Lodge Property

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Lodge Property

———— EXHIBIT ————

< Octoraro Lodge #22

“Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom.”
–Phyllis Theroux

Exhibit Details

Octoraro Lodge 22 has been around since 1926, and as such has an important presence at HSR, including the OA Bridge to its ceremonial circle and the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building, opened in 1959.

Displays in this Exhibit:

Lodge Building

OA Bridge

Trail Crew Trailer

Lodge Building

Display Details

The OA Lodge Building has seen it’s fair share of use, and construction, and renovation, and more construction, and also some more use. These photos chronicle a building’s journey since the 1950s.

Pictures

Documents

Videos

Memorabilia

Jigsaw Puzzle

Pictures

The Octoraro Lodge 22 building.

The OA Lodge Building was built in 1950 and dedicated in 1959.

Members of the Octoraro Lodge put a new roof on the OA Lodge in 1993.

Here is photo of the Lodge Building in 1969.

OA Lodge under construction – it would be later dedicated in 1959.

OA Lodge Dedication.

From Troop 11’s 60th Anniversary Scrapbook; written by Joseph N. DiStefano.

Joe is now a columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He would be glad to hear from fellow Troop 11 veterans at JoeD@phillynews.com.

OA Lodge Dedication.

OA Lodge Back Porch

The key from the OA Lodge dedication on June 20th, 1959.

JB Rettew III, Council Commissioner, and Commissioners’ conference in the OA lodge building.

The inside of the Octoraro Lodge building, as seen during a Webelos Woods outing.

Several of the door frames and walls seen here are being reconstructed for new electrical cables and new doors.

The lodge building renovations, as part of the 50th anniversary restoration.

The OA Lodge Building wall panels have been removed in this picture so that new cable could be run and better paneling installed.

Mike Arles inspects the new Lodge Building walkway that was paved with memorial bricks purchased by Octoraro 22 members.

At the very head of the walkway, several brick pavers are adorned with the names of the Octoraro Lodge 22 Founders.

Octoraro Lodge 22 installed new memorabilia display cases in the Lodge Building at Camp Horseshoe just before the Lodge Re-dedication ceremony at the 85th Anniversary Fall Fellowship weekend.

LLD participants listen to a session being presented during the seminar at the Octoraro Lodge Building.

Another view of the display cases used to house Octoraro Lodge 22’s memorabilia.

These flagpoles are right outside the Lodge Building in the picnic area, and are used when conducting ceremonies or training at the building.

David Seace works on fixing one of the lights and the windows of the Octoraro 22 Lodge Building.

Wayne Cherry works on cleaning up the floor of the Octoraro 22 Lodge Building during the 2015 April Service Weekend.

During a CCC board retreat at the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building, Gary Schroeder is congratulated by Blake Pritchard, Charlie Rogers and Lisa Antonucci after he was surprised by the announcement that he was going to receive the very prestigious “Distinguished Eagle Scout Award” by National.

Several members of the lodge work on fixing the Lodge Building porch at the 2017 June OA service weekend.

Electrical work was done as part of the Lodge Building renovations being done in December 2018.

The center wall in the back sleeping area is removed and paneling stripped so that renovations can take place.

Lots of construction work including insulation was done in December 2018.

Here is the Lodge Building decked out with some excellent decorations for the “Buzz the Beard” reception.

Members of MRG work on the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building patio in April 2024.

Members of MRG, including Bill Cox and Rick Crompton, work on the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building patio in April 2024.

The OA Lodge is a central site for the 1983 Section NE-5A Conclave, hosted by Octoraro Lodge #22.

Some Scouters do repairs to the entrance of the OA Lodge Building in 1973.

Documents

Octoraro Lodge Home Construction

This brochure gives an artist’s rendering of what the lodge building might look like, as well as provides a description of the Order of the Arrow and the purpose of the future Lodge Building.
1944 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Lodge Dedication Ceremony

This booklet was issued to guests who attended the Octoraro Lodge Dedication Ceremony in 1959.
1959 – Contributed by Mark Morris

State of the Lodge

State of the Lodge building renovations posted on the Octoraro 22 website in 2009.
2009 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Lodge Building Letter

This letter solicits for additional funding for the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building construction.
1954 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard

Lodge Building Mortgage Burning Ceremony

The OA Lodge Building Mortgage Burning Ceremony.
1965 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Lodge Building Mortgage Burning Schedule

The OA Lodge Building Mortgage Burning Schedule.
1965 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Lodge Dedication Notes

Jim Gawthrop’s notes on the Lodge Dedication Ceremony held in 1959.
1959 – Contributed by James H. Gawthrop

Lodge Building Attendance Notes

Here is the attendance book that was kept from June 20, 1959, which is when the Lodge Building was opened, until 1983.
1983 – Contributed by James H. Gawthrop

Videos

OA Lodge Building
Here is an exterior shot of the Octoraro Lodge Building.
1995 – Contributed by John B. Rettew III

Walking to the OA Lodge
A little stroll down to the OA lodge.
2016 – Contributed by Mike Arles

Memorabilia

Here is a mug of the Octoraro Memorial Lodge with a description of its history on the back.

The staff and leader stein design of 1991 featured the Octoraro Lodge building which had just undergone some renovations.

This flap (S77 in Blue Book) was issued by Octoraro 22 in 1999 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Octoraro Lodge Building.

This flap (S78) is the typical magenta border flap issued to members of the Lodge Executive Committee who have attended at least all but 2 meetings each year. It is usually modeled after a special flap issued just prior to the Exec. Committee flap, in this case, the Lodge Building 40th anniversary flap.

