As we honor and pay tribute to the history and legacy of Suanhacky Lodge, the Jack Kohler-Suanhacky Campership Association also

wishes the very best to the new lodge, Kinteycoying.

We hope that the new lodge will grow and have rich traditions and history, built a legacy, as our beloved Suanhacky has.

Suanhacky Lodge, a legacy of tradition, leadership & cheerful service

After 83 years of Brotherhood-Cheerfulness & Service to the Scouts and community of Queens,

Suanhacky Lodge was dissolved and merged into a newly created Order of the Arrow Lodge that

encompasses all of New York City’s five boroughs. We want to take a brief look at the proud history

and legacy of Suanhacky, and also show gratitude to those who led the Lodge during those 83 years.

Queens Blvd at Forest Hills 1930

The borough of Queens in 1930 was a bustling community, growing in leaps and bounds.

Empire State building under construction, 1930

From here in Queens you were able to witness the growth of the entire city, most evident by the views of

Manhattan and the just recently completed Chrysler Building and the even larger framing of the soon to be

completed Empire State Building.

Queens Blvd. 1930 (IND Lines Tracks)

In the Borough itself, the communities were growing and being linked together

with the expansion of the public transportation services

James West, Fredrick Kernochan, Judge Cropsey who helped create Ten Mile River & Camp Man

Scouting in Queens was also on the rise, the Scouts of our borough were able to enjoy summer fun at

the Queens camp at Ten Mile River, Camp Man. As with the camps of the other boroughs, the Queens

camp ran independently from the other boroughs. Camp Man came to being due to the benevolent

dedication and hard work of such men as Judge Fredrick Kernochan.

Suanhacky Founders, Charles Heistand & Joeseph Brinton

Camp Man, at TMR for Queens Scouts, was led by two pioneers of the Scouting movement in NY,

Charles Heistand, the Queens Scout Executive and Joseph Brinton who was the Camp Man Director.

(Brinton would a few years later go on to be the National Chief of the OA).

OA Founders, E. Urner Goodman & Carroll Edson

These two men spearheaded the move to create a Queens Lodge of the WWW, which E. Urner

Goodman & Carroll Edson had formed 15 year earlier at Treasure Island Scout Camp for Philadelphia.

In June of 1930, a Charter was granted for a Queens Lodge of the WWW

Early Induction Ceremony at Camp Man On July, 14, 1930, the Queens Lodge of the WWW held its very first induction. At that first

ceremony, 14 charter members were inducted. By the end of the first induction summer,

Queens WWW had 45 brothers.

Plans were made to set a calendar for meetings back in Queens so that the Lodge would function

12 months a year, not just at camp.

The Suanhacky Stag Statue that stood on Stag Hill, Still is mysteriously disasppeared. Theories of it’s location has inspired manya treasure seeker.

Scouts of the late 1920’s-early 1930’s, the time of the formation of Suanhacky Lodge

November 8, 1930, the Queens Lodge of WWW held its first full business meeting. At

this meeting, Arthur Burrows, (T-116) was selected as the very first lodge chief.

The Lodge name – MATINECOCK, was chosen as the Queens Lodge name by a vote of 19-15

at this first full membership meeting. However a motion was made, because it was such a key

and lasting decision, there was need to have a committee to review other possible names.

The Stag (logo of Camp Man) was taken as the Totem for Suanhacky Lodge.

At the second Full meeting of the lodge, December 13, 1930, the Totem selected would be the same

as Camp Man’s, the Stag. More importantly, the name presented and approved was SUANHACKY

Scouts of the 1940’s and 50’s

Suanhacky Members started going to local units in

January of 1931, to promote Camp Man at TMR

and weekend camping, with what became a very

long tradition of upholding the obligation of camp

promotion

Suanhacky growth continued in those early years, as did

their service to Camp and the community of Queens.

FDR visits Queens Camp Man for his induction into Suanhacky Lodge

It was during these early years of the lodge that in the summer of 1933, soon after his

taking office as 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited

Camp Man and was inducted into Suanhacky Lodge.

