As Recalled by Joe Davis, Scout Executive of BRMC (1956-1960)
This Narrative was Compiled by Ben Crawford of Blacksburg, VA in June, 1998
It was the November 1956 meeting of the Blue Ridge Council Executive Board when Dr. Charles Martin took me aside to inform me that he had received authorization to sell the mountain owned by Radford College – at the time it was the Women’s Division of V.P.I. Dr. Martin was president of the college. Six or seven years previously, the council had leased 400 acres in that mountain to create Camp Powhatan.
The idea of buying an entire mountain was mind-boggling, exciting, electrifying, awesome – especially to one whose initial career was forestry and whose first professional job was working on the Frederick City (Maryland) Watershed, which is considered as being a large tract of 10,000 acres. Here was a mountain half again as large.
The next day I discussed the opportunity of buying the mountain with N. W. Kelley, Council President. We sparked each others enthusiasm – we simply had to buy the mountain. N.W. Kelley, in turn, infected the Executive Board members with his enthusiasm. I discussed the idea with the supervisor of the George Washington National Forest (whose name, I believe was Mr. Mullen)-procured the use of a plane and pilot from the local engineering firm and together we surveyed the mountain from the air. He made a glowing report about that mountain at the following board meeting. The die was cast – we simply had to acquire that mountain which would meet the Scout camping needs for the present generation of Scouts and their children ad infinitum.
Wes Klusman, National Director of Camping
We invited Wes Klusman to visit the mountain. En route to the mountain we visited with Ted Dalton, a sharp “country lawyer”, a member of the Executive Board and the one who was instrumental in Radford College’s acquisition of the property. Ted Dalton invited us to his home on our return from the reconnaissance. It was a rainy day. We drove through Camp Powhatan and walked over several potential areas suitable for another camp and an Explorer base. That evening in Ted Dalton’s home, Wes Klusman was exuberant in his praise of the potential of that mountain. We drank a toast to the future ”Reservation” followed by a delightful dinner that the charming Mrs. Dalton had prepared. The aerial survey with the National Forest Supervisors and the opinion of the National Director of Camping were important to substantiate the wisdom, the logic and the practicality of the council’s acquisition of the 15,000 acre mountain.
How Much Am I Offered For The Mountain?
We had to submit our bid in a sealed communication to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The question remained to determine our offer. I recall that particular board meeting when this was discussed. It started from a low bid of $35,000 suggested by Ted Dalton. We knew that Dr. Martin hoped to receive approximately $60,000 for the proposed organ he wanted for the recently constructed auditorium at the college. We also were aware that there were other interested parties – one of which was the Isaac Walton Club in West Virginia. After much discussion, it was agreed to place a bid of $56,000 for the mountain.
We held our breath until that exciting moment when we received notification that our bid was accepted. Hurrah! We bought a mountain!
The Financial Status of the Council
At this juncture, it will be well to view the financial status of the council during this period when all the above was happening. Like many councils, we were struggling to meet the annual budgetary needs. Half of the annual budget was met by the Community Chests ofRoanoke and Martinsville. We had to raise the remainder. The annual salary of the Scout Executive was around $9000. District Executives averaged $6000. Here we were obligating the council with an amount greater than half of the annual budget with no idea of how much more would be added for the development of the mountain. In spite of this, there was never a question about forging ahead with the purchase. Never did I hear, “are we biting off more than we can chew?” or “do we need this much land?” or “We’ll never be able to raise the necessary funds.” There were no ”Doubting Thomases.” The thrill and excitement of buying a mountain for the “Scouts of today and for the many tomorrows to follow” was enough to give us the assurance that it was a worthy undertaking and the faith that we could handle it.
National Council of BSA
The cooperation of the National Council with our Council was invaluable. Their camping engineer spent many days in preparation of the “reservation” concept. When completed, he shared the plan with the Development Committee.
Development Committee
We needed the best and recruited the best. R.H. ”Bob” Smith agreed to be chairman. Recently retired as President of the Norfolk and Western Railroad, he was highly respected and loved by the Roanoke community. Also G.L. “Fuzzy” Furr, chairman of the board of the Power Company, and Charlie Saul, enthusiastic chairman of the Council Camping Committee, rounded out the committee.
