Museum seeks help in documenting 70-year-old Boy Scout camp near Rusk
ROBERT N. HIGHTOWER

More than 70 years ago, Rusk was the location of one of the first Boy Scout camps in this part of Texas. Its name was Camp Kawanis. As far as we can tell, it was located a few miles south of Rusk on a lake. The dam of the lake later broke and was never repaired. Its exact location is unknown today to scouts and most of Rusk's residents.

The only proof that it ever existed is a copy of a small weekly newsletter, a Letter of Invitation, sent to scouts and a post card from the state of Texas showing that the water had been tested.

The curator of the Good Old Days mobile Scout Museum, based in Palestine, is trying to secure this part of scouting's history before it is lost forever. If you went to this camp and/or have any items or photos that relate to it that we can place on display at the museum, we would deeply appreciate it.

The Order of the Arrow, Boy Scout's honor campers society, was first organized and held its first meeting at Camp Kawanis in 1934. We are looking for information on those who are listed as charter members so we can contact them.

Those listed as attending this historical event from Rusk were the Rev. Jno. Solomon, V.R. Roach, E.S. Erwin Jr. and Phillip Carter.

In two years, the Boy Scout movement in the USA will be 100 years old. We are in hopes of putting together the history of scouting here in East Texas. If you have any photos, patches, equipment or othr scout memorabilia from the early days, please write or call Robert N. Hightower, 1141 A.C.R. 378, Palestine, Tx. 75801; (903) 723)-0418; hightower@etbroadband.net.