America's Oldest Boy Scout Camp Building
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Order of The Arrow Lodge 522

America's Oldest Boy Scout Camp Building, also, Order of The Arrow Lodge 522. ⚜️. America's Oldest Boy Scout Camp Building. Erected in 1917, this structure was the first thing that was constructed after the original land was purchased. It is the oldest surviving Boy Scout built and owned camp building in the nation. It was constructed under the supervision of J. St. Clair Mendenhall, Toledo Council Executive. The nicknames of his two young daughters "Dutch and Irish" were finger written into the wet plaster in 1917 as was his own nickname "Chief". It was originally called the "Headquarters" then for many years was referred to as the "Main Cabin". The original roof was applied by Chief Mendenhall himself. It served for decades as the Trading Post during summer camp. It was going to be demolished due to severe deterioration in 1990 but was rescued and restored by Tindeuchen Order of the Arrow Lodge 522. Lodge members spent over a year raising funds and provided all the labor during the renovation. They founded the Miakonda Scouting Museum within the structure in 1991. The building has a unique dual indoor and outdoor fireplace. The outdoor fireplace is a ceremonial type and is believed to have been connected to the Tribe of Gimogash and the Order of the Mystic Circle, two honor programs which both existed in our council during that time period. To the members of our Order of the Arrow Lodge, both past and present. we owe a debt of gratitude., Order of The Arrow Lodge 522. The Executive Board of the Toledo Area Council formally approved the creation of a local Order of the Arrow Lodge on January 9, 1957. An organizing committee of handpicked Explorers and adults in equal numbers from each district were extended invitations to attend the first organizational meeting which was held on February 13, 1957. The meeting was held at the Council Headquarters and was presided over by Miakonda Camp Director John M. Claerhout. All Explorers that were invited were considered to be "Honor Campers". Among them were Paul Tait, David Bitter, Bill Steiner, Larry Wright and others. Among the adults were Francis Drechsler, Paul Koester and Zearl "Zed” Davis. The first Ordeal induction of members into our O. A. Lodge took place at Camp Miakonda on Friday, May 3, 1957. The original inductees were all Explorers who were age 14 and older. The induction ceremony was performed by the Findlay O. A. Lodge from the Put-Han-Sen Area Council. There were a total of eleven Wa-Be-Wa-Wa Lodge members inducted. During the summer of 1957. fifty-three new members were inducted and at the 1958 Conclave which was held at Camp Berry, nine members were inducted into the Brotherhood. The first Lodge Vigil members, David Bitter and Larry Wright, were inducted in 1960. The Lodge name was changed to Tindeuchen in 1973.