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Boy Scout CabinsBut what about the old cabins that troops used years ago? Some of those are still around too, one in Rising Star and another in Sipe Springs. First Scout HutIt is interesting to note that the logs for the cabin were obtained from an old Coggin homestead on the corner of Austin Ave. and Avenue K. The logs were taken out to the building site by Ned McCulley, Duncan McCulley, Cecil White, Robert McDowell, Jesse Wheeler, Robert Rives, Elmo (Monkey) Hicks, Rusty Rogan, and Harry Boyer. They were fitted back together using nothing more than a hammer and small hand saw. The finished cabin had a sand floor. Lucas Farm Troop
2, not to be outdone by Troop 5, started building a cabin on the Capps-Lucas
Pecan Farm. It seems that C. L. Pouncey and Mr. Lucas both belonged
to the same church and were friends, so it was easy to get permission to
build the cabin on the Lucas property. By the fall of 1929, they
almost had it completed and were using their cabin for almost all their
meetings. It was made out of old telephone poles and they filled
in the cracks with clay. They had built the entire cabin
by themselves except for the chimney.
Many activities were held at the cabin including meetings of the Black Arrow Society, the Council Executive Board, Courts of Honor and several other events. Sometimes two troops would go out there together and camp. The cabin was situated on the far end of a lake, so it was ideal for all kinds of activities. By 1936, Troop 16 had taken over the cabin and was using it for its meetings, campouts and other activities. They put on a new roof in 1938, and it was still being used as late as 1939 by the troop. Rising StarOther Scout Huts Here
is a photo of the elaborate Scout cabin in Iraan, Texas.
On May 11, 1933, the Boy Scouts of Breckenridge were presented with a cabin by Mrs. H. B. Furr, Chairman of the Mother’s Auxiliary of the Boy Scouts of Breckenridge. The Scout cabin was located on the Furr Ranch about one and a half miles from Breckenridge. It was reported in the “Boy Scout News” of the Brownwood Bulletin on December 18, 1936, that Troop 6 of Eastland was making progress with its troop cabin as reported by Scoutmaster BilThey almost had the wall completed. Town Now Gone The
Scout cabin built at Sipe Springs is still in existence even though the
town is no longer there. The cabin was built sometime in the
early 30’s when they had a troop sponsored by the school , which by the
way is also gone. The cabin is located next to the old water tower
stand, next to the paved Highway 1477 through town, and is in perfect shape.
The construction is almost identical to the Scout Cabin in Rising Star.
Someone has recently replaced the roof with a new metal roof and replaced
the door. It has a dirt floor and nice fireplace. If you use
your imagination, you could look up the road and see the Scouts coming
to their troop meeting that night!
It was reported in June 1938 that the Scouts of Blanket were making a unique totem pole to place in front of their Scout hut. Each Scout was carving an emblem on a piece of wood that would be assembled to make the totem pole. In April 1939, it was reported that Cross Cut had acquired a Scout hut that was located on the Lewis E. Newton place. Railroad Car One
of the most interesting Scout huts had to be the one that Troop 2, Brownwood,
sponsored by the fire department, acquired in the summer of 1939.
A railroad coach, 53 by 9 feet, was moved to a lot at the old No. 2 fire
station near Coggin School. The officials of the Santa Fe railroad,
members of the Brownwood Volunteer Fire Department and their troop sponsors
all pitched in together to bring the car to its site. The troop
met in that spot for many years. The old fire station is now gone
as is the railroad coach. But, sitting in its place,in the
exact same spot, is an old World War II barracks from Camp Bowie, used
by Troop 22 for many years up until 1998, when Neal Pepper and Chris Firth
were Scoutmasters of the Troop.
Troop 49 of Cisco, sponsored by the Baptist Church, was making plans to build a Scout Hut on some land provided to it for that purpose. Another friend of Scouting was providing the logs to use in building the building. This was reported on November 11, 1940, in the “Boy Scout News” column of the Brownwood Bulletin. In December 1940, it was reported that Troop 43 was gathering at their Scout hut on December 23rd to work on completing the cabin. All the Scouts were to bring a sack lunch and fruit or canned goods to use in a “good turn” for Christmas. Scout Hut From Camp Bowie Troop
14, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Brownwood, started
meeting in 1972 in the Woodland Heights Elementary School’s cafeteria,
an old World War II dining hall building from Camp Bowie. In the
fall of 1973, they moved the building, partial concrete floor and all,
over to Bill Allcorn Park. They continue to meet in that building
today along with Pack 14. They have added a totem pole in front
of the building near Indian Creek.
Today’s Scout HutsThis page taken from "Ninety Years of Service," by Frank T. Hilton, 1999 Return to Home Page |