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Scout Lodge (Chehalis, Washington)

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Coordinates: 46°39′47″N 122°57′34″W / 46.66306°N 122.95944°W / 46.66306; -122.95944 (Scout Lodge)
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Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge
Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge in Chehalis, Washington
Scout Lodge is located in Washington (state)
Scout Lodge
Scout Lodge
Location278 SE Adams Ave., Chehalis, Washington
Coordinates46°39′47″N 122°57′34″W / 46.66306°N 122.95944°W / 46.66306; -122.95944 (Scout Lodge)
Arealess than one acre
Built1938 (1938)
Built byWorks Progress Administration
Architectural styleRustic/National Park
WebsiteCity of Chehalis - Scout Lodge
NRHP reference No.04001007[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 15, 2004

The Scout Lodge, also known as the Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge, is located in Chehalis, Washington in the Hillside Historic District. Constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) beginning in 1937, the lodge was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2004.

History

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The Scout Lodge was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) beginning in 1937[2][3] and was open for use in April 1938.[4] One of the first events was an awards program for Girl Scout troops in Chehalis.[5] An official dedication was held on October 4, 1938 and the keynote speaker was George B. Simpson, a Washington state supreme court judge.[6]

Before the lodge was constructed, Chehalis scout troops often met at various other locales, including the Centralia High School, the Chehalis city hall, and the NRHP-listed St. Helens Hotel. During World War II, a caretaker family lived in the upstairs portion of the cabin.[6] After the 1949 Olympia earthquake, students from the city's Chehalis High School finished the 1950 school year by attending classes at the lodge.[7] Beginning in 1942-1943 and lasting until 1953, the Apostolic Faith Church of Chehalis used the Scout Lodge for services while the congregation built a new church.[8]

In 1960, the local scout troops were accused of misusing the lodge.[9] An investigation found that an outside troop had used the hall for purposes other than scouting; the city ordered only scouting events could be held at the lodge in 1961.[10] The city, which owned the cabin, proposed placing oversight of the Scout Lodge under the Chehalis parks department in 1964.[11]

A campfire spread to burn 2 acres (0.81 ha) behind the lodge in 1974.[12] The Scout Lodge was reported as "little-used" by 1975 and was considered for use as an instruction center for folk art and music.[13] The plans did not materialize as local residents in the Hillside District voiced concerns over a lack of parking space.[14] By the mid-1990s, the lodge was described as "run-down" with severe damages to the walls in the building.[15] During a flood that began in late 1996, the Scout Lodge was used as a temporary Red Cross shelter, protecting almost 40 people.[16][17]

Renovations and repairs

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The lodge underwent various renovations or repairs repeatedly over the course of its existence, beginning in 1952 with the replacement of a plank sidewalk. In coordination, a retaining wall was built to hold back a long-standing issue of a dirt embankment behind the cabin which had begun reach the building.[18] Floors were replaced and other repairs undertaken in 1958, exceeding the budgeted funds.[19] Due to concerns of falling trees, the forested area behind the cabin in Dobson Park was thinned and parts replanted with flowering species.[20] A gas line was installed in 1972.[21]

As part of earning the rank of Eagle Scout, two members of the Chehalis troop recognized the dilapidated state of the cabin and painted the building in 2000.[22] Along with several volunteers, the 264-hours combined project also included the painting of the lodge sign.[23] Multiple repairs and upgrades to the Scout Lodge occurred in 2020 that included a new flag pole and water intrusion prevention into the building.[24]

Troops 373 and Troop 7373 history

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The Troop 373 boy scout group was officially formed in 1968 after a charter backed by a local Rotary club.[25] The group held a 50-year anniversary at the lodge in 2018, noting that 125 members of the troop had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout since the charter began.[26]

The Troop 7373 girl scout group, one of the first all-female troops formed in Lewis County, began in 2019 after the Boy Scouts of America (Scouts BSA), began to accept girl troops into its ranks.[25][27] Two Chehalis girls achieved the first Eagle Scout rank by a girl troop member in 2020. Part of an overall inaugural class for girl scouts under the Scouts BSA, the level of Eagle Scout usually takes several years to earn.[28]

Earlier existing Girl Scout troops and Brownies in the city and county held day camps at the Scout Lodge during the mid-20th century.[29] A Brownie award event at the cabin in 1956 featured a blackface performance by the young girls.[30]

Architecture and features

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Main entrance to the Scout Lodge

The Rustic architecture-style 1+1⁄2 story lodge is 58 ft × 82 ft (18 m × 25 m) in size and is built on a concrete foundation. The exterior walls contain a mix of cedar shingle and brick.[2][6] The most striking feature of the lodge is a red brick chimney situated in the middle of the front gable. The cabin contains several multiple-light casement windows. The roof was originally cedar shake but converted to a metal roof around 1983. The double-door entrance is under a covered porch and a second entrance is situated on the opposite end of the building. The interior contains a basement converted into a meeting space and the main meeting hall, covered in pine paneling and hosting a stage, is situated on the ground floor.[6]