The camping engineer presented the preliminary draft of the reservation. Total cost, including cost of land, came to $400,000. After thorough review of plans by the committee, the plan and goal were accepted.
Campaign Goal $400,000
Because of their fine track record with Boy Scout Capital Campaigns, the Ketchum Fund Raising Firm was employed. Their manager of the Eastern Division located in Charleston, W. Va, was extremely helpful with his advice and counsel. He made a survey of the community and determined the best possible timing for the campaign- three years hence – 1960. During the interim, he recommended a series of cultivation meetings throughout the Council area. To the question “What if Radford College required payment in the interim?” “Borrow the money” was his advice.
Campaign Chairman
Here again, we wanted the very best and that man was Sam Moore. Sam was a dedicated Scouter – a member of the Region Three BSA Committee and past president of the council. He had several chair manufacturing companies in North Carolina, but made his residence in Roanoke.
Cultivation Meetings
As I look back on it, the actual kick off of the campaign took place in 1957 with the council wide cultivation meeting at the Roanoke Club. There wasn’t a dime raised at this meeting – but good seeds were sown for the harvest in 1960.
Sam Moore hosted a lavish dinner at the Roanoke Club. There were about 100 top Scouters and community leaders from communities throughout the council area. Mounds of shrimp, cheeses, and cold cuts were available that disappeared during the gathering period. The finest of steaks were served for dinner finishing off with a rich dessert. Truly it was a fabulous dinner which set the tone for the meeting.
As it was agreed between Sam and me, he thanked them for coming – he assured them that they were not brought together to make a contribution but only to learn about the plans to meet the future camping needs for the Scouts of our council. Our Scout Executive will share the plans with you.
With the 4′ by 6’ layout of the future Scout Reservation, I described the future plans — about the second camp that will be developed with it’s own lake, the proposed house to be constructed for the Reservation Director, the Explorer base and the endless opportunities for outdoor camping adventure that will be available to the Scouts of today and the many tomorrows that will follow.
I concluded the meeting by asking the men to set up similar informational meetings in their respective districts. 60 cultivation meetings followed. Sam attended all but one which I handled myself The seeds were sown.
RADFORD COLLEGE required payment in 1958. Sutt Flythe, Council V.P. for Finance and President of one of the two banks in Martinsville, arranged loans for the $56,000 from the 18 banks in our council area – the amount based on their assets.
1960 Campaign Kick-Off
There was no need of a lot of ballyhoo to kick off the campaign. The seeds had been sown, so now was the time for the workers to gather the harvest.
Initial Gift $56,000
Sutt Flythe wrote to the 18 banks, telling them the campaign had begun – that his bank was making a contribution of the loan and he was certain that they would want to do the same. Immediately, $56,000 was collected for the initial gift.
Sam Moore, Don Jordon, Council President, approached Stuart Saunders President of the Norfolk and Western Railroad, requesting a $25,000 gift. It was granted. Several other major gifts were collected so that by the time the campaign started – 30% of the goal had been achieved. The district executives did an outstanding job in collecting gifts from their respective districts with and through their district organizations. $440,000w as finally raised – 10% over goal. A tremendous achievement!
Vignettes
The Origin of the Mountain
During the Civil war, members of the Woods Family, iron manufacturers in Philadelphia, noticed that the mountains of Southwest Virginia contained iron ore. After the war, the family bought thousands of acres – but never mined the ore. Over the years, they sold all the land except for the remaining mountain.
In the mid-fifties a final descendent of the family- a woman – was on her way to a college in South Carolina to give them the property. Stopping overnight in Radford, she looked up a lawyer to discuss the mechanics of making the gift. That lawyer happened to be Ted Dalton. He persuaded her to donate the property to Radford College. She and the family would be pleased with the development of the Scout Reservation on their original mountain.
