The Lodge Building Dedication Invitation in 1959.
1959 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

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

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

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

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

In the Spring of 1985 during the 75th anniversary, I got the idea to give him something to do. So I commissioned him to do a piece of art to donate to council.  We came down to camp on an OA work weekend and we walked all over the camp, including Camp Ware.  He never made a sketch, never took a note. When we got back home, he gave me his ideas, and what you see is the painting that resulted from that. This is an Allegorical painting.  If you look at it, you see on the left a Scout from around 1910 and behind him, the entrance way to the Chapel.  You’ll notice that the trail is blocked.  He cannot go back. On the right, you have a Scout from temporary times, 1985, and behind him, the trail is wide open.

In the center, you see the fire pit at the OA circle.  The arrow is pointing to the rock.  Above the rocks, you see, floating in the clouds, the United States flag and the Scout fleur-de-lis.  So, you can’t go back in history, but you can go forward.  Scouting is always onward and upward, so the sky’s the limit.  Basically, that is the interpretation of the painting.  The frame is hand-made, white pine, stained walnut, hand-carved and put together, and was presented to the lodge at a supplicant weekend during 1985….

…. He [Jaime] had some interesting anecdotes.  He knew [Pablo] Picasso, he graduated from the art school Picasso got kicked out of, because Picasso was kind of radical for his time.  And he said there were several paintings the Metropolitan Museum had purchased and had been authenticated elsewhere and he proved them to be forgeries therefore saving the museum millions of dollars.  And all based on the fact that he was an academic painter and he was taught in the old school, the Renaissance type painter. And he knew that these paintings, they didn’t use the same paint they did back then for their alleged age. 

He said that as part of his graduating credits from the art school at the vatican that all the students had to do a portrait of the cardinal in charge of the school at the time.  And the way the painting were graded is the Pope came in and graded the paintings.  Not the Cardinal in charge of the school. And the winning painting went into the Vatican collection. Jaime, according to Jaime, his painting went into the Vatical collection for that year, the year he graduated.  So the man was no slouch.  And a very loving person, he was a hugger!  He died of stomach cancer around 88, 89.  So I knew briefly.  Just 3 or 4 years.  Very fond of that man.”

At 1:30 PM Brothers gathered outside of the Lodge Building for the rededication ceremony. After the presentation of the colors, emcee Mike Steinberger began by reciting the dedication that was used at the opening of the Lodge Building in 1959 to honor our brothers who are no longer with us. The invocation was given by Dave McConaghy and Chief Matt Steinberger welcomed all those attending on behalf of the Lodge. Greetings were given by Travis Cunningham the 2011 Northeast Region Chief and by our new Scout Executive, Charlie Rogers.

Sean Bealer, 2008 Lodge Chief and 85 th Anniversary Committee Advisor gave the Dedication Address, recounting how the Lodge Renovation process began in 2007 and thanking all those who donated money, time and labor to complete the renovations. Sean specifically recognized Chris Gilbert for all his efforts in leading the Lodge Renovations for the past three years and thanked all of the contractors and suppliers of material for their hard work and donations. Sean also commented on the importance of the Lodge Building in the history of the Lodge and its position as the center of our activities at Camp Horseshoe.

Finally, Chief Matt Steinberger, Lodge Advisor Scott Salvatore and Chris Gilbert cut the Magenta ribbon and used the 1959 ceremony Key to open the Lodge Building and the new Octoraro Lodge Museum to the visitors. All were amazed by the displays of Lodge memorabilia in eight, lighted display cases. Photos of our founders, banners and awards from our history were neatly displayed on the walls and large metal replicas of our Lodge flaps and those of our section were displayed on the ceiling of the main room. The Bunk room and Chief’s room received new walls and ceilings and two,
new Lodge pole Pine bunk beds have been donated for the Chief’s room by the Steinberger family.

Many brothers stayed well after the ceremony was over to sit and talk with others in fellowship or carefully study the memorabilia in the display cases. In that regard, the rededication of the Octoraro Memorial Lodge Building was a great success.

At 4 PM Brothers moved to the Kindness Center for the 85 th Anniversary rededication ceremony. Performed by brothers Nick Massaro, Jeff Schaeffer and Tom and Evan Steinberger the ceremony was very solemn and focused on the three tenants of our Order, Wimachtendienk Wingoplauchsik Witahemui and how difficult it may be in these times but even more important for us to be rededicated to Brotherhood, Cheerfulness and Service in our daily lives. During the ceremony all Chiefs in attendance were recognized and newly elected 2012 Chief Alex Hughes was presented to the Lodge. All Lodge Advisors in attendance were also recognized and thanked. The ceremony ended with a powerful closing as all brothers stood and recited the Obligation of the Order.

Following retreat, we gathered with the Ordeal candidates in Allen Memorial Dining Hall to feast on a Turkey dinner ala Sunday during summer camp. A surprise visitor, Chief Fred Gates (1951-1952) made his way to the microphone and thanked the Lodge for renovating and improving the Lodge building; recounting how he presided over the groundbreaking in 1952. He wished us all congratulations on our 85 th anniversary which was a fitting end to the festivities.