Not your typical memorabilia: matchbooks were available as part of the 1959 OA Lodge Building dedication.

Jigsaw Puzzle

2018 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

OA Bridge

Display Details

The OA bridge is used to get Order of the Arrow members from Camp Horseshoe to their fire circle by crossing the Octoraro Creek.
In 1967 and 1968, the new OA Bridge was constructed to be have proper cable towers and suspension.
Due to the location of the OA bridge on the Octoraro Creek, flood waters released from Octoraro Reservoir in conjunction with a sharp turn upstream creates rushing water carrying down trees during devastating hurricanes and other storms. As a consequence, the bridge is prone to be damaged and in need of frequent repair by Order of the Arrow members and others.

Pictures

Videos

Pictures

The old Swinging Bridge over the Octoraro upstream from the old boatdocks.

Octoraro Creek frozen beneath foot bridge built by Lodge members including Richie Richardson and others.

The OA Bridge in 1977.

The Louis Lester OA Bridge was severely damaged by the flood waters of Hurricane Agnes.

OA Workers toil away at fixing the OA Bridge that was devastated by Hurricane Agnes.

The OA Bridge could not stand up to the weight of the heavy snow dumped by a blizzard in 2010. The Bald Eagles nesting nearby would delay the repairs.

The OA bridge from a turtle’s perspective.

The OA Bridge was also damaged during the May 7th, 2014 flood.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

Here are some of the cross pieces used in the OA bridge repairs.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

Here is the schematic used to define the length of the suspenders.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

The remaining OA bridge decking was completed on April 10th, 2016.

The OA bridge now sits several feet higher than before. In this photo, stairs still need to be constructed and the fencing attached.

Here decking is being sent up the bridge for repairs at the other end.

A.J. DiAntonio works on the decking repairs for the OA Bridge.

A.J. DiAntonio and Mike DiDomenico work on OA Bridge decking repairs.

Mike DiDomenico is hoisted above the Octoraro creek to work on decking repairs for the OA Bridge.

A.J. DiAntonio applies decking screws to the OA bridge deck planks.

Planks are completed on the OA Bridge during the repairs of April 2016.

Chris Wilder inspects the platform on the OA Fire Circle side of the OA Bridge.

The OA Bridge repairs are completed with the addition of stairs.

Despite getting lots of work done in 2016, the OA Bridge had more decking replaced in 2017.

Hurricane Ida caused significant damage to Camp Horseshoe on August 31st, 2021, including destroying the OA bridge.

Here is a view of the nearly demolished OA bridge platform from the camp side of the bridge, and of course, the missing OA bridge. This was caused by severe rain and flooding as an aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

Here is the old OA bridge without much safety equipment on it, from 1967.

Here is a picture of the Old OA bridge that shows how the bridge was anchored on the OA side- to a tree.

Members of Octoraro Lodge 22 work on removing dead wood and other projects to fix the OA bridge prior to the April 2016 service weekend.

Scouters start to prepare the cable tower to be anchored in the ground.

The tower on the OA fire circle side of the Octoraro Creek starts to get raised!

The cable tower of the OA bridge is almost fully upright with the help of a lot of bodies hoisting it up.

The Cable Tower on the OA fire circle side is in and stable.

This Scouter works on affixing cables to the tower during the OA Bridge construction of 1967.

Here is a look between the two cable towers on both sides of the Octoraro Creek during the OA Bridge Construction of 1967.

This Scouter was working on the cable tower on the OA Bridge in 1968.

Several Scouters work on the OA circle side of the creek and discuss the efforts here.

Several Scouts check out the work from the decking of the OA bridge.

This Scouter hangs off a ladder as he finishes off his cable tower work to repair the OA bridge.

This Scouter preps the materials for the day’s work on the OA bridge.

In order to protect the bridge from wear, these Scouts and Scouters are painting the OA bridge as part of its repairs.

Some Scouters check out the guide cables during the OA bridge repairs in 1968.

Reaching great heights in the service of the OA Bridge, this Scouter is quite dedicated in the early months of 1968.

This Scouter is working on the cable tower as part of the OA bridge repairs in 1968.

As part of the new bridge being built, the cable tower is being anchored before the platform is built.

These Scouts work on securing the cables to the tower in the 1968 OA Bridge construction.

1968 OA Bridge construction – despite the presence of ladders, this looks awfully precarious.

Work continues here on the OA bridge tower on the OA fire circle side.

The bridge tower is now upright in this photo after construction concludes for the day.

This lone worker is on the top of the OA bridge tower securing cables during the 1968 construction.

Here is a view of a Scouter in between the OA bridge tower uprights on the Camp Horseshoe side of the Octoraro creek.

This is the very old OA bridge that had cables for support.

A few folks check out the new OA bridge, installed the year prior.

This woman looks to be traveling hesitantly across the new OA bridge.

Videos

Tour of the OA Bridge
Ernie Heegard gives a tour of the OA bridge.
2023 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

OA Bridge Ribbon Cutting
Octoraro 22 Lodge Chief AJ Moreno commemorates the reopening of the OA Bridge at the 2016 April Service weekend.
2016 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Aerial Video of OA Bridge
This aerial drone video of the OA Bridge shows the new platform and new decking for the bridge reopened on April 30th, 2016.
2016 – Contributed by Anonymous

Trail Crew Trailer

Display Details

The trail crew trailer houses all of Octoraro Lodge #22’s equipment for trail work and can easily be transported around the reservation for trail work. The trailer has been around since at least 2010.

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Last updated October 11, 2025