Postcards

“Once you get the dust of Horseshoe in your moccasins, you can never get it out.”

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“The world before us is a postcard, and I imagine the story we are writing on it.”
–Mary E. Pearson

Exhibit Details

Postcards have always been a popular means of keeping in touch with the folks back home. Camp Horseshoe still requires a postcard or letter home as a meal ticket to a mid-week lunch. And yes, the Scouts still sometimes arrive home before the postcard does!

Displays in this Exhibit:

Tour Stop

HSR Postcards

Postcards to Home

HSR Postcards

Display Details

Here are many of the beautiful landscapes, people, and programs featured on HSR postcards throughout the years.

This popular postcard from around 1970 has the following description: ‘Horseshoe Scout Reservation – Chester County Council, B.S.A. EVENING RETREAT CEREMONY – Retreat ceremony held every evening before dinner. Troops pass in review in an impressive color ceremony, highlighted by cannon fire and the Horseshoe band. Troop flags are flown at the head of the Parade Field.’

This postcard had the following description: ‘Horseshoe Scout Reservation – rich in history and tradition. Scene of “The Spirit of Horseshoe” (Great Chief of the Lenni Lenape Indian Tribe) arriving for Ceremonial Welcome to Scout campers each week during the summer season. Chester County Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America.’

This postcard also highlights a Native-American scene from the Octoraro Creek.

Health Lodge Painting painted in 2000 by J.B. Rettew that was later used on a post card.

This postcard, issued in 1995, was rendered by J.B. Rettew III and depicts the White House.

‘HORSESHOE RESERVATION, EXPLORER BASE, CHESTER COUNTY COUNCIL B.S.A.’ This postcard pictures the HSR Explorer Base which opened in 1958. The base later became Camp Jubilee and then was renamed to Camp Ware in 1985.

This early postcard from Camp shows the earliest swinging bridge across the Octoraro just above the old Boat Docks.

This postcard from the late 1930s depicts boaters on the Octoraro. Note the size of the trees in Eagle’s Grove, the size of the lifeguard stand and the White House in the background.

This early postcard features the Horseshoe Pool.

On the ‘Octorara’ Horseshoe Reservation Scout Camp, Chester County Council BSA

The size of the trees in Eagle’s Grove dates this postcard to the very early 1930s.

This postcard displays the Saturday Night Campfire firelighting portion of the pageant.

This morning view of the Octoraro Creek was taken from the Schlaanstine Chapel.

The photo for this postcard was taken during the evening flag lowering ceremony at Camp Horseshoe.

This postcard has dual meanings, referring to the human residents of Camp Horseshoe who have achieved the rank of Eagle as well as the bald birds who frequent the camp property.

This postcard combines some of the more popular element of the Camp Horseshoe program- rifle and shotgun shooting, COPE and aquatics.

A postcard featuring Camp Ranger Ray Hayden’s faithful dog, Magua.

Another postcard featuring Magua, Camp Ranger Ray Hayden’s furry sidekick.

This photograph, taken by Andrew Keyes at the 2014 Section NE-6B Conclave, portrays a brave arriving to his tribal land via canoe along the Octoraro Creek. This was part of the closing conclave ceremony.

This postcard exclaiming “Wish You Were Here!” is of the Campcraft Obstacle Course at Camp Horseshoe.

This old time postcard depicts the original HQ of Camp Horseshoe, the White House.

This old time postcard shows Scouts at attention during inspection at one of the Camp Horseshoe stockade sites.

This old time postcard shows a number of Scouts in the Heistand Pool at Camp Horseshoe.

This postcard, issued in 2023, highlights an early scene at the Camp Horseshoe Pool in 1930.

Here is an early postcard front feature C.C. “Coley” Cole, the camp’s first ranger.

The rear description of this postcard reads: Horseshoe Scout Reservation Pool (aer-o-view 1962) built in 1928 is 150′ long and 35′ wide. Ranges in depth 10′ to 3 1/4′. Contains 210,000 gallons of water which is pumped from the Octoraro Creek, filtered through 3 pressure filters at a rate of 400 gallons per minute. Chester County Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America.

This postcard displays some tranquil canoeing activity on the Octoraro Creek.

Another picture of Scouts dressed in Native-American costume in a canoe on the Octoraro Creek.

This description on the back of the postcard reads:

Horseshoe Scout Reservation – Chester County Council, B.S.A.

VIEW FROM THE CHAPEL – The open-air chapel provides a beautiful panorama of the more than 700 acres of Horseshoe. The oldest building in camp, the White House can be seen to the right of the Scouts.

The description of the back of the postcard reads:

Horseshoe Scout Reservation – Chester County Council, B.S.A.

INDIAN TRADITION – Horseshoe has long been rich in Indian tradition. The Lenni Lenape Indians once paddled on these waters. Indian artifacts are found throughout the camp, especially in the vicinity of Buzzards Rock, an Indian campground. Members of the Order of the Arrow keep alive the traditions.

For this postcard, they used a picture of the creek, the Athletic Field, and Eagle Grove.

Postcards to Home

Display Details

Whether it be a note home from a homesick camper or the painful mid-week meal ticket, the post office has been kept busy delivering updates from camp.

Tour Stops

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Last updated December 12, 2025