FDR after his Ordeal Induction into Suanhacky at Camp Man

President Roosevelt, inducted as an ordeal brother to Suanhacky Lodge, Order of the Arrow,

for all the service to help the Boy Scouts of New York and the creation of TMR itself

Tower of Friendship, erected by Suanhacky Lodge 1936

In 1936, to show the true meaning of brotherhood, the lodge decided to build homage to the OA,

U.S. and Scouting fraternity itself. The brothers of Suanhacky designed and built the Tower of

Friendship on the site of Stag Hill. Coincidently, the Scout’s likeness used for the tower was that of

Vincent Kohler, brother of Jack Kohler

Tower of Friendship 2013 (after it was repaired in the mid 1980’s after it had been damaged by vandals)

The tower remains a lasting landmark within Ten Mile River to this day. Vandals in 1976 damaged

the top of the tower, and Suanhacky in the early 80’s took it upon itself to repair it as it stands today.

OA dance team at 1964-65 Worlds Fair Scouts at the 1939 Worlds Fair

Suanhacky was given a great opportunity in 1939 and again in 1964 when our Lodge had the honor of being

the host Lodge to the two World’s Fairs held in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens.

Mayor O’Dwyer with members of Suanhacky at his induction as a brother (Jack Kohler as Alowat).

Again in 1946, Suanhacky inducted yet another dignitary who was doing a good deal of help for

NYC scouting, Mayor William O’Dwyer. Mayor O’Dwyer was inducted on his visit to Camp Man.

Stag Hall atop Stag Hill In the post War years and early 50’s TMR and the Queens Camp were in full swing and with growing

number of brothers at TMR during the summer, with all the ordeals and summertime gatherings, the

idea of having a permanent home, a gathering place at Camp was kicked around.

Statue of the Stag, Tower of Friendship and Stag Hall, Stag Hill TMR

On top of Stag Hill, there proudly used to stand the Suanhacky Stag

Statue, Tower of Friendship and Stag Hall that had burnt down in 1936.

The Smoldering ashes of Stag Hall

Stag Hall, which atop Stag Hill in Camp Man burnt down in 1936.

SUANHACKY LODGE HOUSE

The area atop Stag Hill was selected as the perfect site for the Lodge to erect its Suanhacky Lodge

House. The site that had once been Stag Hall. The cabin, was designed, financed, erected and

maintained by the brothers of the Queens Lodge

Scouts of the 1960’s

Suanhacky brothers continued serving Camp & Council by taking on many responsibilities

on Staff and volunteer positions.

1973 Suanhacky / Na-tsi-Hi joint Lodge Training Conference

Many of the key positions at TMR were filled by brothers of Suanhacky. Suanhacky brothers were also

often the campmasters at our short term camps as well. Training Scouts & Camp Promotion were all part

of Suanhacky’s duties.

Jack Kohler taking a well deserved nap in his Camp Lakeside Lean-To

Jack Kohler, the first recipient of the Order of the Arrow’s

FOUNDERS AWARD

In 1983, again Suanhacky had a distinct honor, when Jack Kohler became the very first

recipient in the Order of the Arrow to receive the Founders Award

Throughout the proud 83 year history of Suanhacky Lodge, one thing was constant, the responsibilities and

duties of the Lodge Chief and his Advisor. From Arthur Burrows, the very first chief up to an including Anthony

Lectora, the final Suanhacky chief and all in between, hundreds of hours of hard work and dedication went

into the management of the Lodge.

CHIEFS OF SUANHACKY LODGE / 75TH ANNIVERSARY

As we remember, the quote from many of the ceremonies “ How solemn is the duty of the Chief….”

Like with any position, some leaders will live up to the billing and excel beyond. We’ve had some chiefs that were

driven; some were blessed with committee chairman taking on their positions with zeal and getting the jobs

done. As past Chief Frank Janoscak often would say, ‘Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, what the committee chairman

don’t do, the lodge chief must!”.

