HISTORY OF WATONALA LODGE # 169
This compilation of HISTORY of WATONALA LODGE #169 of the Order of the Arrow in the Boy Scouts of America is a result of two very important things- curiosity and a desire to preserve the past for the future.

The many editors and researchers of WATONALA LODGE #169 brought a natural curiosity of the history and tradition of the ORDER of the ARROW to life within the pages of this book. The 2002 National Order of the Arrow Conference brought about many interests about our lodge history, so we thought that compiling the history behind WATONALA LODGE #169 was long overdue. We tried to compile information that was not only important to the lodge but also important to individual Arrowmen as well. The strength and tradition of the lodge can primarily be attributed to the lodge; its leadership, and their collective efforts to the council as well as the section. It is our desire that these facts be perpetuated, so that those who follow may appreciate the rich and fulfilling heritage that precedes them, and build their own tradition in service to SCOUTING.

We have also decided to include the history of each patch and other memorabilia of WATONALA LODGE #169. We have found that a chronological display of these items can visually portray parts of history that words cannot.

We would like to thank our many friends inside and outside our lodge, who contributed to our history books completion and made this effort worthwhile, but sometimes in doing so we miss someone who was a valuable part, so we chose not to list anyone, but they each know who they are. WE THANK YOU!!!

We dedicate this book to each WATONALA Arrowman, past and present, and charge them to continue service that will carry on the tradition of WATONALA LODGE # 169
WATONALA WANDERINGS - 1915 TO TODAY...

DR. E. URNER GOODMAN and Co-Founder, CARROLL A. EDSON, founded the Order of the Arrow in 1915 at Treasure Island in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to carry out the following purposes.
  • To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
  • To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner as to warrant recognition.
  • To promote Scout camping, which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.
  • To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

From the induction and organization of Pushmataha Lodge in 1929 to the present time, the Pushmataha-Watonala Lodge #169 has strived to follow the traditions and purpose as presented by Goodman and Edson in 1915.


ORGANIZATION - 1929-1938
Pushmataha Lodge was organized by the East Mississippi Boy Scout Council (now Pushmataha Area Council) in the Fall of 1929. In December of that year the Scout Executive and fifteen other candidates were inducted into the Order of the Arrow. This was the first induction of what was then called the the Pushmataha Lodge. At the time the council had no permanent Camp, so the first ORDEAL was held in West Point, MS and a camp called - properly- PUSHMATAHA. Unfortunately, the exact location remains a mystery.

KEEPING OUR HISTORY ALIVE - DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED
The history of Watonala Lodge is a fascinating story, and with no known effort made to record its history the first several decades, the path of our history has developed a "fork in the road". The history prior to the mid-1940's has two branches.  The one recorded on this page is mostly undocumented, recovered from oral history and memories.  The undocumented history places the start of our lodge at 1929.  The documented history, compiled from documents of the day, dates the origin of our lodge to the fall of 1939. To read the documented version of our lodge's history, visit this page.   

If you have documents, photos, or scrapbooks from the early days of Lodge #169, please contact the Council webmaster at Webmaster@Pushmataha.Org.  We would love to add your history to ours.

1939 -- CHANGE FROM PUSHMATAHA LODGE TO WATONALA LODGE
Council reorganization in December of 1939 changed the East Mississippi Area Council into a ten county area. The Council subsequently decided to change their name to Pushmataha Area Council. This change resulted in the council and lodge having the same name. Mr. P.G. Burdine, the Lodge Advisor then, recommended that the name of the Lodge be changed and - Watonala - meaning WHITE WATER BIRD in the language of the Chickasaw Indians was the name settled upon. The Emblem of the Lodge has a Large White Crane with Two Cedar Trees. The Crane symbolizes Scouts and The Cedar Trees symbolize the growth of Scouting in our council. The Blue Background and Red Trim symbolize the Spirit of America and Scouting.

THE 1940s, 1950s, AND 1960s
(Note: See the Watonala Patch Page for representations of the many Watonala Patches)
In 1940, a water color drawing was presented as a patch design (see Burdine Patch Illustration previous page). In 1941 a small rectangle patch was produced by Mrs. P.G. Burdine, who hand made 12 Patches. Between 1942-1945 the Lodge consisted of Mr. Burdine and a handful of youth Scouts. Following WW II in 1945 the Lodge began the practice of allowing units to decide who their Honor Campers would be. The following summer the first Ordeal in seven years was held. Be the end of the weekend an additional forty members were inducted. In 1948 the Lodge joined with Pine Burr, Andrew Jackson, Choctaw Area Council and two from Louisiana to form what was called V-E AREA.

A watercolor ZIG ZAG drawing served as the original patch design as used in the 1950's. Sometime between 1950 and 1954 a ZIG ZAG patch was made from this original water color drawing designed by Mr. Burdine.

In 1953 Watonala Lodge Hosted the V-E Area Conclave at the State Park in Louisville, MS. This Park became Camp Palila and the home of Watonala for 25 years. In 1954 the camp was opened for Summer Camp and in 1955 the Lodge held fall and spring Ordeals accomplishing many major projects. In 1957 and in 1962 Watonala hosted V-E Conclaves at Camp Palila.

