scouts - complete story 16 June 1947 Green Bay Press-Gazette
John H Bradley - Wikipedia

[edit] 1947 Bear Paw Staff

Back Row (Standing L to R) - Ralph Riggio (Camp Ranger), ___, John Martin, Ted Meier, ___, ___, ___, Bob Bennett, EA Rowley (Camp Director)

Front Row (Seated L to R) - Jim Thiery, Jerry Freise, ___, Don Holt, ___, ___, Mrs Rowley, ___, John Lorquin, ___

Not Pictured -

[edit] Camp Staff

The following was taken from the 1947 camp promotional flyer

Camp Director: C.L. Stuckman, Field Exceutive serving Marinette, Menominee, and Oconto Counties of the Nicolet Area Council, will serve as Camp Director again this year. Mr. Stuckman's many years of Scouting as a volunteer and professional together with his years of experience in directing this type of camp qualify him for the job.

Coordinator: John Lurquin, will be on the Camp Staff for a second year as a coordinator. His job will be to assist the Scoutmasters of the Troops at Camp in developing their program and coordinating it with the over-all camp program.

Craft Director: T. A. Meyer, Manual Arts Instructor at Menominee HIgh School, will be in charge of the Craft Program at Bear Paw again this year. HIs job is not only that of directing handicraft but of supervising the entire craft program of the Camp including Naturecraft, Campcraft, Woodcraft, and Handicraft.

Aquatic Director: This position to-date has not been filled. This individual has full charge of all activities pertaining to Bear Paw Lake, Canoeing, Boating, Sailing, Swimming, and Fishing. Our plan is to secure a man who has taken the National Aquatic Training Course along with being an instructor in the American Red Cross Water Safety Program.

Assistant Aquatic Director: Jim Thiry, will assist the Aquatic Director in the program at the waterfront.

Camp Ranger: Ralph Riggio, who was with us at Camp last year, is now the full-time Camp Ranger. During the summer Camp season Ralph will be in charge of equipment and maintenance of the Camp.

Health Advisor: This is another position that has not been filled to-date. However, we have in mind an adult who has had a great deal of experience along the line of health and safety so that we can assure you and your parents of a very safe and healthful camp.

Chef: To-date a Chef has not been secured for Camp but plans call for the employment of one or two people, expert in the field, to insure plenty of wholesome food, well prepared and served so that each and every camper will not only enjoy this phase of the camping program but will be guaranteed a proper and adequate diet while at Camp. No expense will be spared to see that this phase of the program is tops.

Utility Director: Gerry Frehse, whom the second year campers will remember because of his interesting songs, especially "Suzanne", will be with us again this year. Gerry will supervise the Dining Hall and will supplement the various phases of the program as help is needed in each one of them.

Provisional Scoutmaster: Wally Utnehmer will be in charge of the Provisional Troop. This is the Troop in which all all Scouts who come to camp without their Troop leadership will be located.