History 1940's

Seven dollars and fifty cents was the cost for a week's stay at Camp Russell when the 1940 season opened. During the 1940's work was done to make improvements on the camp grounds and buildings. This work was slowed during World War II, as practically all of the scoutmasters and other volunteers were either in the army or working in support of the war effort.

World War II had other impacts on Camp Russell as well. During the war essential items for the military effort were rationed by the government. Due to shortages in consumer goods because of rationing a bus was chartered to transport scouts to camp in order for parents to conserve gasoline and tires. In order for the camp to obtain food during the war, scouts were required to bring their ration books with them. These ration books contained stamps with which a person could buy a certain amount of a rationed item. Without these stamps a rationed item could not be bought. Also because of the war Camp Russell's 25th Anniversary, in 1943, passed by quietly with no celebrations.

During June of 1944 much work was done at camp. An authentic Adirondack lean-to is used as the Nature Lodge. A 20 foot watch tower on the Waterfront was also constructed. Work was done on the campsites as well. Also in 1944, Camp Russell Inc, approved the sale of the Culver property, located on Bear Creek Road. This was land which Camp Russell had owned since 1934 bud did not adjoin.

On May 7, 1945, the same day as the surrender of Germany, Camp Russell Inc. purchased ten acres of land adjoining the Camp Russell property, for $300. This land was part of Samuel T. Russell's white pine plantation that the Boy Scouts had helped him reforest 20 years before. The next day, May 8, the camp honor society, Kamargo, became officially chartered as Lodge 294 of the Order of the Arrow. Also at this same time a new roof over the back of the dining hall and kitchen was completed. In addition a new 14 by 16 foot waterfront float and new tent platforms were constructed.

Later in June of 1945 a work crew started clearing a new entrance road to camp. This new road was cut through the recently purchased pine plantation and was designed to eliminate a sharp turn from a blind spot on the road now known as Route 28. More work was donate at the waterfront, placing new boat and swimming docks, and the camp's new rifle range was fenced off. The rules for the range allowed only two boys at a time, and the instructor was the only person to take care of the rifles and ammunition.

The island on White Lake known as Russell Island, sometimes referred to as Mosquito Island, was purchased from Samuel T. Russell's daughters Rae and Helen Russell, on June 7, 1946 by Camp Russell Inc. for the sum of $700. The scouts cleaned up the fallen timber on the island and made it a spot for overnight camping. In later years a lean-to was built on the island and it is still used by scouts today. In 1946 the camp also acquired a building from the Boonville Civilian Conservation Corp camp. During World War II this building was used to hold German prisoners of war. The building was transported to camp property and today it is the Winter Lodge. A few years later the building was equipped with electric lights, a cook  stove, cabinets and other conveniences.

Camp Russell continued to grow in the late 1940's. On September 15, 1947 the camp bought an additional 20 acres of the white pine plantation from Joseph, Helen, and Rae Russell. It cost Camp Russell Inc. $600 for this property. More property was bought on November 16, 1947 when the Charles McHarg cottage and lot were purchased for $1500. This cottage, for a time, served as the Health Lodge for Camp Russell. Today the building is used as housing for the camp's cook.

In 1949 a Camp Development Plan was drawn up by the National Council Division of Engineering and the Camp Russell Development Committee. The plan, headed up by  W. A. Best of Ilion, was to develop and improve the newly purchased property in order to expand the camping area. In addition, the plan called for the development of year round camping facilities so scouts could use the camp beyond the summer months.