Camp Ganoga hasn't operated since 1945, but the old Strinestown-area Boy Scout camp continues to evoke memories. Here, a group of Scouts sits on the Camp Ganoga waterfront - Conewago Creek. Background posts: Old Ganoga Bridge: 'It is a highly unusual sight in York County' and Once popular Ganoga Bridge now lightly used York County landmark and Big Conewago serves as physical, symbolic divider of York County culture.
Mixed-race gatherings weren't an everyday sight in York County in the first half of the 20th century.
In collecting photos for my black history book "Almost Forgotten" at the York County Heritage Trust, I was a bit surprised to see photos of white and black campers at old Camp Ganoga on the Conewago Creek.
I asked around about that... .
This unidentified man is perhaps a camp cook. (Photos courtesy of York County Heritage Trust.)
Yup, Camp Ganoga attracted mixed-race campers.
Girl Scouting was popular among black girls in York as well.
That quest served as a reminder that race in York County is a complex topic.
You learn that some institutions - Crispus Attucks Community Center - formed to provide recreational and social opportunities for black people in 1931. After all, the center would not have formed if there hadn't been a need.
Then you learn that some such mixed-race opportunities from institutional York County presented themselves.
These photos of Camp Ganoga are evidence of that.
As I've written before, York County's status as a border county in a border state in the mid-Atlantic region where North literally meets South creates a swirling mass of complexities.
I was wondering what you have learned about the history of African-American Eagle Scouts in Central PA. I became an Eagle Scout through Milton Hershey School's Troop 75 and was the first African-American in that Troop to receive the honor. Do you know of others from Central PA who have received the award?
Sterling, You might have to contact individual district scout offices to get that information. I'm not sure where you can go to get such from normal historical sources. This link might interest you: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2009/04/exhibit.html.
Jim
As a youth member and later as Scoutmaster of Troop 37 in York PA, I am proud to tell you that we were a mixed-race, multiple-cultural troop of Boy Scouts from the first day of our founding in 1941 by Rabbi Alexander D. Goode. We've had well over 100 Eagle Scouts since then, and many were Black. We were the first Boy Scout troop in the United States to have boys earn religious awards in the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths. The troop continues those traditions to this day. Rabbi Goode later gave his life to save others as one of the Four Chaplains during the sinking of the troopship Dorchester in World War II.
Well said, George. Thanks for sharing.
Jim McClure
As I understood it growing up, my great gandfather (James Benton Truett) ran Camp Ganoga for a few years in the 30's at least. I recall seeing photos of my mother playing with some of the older boys, (she was about 5 or 6, they were about 12) on the steps of possibly an administration building/lodge there. He was Scoutmaster of one of the first Boy Scout Troops in York, can't remember the Troop # anymore, and went on to obtain the Silver Beaver Award. I made it to Life Scout in Troop 94 in Shiloh, having been a counselor at Camp Tuckahoe in 1969. GREAT memories!
J.B.Truett was Scoutmaster for Troop 19 at St. Pauls Church for several decades.