B. Gary Richardson
Gary Richardson was a sincere and dedicated Scouter. He served as District Commissioner of the Roanoke District. Mid-way through, the campaign, he came to me and said, ”Joe, I’d like very much to develop the reservation.” I recall vividly the discussion that followed:
Joe- “Gary, does this mean that you would be willing to sell your business (paint, wall paper and flooring), sell that beautiful home that you recently built, and move out to the reservation to live temporarily in the old ramshackle farmhouse?”
Gary- “Yes, indeed. I haven’t felt that my life has been useful and developing the reservation will give me the satisfaction and fulfillment I desire.”
I discussed Gary’s offer with N.W.Kelley, President of the Council. He looked at me in amazement, then he said,” it will be a perfect fit, won’t it?”
It was indeed a perfect fit. Gary moved out to that old farmhouse and for 25 or more years he rendered yeoman’s service developing Camp Ottari and the reservation. Later, he and Muriel moved into the new reservation directors house and lived here until he retired.
Muriel preceded him in death. I last visited with Gary when he was confined in a nursing home. We talked about the” good old days” and as I was taking my leave, he said to me, “Joe, I want to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to develop the reservation. I am now satisfied to have led a useful life. Those years on the reservation have given me the satisfaction and fulfillment that I needed.” We hugged each other as we parted, knowing that it would be our final visit here on earth.
Rest in peace, Gary, You were great!
A Serious Blunder Avoided
Dictionary: blunder – to act blindly, to make a foolish or stupid mistake.
During those early years, it was almost a sin for a council to be in debt. A $56,000 obligation faced me following the successful bid. We estimated that another $150,000 for development – or $200,000 should be the goal.
Three fund raising firms were invited for interview. I met in the Hotel Roanoke with representatives from two firms. The third firm was Ketchum – with a fine track record on Boy Scout campaigns. The Ketchum representative finally arrived. It was late afternoon. After the formal get acquainted introductions, he said,” We wouldn’t touch this campaign with a ten-foot pole”. “Why not?”, I inquired. “I’ve been in Roanoke all day talking with people. This is what I discovered:
1) The YMCA is in it’s third year of Capital Campaign.
2) There are several churches planning major campaigns this year and next.
3) The Community Chest is gearing to reorganize into a United Way and they are reluctant to give you approval.
“The community is not ready for a Boy Scout capital campaign – and neither are you. You have plucked the $200,000 figure from thin air. You haven’t brought in the camping and engineering service of the Boy Scout organization. You don’t know how much you really need.”
He made good sense. I was embarrassed at my blunder. I had not done my homework – he did. To the question ”When should the campaign be conducted?”, he advised three years hence – 1960. ”What do we do during the interim to make the payment?” “Borrow the money”, he replied, “and use the interim to do a thorough job of cultivating the market.”
This was on a Friday, and we had a scheduled meeting with the Community Chest concerning our request for approval of the now to be aborted capital campaign to be conducted that very year- 1957. I immediately called Sutt Flythe, Council V.P. for Finance and told him it was urgent that we meet. We set the time for Monday 9:00am. Sutt Flythe was president of one of two banks in Martinsville. He was tall, good looking and a real Southern gentleman. He was highly regarded throughout the banking industry. At 9:00am sharp I was at his bank office. I related the gist of the interview with the Ketchum representative and his recommendation for the campaign to be conducted three years hence – 1960. “That man is absolutely right. That is how I felt during the discussion at the board meeting, but I decided to keep quiet and not throw a wet blanket on the decision.”
As to the meeting with the Community Chest, I agreed to write a one page statement withdrawing our request for the capital campaign to be conducted in 1957 and request approval for a capital campaign in 1960.
Tuesday 10:00am
The Council President, Don Jordan, and about eight (8) board members had arrived early. Sutt Flythe explained briefly what he was about to present. Then the Community Chest members entered the room with their president, Stuart Saunders, President of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Mr. Saunders presided. He called on Sutt Flythe for his presentation.