The land is sloped and the site contains a granite-rubble retaining wall. The building is situated on slightly landscaped grounds surrounded by a forest and park setting featuring Douglas fir and oak trees.[6]

Significance

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Owned by the city of Chehalis, the building is communally used by both the Chehalis boy's and girl's scout troops. The historic site has hosted functions for the city and the local Civil Air Patrol.[2] On September 15, 2004, the Scout Lodge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[6] The lodge was noted for its rustic style often used by the WPA during the Great Depression and its association with similar styles long used in federal park and recreation buildings.[6]

John Dobson Park

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Main article: John Dobson and McFadden Parks
Trailhead for the Dobson-McFadden Trail

John Dobson Park is located on Park Hill directly above and behind the Scout Lodge. The lodge is sometimes reported or considered to be a part of the park.[6] Named after a local farmer who became a prominent Chehalis banker, the park grounds were donated in 1908 after his death the prior year.[31][32][33] The park was initially 15.5 acres (6.3 ha)[34][35] and had been expanded in the following decades to be listed as much as 26 acres (11 ha) in size.[36]

The park would be consistently listed for years as undeveloped.[37][38] John Dobson Park was formally dedicated in July 1933[39] and a community recreational building with playgrounds were constructed at the park during the WPA build of the lodge.[3]

A steep 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long trail, the Dobson-McFadden, is accessible at the Scout Lodge.[40][36]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c McDonald Zander, Julie (2011). Images of America - Chehalis. Arcadia Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 9780738576039. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Chehalis Parks To Get $47,000". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. February 26, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "Scout Campaign Nears Completion". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. April 5, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Girl Scouts of City Are Advanced". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. May 17, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Scout Lodge". National Park Service. Retrieved August 12, 2024. With accompanying picturesPublic Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Thomas, Chris (August 17, 2000). "Chehalis 50th reunion attendees will shake things up". The Chronicle. p. A5. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Last Services Due in Church". The Daily Chronicle. March 13, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lodge Caretaker Quits". The Daily Chronicle. April 5, 1960. p. 2. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "City Heads Specify Chehalis Lodge To Be Confined To Scouting". The Daily Chronicle. August 9, 1961. p. 12. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "May Shift Lodge Rule". The Daily Chronicle. May 12, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "News Briefs - Grass Burned". The Daily Chronicle. May 6, 1974. p. 9. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "School, music facility planned in Twin Cities". The Daily Chronicle. May 3, 1975. p. 2. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Folk center planners ask for official blessing". The Daily Chronicle. May 14, 1975. p. 3. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Park predicament". The Chronicle. April 30, 1996. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  16. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 30, 1996). "Area rivers are spilling over". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  17. ^ The Chronicle staff (December 31, 1996). "Local flood victims look for ways to cope". The Chronicle. p. A8. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "Scout Lodge Job Launched". The Daily Chronicle. April 10, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Repairs Run High". The Daily Chronicle. August 6, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Five-Cent Meters Out". The Daily Chronicle. November 6, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Building & Home". The Daily Chronicle. February 4, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Toohey, Marty (September 7, 2000). "Boy Scouts plan project to earn Eagle Scout rank". The Chronicle. p. A1. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  23. ^ The Chronicle staff (April 25, 2002). "Brown soars as an Eagle Scout, to receive rank on Saturday". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  24. ^ McDonald, Julie (November 9, 2020). "A Woman in the White House?". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Chehalis Area Scouts BSA Troop 373 Celebrates 12 New Eagle Scouts" (Press release). Chehalis, Washington: LewisTalk. July 20, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Wenzelburger, Jared (April 24, 2018). "Boy Scout Troop 373 in Chehalis Celebrates 50 Years with Luncheon". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  27. ^ Brown, Alex (January 15, 2019). "Sister Scouts: All-Girls' Troop to Join Boy Scouts Organization in Chehalis". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  28. ^ McDonald, Julie (November 2, 2020). "Two Chehalis Women Among First Female Eagle Scouts". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Girl Scouts, Brownies Complete Day Camp". The Daily Chronicle. July 24, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "Brownies Entertain". The Daily Chronicle. May 28, 1956. p. 4. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  31. ^ MIttge, Brian (April 4, 2007). "Pioneer Chehalis Banker Mourned in 1907". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  32. ^ "Died During The Week". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. March 22, 1907. p. 4. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  33. ^ William West; N.B. Coffman (March 29, 1907). "J. Dobson's Memory". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  34. ^ "The John Dobson Park Deeded To Chehalis Monday Night". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. March 6, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "Courthouse Renovation Ends in 2003". The Chronicle. March 3, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  36. ^ a b McClurg, Dian (July 10, 2004). "Parks Gone Wild". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  37. ^ "Arranging For A Beauty Spot". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. June 26, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  38. ^ "Improving Dobson Park". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. August 29, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  39. ^ "Dobson Park Dedication Joint Committee". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. July 7, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  40. ^ "Dobson-McFadden Trail". City of Chehalis. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
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