In 1955, Area V-E became Area V-C with the addition of the YOCONA and DELTA Councils. Watonala also hosted the V-C Conclave in 1966

The 1970s and the 1980s
1972 brought another section change from Area V-C to SE-4B. The Lodge hosted the SE-4B conclave in 1974. In 1979 Watonala hosted its last Palila Conclave conclave and produced a magnificent 50th Anniversary patch to commemorate the event. That well known patch is called the Gold Bird. Camp Palila was closed in 1979 following a wonderful and exciting 25 years as a Boy Scout summer camp. Although the physical camp became a state park the memories that were had there will last a lifetime and more, as the ever-exciting stories will be passed on to younger scouts.

In 1982 the section added two new councils from Tennessee and the name became SE-2. The Lodge also had a new home when a new scout camp was established for the Pushmataha Area Council. Between 1981 and 1985 WATONALA worked diligently at developing and improving a new council camp for the boys of Pushmataha Area Council. Located approximately 6 miles North of Starkville, Mississippi, the new camp was affectionately named CAMP SEMINOLE and opened for an exciting Summer Camp in 1986. That same year WATONALA proudly hosted the SE-2 Conclave at the new camp.

Many projects were undertaken by the Lodge to establish and maintain camping facilities in the new camp. Early 80s Lodge Meeting service projects often were devoted to clearing and cleaning new areas for (soon-to-be) Camp Seminole. Early and lasting projects completed on through the late 80s included establishment of the main shower facility, assisting in the erection of buildings such as the Administration Office, Dining Hall, and Chapel. The lodge also participated in the setup of field sports such as archery and rifle ranges. Additional clearing of areas was also a typical service project at that time.

The 1990s
Once the camp was well established, the lodge took the lead in add auxiliary areas such as the Dining Hall Patio, Lodge Dance Ring (also used as Ecology area in summer camp) in 1993, and helping with the COPE Lodge in 1996. Near the end of the 1990's, the addition of shower facilities near each campsite occurred, and the control room/presentation area of the Council ring and permanent council fire presentation areas were set up by lodge members.

The lodge was well represented at every NOAC and Area Conclave during this period. In 1994, the Lodge hosted the SR-9 Section Conclave and provided a great conclave for over 600 Arrowmen. Attendance at these gatherings of Arrowmen were vital to the excitement and fun felt in the Lodge and led to productive lodge activities. A tradition of attendance and participation was developed and continues to the present. Numerous Dance awards, scrapbook awards, Chiefs Cup, and Ron Yeager -Best All-Around Lodge- awards, were gained by our Brothers in the 90s.

WATONALA IN THE 21st Century...

The new Century started with a growing lodge in the year 2000. Service Projects for the lodge included wiring projects for the camp, assisting with setup of the new Scout Museum at the camp (provided by the donation of a Lodge Member Donald Ellis), and clearing of new sub-areas at each campsite, as well as emplacement of new steps on steep areas of the council ring and staff area trails.

Chief David Willers led the lodge that year and went on to become Section Vice Chief the next year. We attended Area Conclave at Camp (( hosted by Tiak Lodge 404 and had a great time. NOAC was held at the campus of the Univ. of Tennessee at Knoxville. Thirteen attendees spent a week immersed in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service and came away determined to improve the lodge even more in the coming century.

The year 2001 marked the last year of membership in Section 8A. In 2001, we joined 11 other lodges in Section SR-1. Camp projects included helping to create the Chatchuima Nature Trail and Hiking Trail, Preparing handicap access ramps, and continuing sub-area campsite clearing.

Charles Wesley was our fearless Chief. He led us to the Area Conclave at Hood Scout Reservation, in the south of Mississippi, hosted by our Brothers at Sebooney Okasuka, #260. We returned with the Chief's Cup and numerous other awards.

The year 2002 is not yet 6 months old and already we have seen GREAT things in our lodge. Chief Josh Wesley has assembled a great staff and the Brotherhood is determined to improve and excel. The lodge had a very successful Lodge Winter Fellowship with a good turn out and a lot of fun. The lodge also had a great turn out for the first ordeal of the year on April 5- 7, 2002. We inducted new ordeal members and also converged ordeal members to brotherhood members. The major project for the day was to renovate the chapel benches. With that now completed it can seat many more a lot more comfortably. An additional project by the Brotherhood Candidates was to make a permanent wood fence for the COPE Lodge.

Two weeks later on April 19-21, 2002 we went to a very exciting and fun filled Conclave at Camp Avondale near Clinton, Louisiana. The lodge filled 34 slots with 17 adults and 17 youth members. The experience was a great one for many first-time conclave attendees. We won several awards and felt renewed in the Order.

During the months of April and May the lodge finalized the numbers for the 2002 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) in Bloomington, Indiana on the beautiful campus of Indiana University. The contingent would be 18 members strong. Four adults and fourteen youth would represent WATONALA LODGE #169 as lodges from all over the United Stated converged upon IU's campus. Our goal is to be one of the 20 Lodges who win Spirit Awards.
All the important information in this publication of the history of WATONALA LODGE #169 was written and reproduced from information provided by PUSHMATAHA AREA COUNCIL