Sutt Flythe: .. Stuart, to save you time and our time, .I have a single page statement which I will read.” Then he read, in essence, stating, ” since transmitting our request for approval for a campaign this year, we have made a survey of the community to test its readiness for the campaign. We found, 1) the YMCA is in its 3rd year of its campaign 2) there are two church capital campaigns and 3) we have found out since, that your Community Chest is preparing to reorganize into a United Way. Therefore, for these reasons, we withdraw our request for 1957 and request approval for a 1960 campaign.” Saunders: ”Thank you, Sutt Flythe. Are there any questions?” One of the Chest members: “Yeah, how much are they going after?” Saunders: ” That is not germane. Any board that does this kind of straight thinking, we can be assured they will go after only what they need. Meeting dismissed.
It was dramatic – Great!
The Lake is Half Full
The original Camp Powhatan was near Natural Bridge. It was sold in the late l 940’s or early l950’s. 400 acres were leased from Radford College. The lake was finally constructed to be ready for the 1956 season. A leak had worked itself in the dam, preventing the lake to be filled to capacity. During the ”Beaver Work Weekend” there were about 50 Scouters who showed up to help prepare the camp for the incoming season. Too often I heard Scouters remark, ” too bad, the lake is half empty”. At the closing meal I made the plea, “Fellow Scouters, don’t you dare go back to your homes and say ‘ the lake is half empty’. Men, that lake is half full. Scouts for the first time will have a clean body of water to swim and do their boating when before they swam in the muddy river. The dam will be repaired at the close of this season, so next year when you join the Eager Beavers, you can look down on a full lake.” They stood up – made the Scout sign – and together repeated – “On my honor, I promise to go back home and brag that the lake is half full.” They were GREAT!
Camp Ottari
The name “Ottari” was suggested by E.M.”Mick” McAllister, the Council Assistant Executive. I have forgotten how and why it was selected. Perhaps there was an Indian tribe by that name who lived in that vicinity. Ironically, when the soil conservationist surveyed the site, the best location for the lake was on an ‘in-holding’ piece of property – about 50 acres. The owner was willing to sell the property for $500. The proposed purchase was presented to the Board by R.H. Smith. Some of the board members were questioning the need – ”Why in the world do we need to buy another 50 acres when we already have 15,000 acres?” Finally, Bob Morris, from Galax, who I am certain attended every board meeting while a member – more than a hundred miles round-trip – got up, addressed Mr. Smith and said, ”Mr. Bob, if the board will not buy those 50 acres, I’ll buy it” and he did.
Rest in Peace, Bob Morris – You, too were great.
R.H. Smith- R.I.P.
Bob Smith maintained his keen interest in the mountain by being one of the most zealous, tireless and productive campaign workers. During the campaign, Bob would come each morning to the campaign office, which was in downtown Roanoke, pick up 4-5 prospect cards and call on those prospects. Tragically, he collapsed during one of his calls and died several day later. It is sad that he didn’t live to see the fruits of his labor.
Rest in Peace, Bob Smith! You, too, were great.
“Reckon I’ll Move Out!”
J.B. Jones was chairman of the camping committee when the present Camp Powhatan was constructed on the 400 acres leased from Radford College. He was Dean of Engineering at V.P.I.
J.B. Jones with several members of the camping committee spent a weekend on the property to make a preliminary survey, locating the site of the potential lake, the dining .hall and camp sites. They set up their tents along an old woods road. That first evening while they were preparing their evening meal, an old bearded mountaineer drove by in his horse drawn wagon. He stopped, looked over the camp site, then asked, “You fellas movin’ in?”
”Yep,” replied J. B., “We’re going to build a camp here for the Boy Scouts.”
”Well,” replied the man,”then I guess I’d better move out”, as he lumbered on his way into the forest. About an hour later, he returned with his wagon loaded with his moonshine still and stuff. He smiled and waved “G, bye” as his team of horses plodded on their way.
Last Item
In conclusion, I must express my absolute delight and pride in what you and my successors – the Scout Executives who followed me – have done with the Blue Ridge Mountain Reservation. It is the largest Council owned Scout Reservation. You have made it into one of the best. Your reputation has been scattered far and wide. Scouts are coming to your reservation from throughout America for real, honest to goodness Scouting adventure.
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