Boy Scouts of America
Order of the Arrow
Arthur Swarthout served as chaplain at a camp one
summer when he was in seminary. He never understood why he always seemed
to get stuck with the overnight trips with the troops. His fellow staff
members were building up his nights under canvas so he could be nominated
to the Order of the Arrow. He became an Ordeal member of Consoke Lodge
in 1956.
Mark Swarthout was with a number of troops and worked
on staff at Camp Mahonagan in West Virginia. His Medical Explorer Post
nominated him and he became an Ordeal Member of Buckongehannon Lodge in 1975.
| During my first year at camp, one
of the scoutmasters had a deer skin that he used to make a pair of knee
high moccassins, complete with fringes. He took a bit of the scrap and
made me this buckskin pouch. I collected teaberry and wintergreen leaves,
creating a nice smelling puch that offset some of the mildew smell of
the tent. |
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1974 Camp Mahonegon Staff - I'm on left end, middle row.
Myself, Linda Newman and Carl Aylstock with
Governor Arch Moore. Below the Governor and his wife examine the gifts
I presented on behalf of the Council.
 
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My Eagle Scout Project was to rebuild a bridge. It was a short
cut from my sub-division to downtown Philippi. So the Hardware store provided
the lumber and supplies and the
troop provided the labor. We added a handrail and new wood throughout.
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Art served as the Scoutmaster of Troop 62, sponsored
by the United Methodist Church in Philippi, West Virginia. One
of the reasons was to provide a solid troup for Mark to work toward
his Eagle Scout award. This photograph shows Art and Mark with
the plaque that was presented to Art by the troop in appreciation of
his work. Mark is wearing his Eagle award! He also has his
Lincoln Trail Medal earned when Art took the troop to Washington, D.C.
for a week.
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Gary Hall and Jim Philips seated. Trying to remember who it was,
and looking away from the camera is David Jones.
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Gary Hall and Jim Philips seated. Standing is Eric Gain and myself.
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The troop participated in a Scout-O-Rama at one point.
We did a woodcarving demonstration, including sharpening knives and, of course
a fully stocked first aid kit. I did my first ball in cage for this one. The
other Scout in the dark green shirt is Eric Gain. We shared a tent on camp
staff in 1975 and were on the wrestling team together.
In the Summer of 1977, Art Swarthout
went to a conference at Philmont Scout ranch and his entire family went with
him. The place definitely got into the blood, as Art and his daughters
each spent two summers working on the staff there. He served as a chaplan
two separate years. Mary worked in the Medical Center one summer and
the Conference Center the next. Sarah was on the dining hall staff one
summer and worked the Welcome Center the following one. The Nail pictured
below was from my Mountain Man trek during that summer. We watched it being
made and it was presented to me at the end of the trek by the team.
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Our camp at one point in hour hiking
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The team that I hiked with. The red hat was our Ranger, referred
to by his fellow rangers as Boom Boom.
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When Art Swarthout served as Chaplain at a Camp in
the Buckskin Council of West Virginia in 1978, Mark was home from college
for the Summer and went with him. Together they became Brotherhood Members
of the Wachu Menetopolis Lodge.
Return to Mark's Page
Updated January 6, 2007
