History of Witauchsoman Lodge #44

Written by Scott M. Best
Last updated 11/27/2012

In 1928, just 13 years after the founding of the Unami Lodge #1 – Order of the Arrow in 1915 at Treasure Island Scout Camp; there emerged the beginning of the Order of the Arrow, W.W.W. in our area at Camp Trexler.

The original lodge was formed in 1928 and was known as Minsi Lodge.  According to the Minsi Lodge #5 history (Reading, PA), “In 1929 the Minsi Lodge installed 19 charter members of the Lehigh Council at their Camp Trexler on August 11, thus assisting a second new Lodge to get under way.”  This “new” Minsi Lodge served the Lehigh Council that operated Camp Trexler.  It was in existence under this name until 1932 when it was disbanded.  It was reorganized in the summer of 1936 and was known as Pohopoco Lodge #44 with John Beecher as Lodge Chief.  For 33 years the Pohopoco Lodge #44 acted as a pilot lodge, helping to start new lodges in the area.

Witauchsoman Lodge #44 was chartered on January 1, 1969 in the Minsi Trails Council.  This was the result of the first tri-merger in the history of the Order of the Arrow.  The three Lodges that merged were:

The tri-merger was named the Witauchsoman Lodge #44, which means “to be in fellowship with somebody” or “fellowship together.”  The totem of the Lodge is a bow with three drawn peace pipes (three peace pipes pulled back into the string of a bow).  The three peace pipes (symbolizing the three predecessor Lodges) pulled back into the string of a bow symbolize the union of three to become one with unity of purpose.

In 1980, Witauchsoman absorbed the former members of Quekolis Lodge #316. (Quekolis #316 merged with Acahela #223 in 1969 to form Gischigin #223. In, 1980, the former members of Quekolis #316 moved from Gischigin #223 to Witauchsoman #44.)

The Witauchsoman Lodge #44 has a long history and deep tradition in the Order of the Arrow and Scouting.  It continues to be a strong and vibrant force in the Minsi Trails Council similar to its predecessors.  No one knows exactly where the Lodge will go, but one thing is for sure:  The Spirit of the Past… is spreading and our …Vision for the Future is rising!

National Awards / National Recognitions / Major Accomplishments

• 1969 – First tri-merger in the history of the Order of the Arrow
• 1994 – Re-established chapters (each of our six scouting districts operates a chapter)
• 2002 – Became a National Quality Lodge for the first time in the history of the Lodge
• 2006 – Lodge recognized as the National example for its OA Scoutreach Mentoring program
• 2009 – Ryan Hay served as Northeast Region Chief
• 2011 – Lodge awarded the National Service Award (major project was the Don Beck Pavilion)
• 2012 – Lodge recognized as the National example for its OA Lodge Annual Report methods

Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award Recipients

• 1963 – Henry Faucett
• 1972 – Larry Young
• 1992 – Donald Oplinger
• 2012 – Ryan Hay

Area Pow Wows / Section Conclaves Hosted

• 1955 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Camp Rotawanis (Quekolis #316 hosted)
• 1958 -  Area 3A Pow Wow at Camp Trexler (Pohopoco #44 hosted)
• 1958 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Camp Weygadt (Ah’Pace #58 hosted)
• 1960 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Camp Minsi (Tunkhannock #476 hosted)
• 1964 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Camp Weygadt (Ah’Pace #58 hosted)
• 1966 - Area 3A Pow Wow at Trexler Scout Reservation (Pohopoco #44 hosted)
• 1967 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Camp Minsi (Tunkhannock #476 hosted)
• 1971 - Area 3D Pow Wow at Trexler Scout Reservation (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 1978 - NE-5A Conclave at Trexler Scout Reservation (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 1988 - NE-5A Conclave at Trexler Scout Reservation (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 1996 - NE-4A Conclave at Camp Minsi (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 2004 - NE-4A Conclave at Camp Minsi (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 2011 - NE-5B Conclave at Trexler Scout Reservation (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)
• 2016 - NE-5B Conclave at Trexler Scout Reservation (Witauchsoman #44 hosted)