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Camp Minsi: Difference between revisions
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The Lenape (or Lenni-Lenape) were inhabitants of the land in the 1600s. The Lenape were a mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region around the Delaware River and the lower Hudson River, and were native to the area of current Camp Minsi. The Lenape were organized in phratries, which were groups of two or more small clans, identified by an animal sign. Three Lenape phratries emerge in the early historical records: the Unami, the Ungalachtigo, and the Minsi. The camp's name, Minsi, derives from the Lenape Minsis. The Minsi phratry has also been referred to as Munsi, Munsee, Monsi, and Muncey. The symbol of the Unami (the turtle) has been adopted as the symbol of Camp Minsi. | The Lenape (or Lenni-Lenape) were inhabitants of the land in the 1600s. The Lenape were a mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region around the Delaware River and the lower Hudson River, and were native to the area of current Camp Minsi. The Lenape were organized in phratries, which were groups of two or more small clans, identified by an animal sign. Three Lenape phratries emerge in the early historical records: the Unami, the Ungalachtigo, and the Minsi. The camp's name, Minsi, derives from the Lenape Minsis. The Minsi phratry has also been referred to as Munsi, Munsee, Monsi, and Muncey. The symbol of the Unami (the turtle) has been adopted as the symbol of Camp Minsi. | ||
=== | ===Sullivan's March (1778)=== | ||
During the height of the American Revolutionary War (July 3, 1778 to be exact), over three hundred American patriots were killed in an Iroquois raid on Pennsylvania's | During the height of the American Revolutionary War (July 3, 1778 to be exact), over three hundred American patriots were killed in an Iroquois raid on Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley (the area around Scranton and Wilkes-Barre). The Americans called it an "unwarranted massacre". The event incensed General Washington. He feared for the safety of settlers living along the Appalachian Mountains and worried about possible future raids on his army and supplies. In order to eliminate the problem, Washington ordered Major General John Sullivan to march with 2,000 soldiers from Easton, Pennsylvania to the Wyoming Valley. Their orders were to wipe out all the Indian villages he encountered. | ||
As Sullivan and his men marched north, they created a new trail. The route, known as Sullivan's Trail, would become a major road for transportation following the campaign. In fact, much of the original trail was used as the foundation for the highways, roads and trails of the area still in use today. | As Sullivan and his men marched north, they created a new trail. The route, known as Sullivan's Trail, would become a major road for transportation following the campaign. In fact, much of the original trail was used as the foundation for the highways, roads and trails of the area still in use today. | ||
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When Sullivan reached this point, he and his men were attacked by the Natives. According to Sullivan, the Natives, at first, held the advantage over his surprised men. However, with their superior firepower over the bow and arrow, Sullivan's men turned the ambush into a rout of the Natives, wiping out approximately 90% of the estimated 1,000 warriors who turned up that day. Today, the area is known as “Bloody Angle” in honor of this bloody encounter and the many slaughtered Natives. | When Sullivan reached this point, he and his men were attacked by the Natives. According to Sullivan, the Natives, at first, held the advantage over his surprised men. However, with their superior firepower over the bow and arrow, Sullivan's men turned the ambush into a rout of the Natives, wiping out approximately 90% of the estimated 1,000 warriors who turned up that day. Today, the area is known as “Bloody Angle” in honor of this bloody encounter and the many slaughtered Natives. | ||
After his "victory", Sullivan did not linger. He and his men were riding hard for the Wyoming Valley area to complete their mission. Sullivan's army continued to carry out a scorched earth campaign, methodically destroying at least fifty Iroquois villages throughout Pennsylvania and | After his "victory", Sullivan did not linger. He and his men were riding hard for the Wyoming Valley area to complete their mission. Sullivan's army continued to carry out a scorched earth campaign, methodically destroying at least fifty Iroquois villages throughout Pennsylvania and New York. | ||
