Goodman, Scout Executive in Philadelphia on June 7, 1921
Goodman, Scout Executive in
Philadelphia on June 7, 1921. The Lodge became known as Umpah Lodge and was
associated with the Scout Camp at Confluence, Pennsylvania. The Lodge was
chartered under the supervision of Mr. Getz and operated under the auspices
of the Philadelphia council. The totem for Umpah was a buffalo. Mr. R.C. Witt
became the Scout Executive in Uniontown late 1923. After several unsuccessful
attempts to keep Umpah Lodge organized, he finally recommended on May 15,
1925 that the Lodge be considered inactive.
Owing to financial and
other problems that developed, the Fayette County Council dissolved. Troops
were placed on direct service with the National Council.
In the late 1920's,
the Scouts that camped at Camp Wildwood near Normalville, p A started a
fraternity organization. They named their organization the Wigwam Lodge and
their totem was a chenille of an Indian Chiefs profile. Their ceremonies for
induction were based on Indian customs and fraternity type initiati'ons.
This lodge was not
affiliated with the Order of the Arrow but operated parallel to Wagion Lodge,
which afterward forn1ed at Camp Wesco. The Wigwam dissolved after the Council
closed Camp Wildwood. At the time of the closing ( cira 1948-49), all Wigwam
members were given the opportunity to transfer as Ordeal members into Wagion
Lodge. They had one year to do this. After one year's time they had to be
elected and take the Ordeal in the norn1al manner .
In September of 1937, the
Westmoreland County Council absorbed the Fayette County Council forming the
Westmoreland-Fayette Council which then applied for a charter as
an Order of the Arrow Lodge. This new council became known as Wagion Lodge
and was assigned Lodge number 147. Since it revived the old Umpah Lodge of
Uniontown, the number reverted back to Lodge #6, the original number. The