History 1950's

In November of 1950 near hurricane force winds struck Camp Russell, knocking down many trees on camp property. To help clear these downed trees, Harold Lowenberg, manager of the Westinghouse plant in Utica, sent several of his trucks to haul them away. Lowenberg was a former scout who had attended Camp Russell thirty years before and had helped plant many of the trees that had fallen. High winds struck Camp Russell again in 1952 causing damage to building roofs, tent platforms and the waterfront floats.

The names of the village campsites where changed in 1953. Formerly the campsites had Algonquin Indian names, Kahagon, Auskrada, and Otenogan. These were changed to the tribal names of the Iroquois Nations, who were enemies of the Canadian Algonquins. An elaborate ceremony was part of this renaming, complete wit "Iroquois Indians" (actually members of the Order of the Arrow) demanding the names to be changed or they would "make car" on Camp Russell. A treaty was made at the waterfront between the "Iroquois" and the camp, represented by Camp Director Anderson and Program Director DeVito. The old village signs were burned and a feast and bonfire were held with the "Indians." Pageantry such as this was not uncommon at Camp Russell during the 1950's. Other weekly activities included "backwards days, pajama contests, and comical bathing beauty contests."

The cost to attend Camp Russell in 1955 was $15 a week, with a unit leader, or $18 a week, for individual registration. September 26-27, 1955 "Operation Camp Russell" took place. This was a military project undertaken by the United States Navy Seabees. The Seabees are the Navy's construction battalions and the work done at camp was done by reserve members of Division 331, headquartered in Utica. The General Herkimer Council supplied the materials and in a weekend's time 40 Seabees constructed an addition to the dining hall, which included a walk-in cooler, vegetable storage bins and a large storage room. Also that weekend the Seabees completely remodeled the kitchen and constructed two lean-tos. The labor was provided free of charge but since this was a regular military operation, no scouts were allowed on Camp Russell property during the construction process.

On April 5, 1956 a freak wind storm collapsed the roof of the dining hall destroying much of the equipment that was stored in it, including boats, canoes, and an old piano that had been at Cam Russell since 1919. The building was partially covered by insurance and with that money, cooking equipment was purchased for troops to individually make their own meals that summer. A temporary frame structure was put up over the dining hall foundation after the debris was cleared away.

1956 also marked the beginning of a 10 year project to improve, expand, and modernize Camp Russell. As part of that plan on October 5, 1956 the United States Marine Corps Band gave a benefit concert at the Little Falls High School to help the camp raise funds.

Joseph and Helen Russell, in memory of their father, gave the gift of 146 acres of land to Camp Russell, in January 1957. This huge tract of land became the conservation area and Camp Russell became a cooperator under the State of New York Forest Practice Act.

In 1959 Ted Russell, the General Herkimer Council Scout Executive, and S.E. Coutant, a forester for the State of New York Conservation Department, created a land and forest management plan to develop Camp Russell's conservation area. Scouts working on conservation merit badges began to carry out the plan. Scouts working on the Forestry merit badge were each given their own quarter acre of woodlot to manage through pruning and other techniques. Also the forestry "demonstration acre" was laid out. This is a model acre of land divided into quarters, each demonstrating a different method of managing a forest. Other groups helped to carry out this plan as well. The Herkimer Rotary Club spent several weekends working in the conservation area; one of their projects was the construction of the main lean-to. The Order of the Arrow also donated their time to develop the area.