After the clash at Bloody Angle, the local tribes gathered up their wounded and moved them back to their home tribes. However, the issue over where to bury the nearly 900 dead was a more complicated matter for the Natives. Many suggested burying the dead on the battle site directly next to Sullivan's Trail. However, many local Chiefs worried passersby using the trail might desecrate the grave markers. After much debate, the Chiefs decided on a partially cleared area further back down the trail. This area, a few hundred yards off the main trail, was far enough away from the main route to ensure that those passing by would not even know they were there. The Natives relocated and buried the dead in close low and rocky graves. This area became wholly sacred to the Native Americans in the area. | After the clash at Bloody Angle, the local tribes gathered up their wounded and moved them back to their home tribes. However, the issue over where to bury the nearly 900 dead was a more complicated matter for the Natives. Many suggested burying the dead on the battle site directly next to Sullivan's Trail. However, many local Chiefs worried passersby using the trail might desecrate the grave markers. After much debate, the Chiefs decided on a partially cleared area further back down the trail. This area, a few hundred yards off the main trail, was far enough away from the main route to ensure that those passing by would not even know they were there. The Natives relocated and buried the dead in close low and rocky graves. This area became wholly sacred to the Native Americans in the area. | ||
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===Ice Harvest on Lake Stillwater (1880s - 1930s)=== | ===Ice Harvest on Lake Stillwater (1880s - 1930s)=== | ||
With the dwindling forests and growing markets, the businesses who had harvested all of the lumber began looking for new avenues of revenue -- they turned to the ice industry. From the late 1880s until the 1930s, the ice industry of the Poconos was king. Before the 1930s and the advent of | With the dwindling forests and growing markets, the businesses who had harvested all of the lumber began looking for new avenues of revenue -- they turned to the ice industry. From the late 1880s until the 1930s, the ice industry of the Poconos was king. Before the 1930s and the advent of refrigeration, food was preserved through salting, spicing, pickling, or smoking. Meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables were all subject to spoilage. These products were only sold in the local markets, since shipping them was not practical. Consumers' choices were limited because they could not store these products for any substantial time. The solution to these problems was found in the harvesting of natural ice. | ||
Numerous ice companies sprung up in the area as ice was harvested from the shallow freshwater lakes. Soon, the Pocono Mountain Ice Company, run by Samuel Rubel and based in Hoboken, New Jersey, became the leading ice company in the area, buying up many of the smaller ice companies. Large ice houses were built around Lake Stillwater to store the large blocks of ice. Remnants of some of those facilities can still be seen at camp today. | Numerous ice companies sprung up in the area as ice was harvested from the shallow freshwater lakes. Soon, the Pocono Mountain Ice Company, run by Samuel Rubel and based in Hoboken, New Jersey, became the leading ice company in the area, buying up many of the smaller ice companies. Large ice houses were built around Lake Stillwater to store the large blocks of ice. Remnants of some of those facilities can still be seen at camp today. | ||
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===The Scouts and Minsi (1949 - present)=== | ===The Scouts and Minsi (1949 - present)=== | ||
From 1931 to 1968, Delaware Valley Area Council operated Weygadt Scout Reservation in the | From 1931 to 1968, Delaware Valley Area Council operated Weygadt Scout Reservation in the Delaware Water Gap.<ref name="nps">NPS.gov [http://www.nps.gov/dewa/historyculture/upload/cmsbsaNOLL.pdf History of the Deleware Watergap]</ref> The Reservation was originally home to two Scout camps - the Easton Council's Camp Weygadt on the southern part of the reservation and the Bethlehem Area Council's Camp Minsi on the northen section of the reservation.<ref name="nps">[http://www.nps.gov/dewa/historyculture/upload/cmsbsaNOLL.pdf NPS.GOV - History of the Deleware Watergap]</ref><ref name="weygadt">[http://www.midcoast.com/~shadow/index.html Camp Weygadt History Website]</ref> In the later part of the 1930s, the Bethlehem Council moved Camp Minsi to the Poconos, giving the entire run of reservation to Camp Weygadt.<ref name="weygadt">[http://www.midcoast.com/~shadow/index.html Camp Weygadt History Website]</ref><ref name="leaders guide 2007">[http://minsitrails.com/camping/BoyScout/CampMinsi/default.asp 2007 Camp Leaders Guide]</ref> | ||