1930-32 Arthur Burrows 1932-33 Charles Dawson 1933-34 Ed Bechtold 1934-35 Oscar Eichelberger 1935-36 Robert Brown Jr. 1936-37 Alan Ridgeway 1937-38 Robert Broadwell 1938-39 Leon Greenman 1939-40 Albin Maday 1940-41 Anthony Joseponis 1941-42 Henry Kuss 1942-43 Robert Horowitz 1943-4 4 Ken MacFie /Bernie Giosten

1944-46 John Davis 1946-47 Gideon Oppenheimer 1947-48 Ozzie Levi / Irving Cohen

1948-49 Monroe Falitz 1949-50 Guenther Hecht 1950-52 Joel Caplow-Hutner 1952-53 Walter Engel 1953-54 Andy Alexander 1954-55 Francis Berry 1955-56 David Seidman 1956-57 Jack Ringelberg

1957-58 Larry Edwards 1958-59 Walter McCammond 1959-60 Steven Bergman 1960-61 Martin Holden 1961-63 Gregory Scotten 1963-65 Norman Russakoff 1965-66 Eric Datz 1966-67 Michael Gross 1967-68 Les Merker 1968-69 Ed Pino 1969-70 Norman Weider 1970-71 John Goulet 1971-73 Frank Janoscak 1973-74 Denis Sackett 1974-76 Murray Dunn 1976-77 Thomas Hillgardener 1977-78 Anthony Caggiano 1978-79 Edward Perez 1979-80 John Spero 1980-81 Johannes Knoops / Robert Brown

1981-83 Richard Clausen 1983-85 Franco Sagliocca 1985-86 Michael Lectora 1986-87 Jason Lilien 1988-89 Steven Benini

1989-90 Daniel Halloran 1990-91 Robert Petrillo 1991-92 Michel Orlando 1992-93 Frank Gaynor 1993-94 Alan Wolfe 1994-95 Derek Strauss 1995-96 Thomas Curry 1996-97 David McAteer 1997-98 Dennis Rehberger Jr.

1998-99 Kevin Shult 1999-2000 Frank Boccabella III 2000-01 Taso Diakovisillis 2001-02 Robert Gramstad 2002-03 Richard Wenzel 2003-04 Joseph Atchinson 2004-05 Keith Milau 2005-06 Paul Camurati 2006-07 Steven Rasteter 2007-08 John Mulvey 2008-09 David Puzzo 2009-10 Domenick Wagner 2010-11 Basile Galitsis 2011-12 Patrick McDougal 2012-13 Anthony Lectora

ROLL CALL OF SUANHACKY LODGE CHIEFS

ROLL CALL OF SUANHACKY LODGE ADVISORS

1930-37 Joseph Brinton 1937-43 Chester Seymor 1943 Edward Kappel 1944-46 Francis Kopecky 1946-48 Charles Emmeluth 1949-52 Louis Eberspeacher 1952-56 Jack Kohler 1956-61 Joseph Neumann Jr. 1961-64 Larry Edwards 1964-66 Kenneth Barrett 1966-71 Rev. Roper Shamhart 1971-79 Jack Kohler

1979-82 Roy Kramer 1982-88 Ron Newsam 1988-92 John Pritchard 1992-96 Gordon Bennett 1996-97 Kevin Dolce 1997-99 Vincent Lummetta 1999-2002 Thomas Curry 2002-05 Michael Lectora 2005-08 Bill Kiernan 2008-10 James Shaughnessy 2010 Lorri McGregor 2010-13 Steven Rastetter

However, what we can do is at this time, remember these hard working boys and men, thank them for

all they did, thank them for allowing us, to lead and grow along with them. Say thank you and yes,

they did in one way or another shape our Scouting experience and all those in Queens.

History will remember many chiefs and Suanhacky Brothers as true leaders, navigating the Lodge to

new heights. Others may be remembered as good, others as being there. No matter what they were all

brothers, they were ours! These boys who soon turned into men were selected by their fellow Scouts,

all helped navigate Suanhacky from one point to another.

We can never count the hours brothers spent thinking of ideas to help Scouting, can never count the

time spent developing programs for Council to meet goals, never count the miles traveled from

meeting to meeting.