Throughout the 1920's and 1930's Camp Minsi, the summer camp for the Bethlehem Area Council, moved from place to place in the Poconos - once it was held in | Throughout the 1920's and 1930's Camp Minsi, the summer camp for the Bethlehem Area Council, moved from place to place in the Poconos - once it was held in Tobyhanna State Park. In 1949, Samuel Rubel, owner of the Mountain Ice Company, donated a large tract of land surounding Lake Stillwater to the Bethlehem Area Council for a small $10 transaction fee.<ref name="rubel">Obituary for Samuel Rubel. The New York Times. April 30, 1949</ref> It was at this time that the council was able to set up a permanent camp. A tempory camp was established on the southern shore of the lake utilizing the facilities of the abandonded Ice Company. | ||
The council sought to expand its summer camp program and plans were drawn up for a bigger and better Camp Minsi. In the mid to late 1950's the plans were finally realized, chiefly through the donations given to the council from | The council sought to expand its summer camp program and plans were drawn up for a bigger and better Camp Minsi. In the mid to late 1950's the plans were finally realized, chiefly through the donations given to the council from Bethlehem Steel. Construction of the current camp, along the western side of the lake, was completed in 1958 and the newly expanded camp opened for the first time in the summer of 1959. | ||
Camp Minsi, now part of Minsi Trails Council due to the merging of councils, continues to serve Scouts. Over the past 60-years the number of campsites has increased from the original eight sites to ten, and each site has also grown in capacity and design. Several program areas and facilities have been added and expanded throughout the years. The fire circle was improved and expanded in 1980 by Post 940 and again in 2004 by the local [[Order of the Arrow]] lodge. A chapel was built in 1981, a "state of the art" central shower house was constructed in 1998, and the camp dedicated a pavalion in the Trail to Adventure program area in 2006. In 2007 Minsi expanded the camp's Dining Hall by an additional 80 feet as well as a returned a porch to the building along with other improvements. Also in 2007, the camp dedicated newly renovated and improved "Walter F. and Joan C. Williams" Waterfront facilities. <ref name="leaders guide 2007">[http://minsitrails.com/camping/BoyScout/CampMinsi/default.asp 2007 Camp Leaders Guide]</ref><ref name="cm.org">[http://www.CampMinsi.org CampMinsi.org]</ref> | Camp Minsi, now part of Minsi Trails Council due to the merging of councils, continues to serve Scouts. Over the past 60-years the number of campsites has increased from the original eight sites to ten, and each site has also grown in capacity and design. Several program areas and facilities have been added and expanded throughout the years. The fire circle was improved and expanded in 1980 by Post 940 and again in 2004 by the local [[Order of the Arrow]] lodge. A chapel was built in 1981, a "state of the art" central shower house was constructed in 1998, and the camp dedicated a pavalion in the Trail to Adventure program area in 2006. In 2007 Minsi expanded the camp's Dining Hall by an additional 80 feet as well as a returned a porch to the building along with other improvements. Also in 2007, the camp dedicated newly renovated and improved "Walter F. and Joan C. Williams" Waterfront facilities. <ref name="leaders guide 2007">[http://minsitrails.com/camping/BoyScout/CampMinsi/default.asp 2007 Camp Leaders Guide]</ref><ref name="cm.org">[http://www.CampMinsi.org CampMinsi.org]</ref> | ||
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*[http://www.campminsi.org campminsi.org], official website | *[http://www.campminsi.org campminsi.org], official website | ||
*[http://www.minsitrails.com/Documents/Camp/Maps/Minsi_map.pdf Camp Minsi Map] | *[http://www.minsitrails.com/Documents/Camp/Maps/Minsi_map.pdf Camp Minsi Map] | ||
*[http://www.minsitrails.com/camping/BoyScout/CampMinsi/default.asp Camp Minsi] on | *[http://www.minsitrails.com/camping/BoyScout/CampMinsi/default.asp Camp Minsi] on Minsitrails.com | ||
*[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pocono-Summit-PA/Camp-Minsi/10550032914 Camp Minsi] on | *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pocono-Summit-PA/Camp-Minsi/10550032914 Camp Minsi] on Facebook | ||
[[Category:Local council camps (Boy Scouts of America)|Minsi]] | [[Category:Local council camps (Boy Scouts of America)|Minsi]] | ||
