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A Brief History of Camp Berry

Scouting first came to Hancock County in 1916, two troops were formed and a year later a third troop was added, due to lack of leadership the three troops were combined into two troops in 1918. Camping was done along the Blanchard River and Eagle and Lye Creeks.

Until 1925 troops planned there own camping trip, and activities, in 1925 the council signed a lease for $60.00 per year to lease 10 acres of woods directly east or to thy right of the main entrance of the current camp.  In 1928 Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Berry, he was a vice president of The Ohio Oil Company purchased 83 acres, Including the original 10 acres and donated it in memory of a daughter that had died. The Berry Boy Scout Reservation was incorporated that year.

In 1930 the mess hall was constructed and was used for that purpose until 1948- 1949. It was then renovated and it now serves as the ranger’s home.

Swimming, boating and canoeing was done on Eagle Creek directly behind the Health Lodge; a swimming pool and shower house was built by the WPA in 1937. A headquarters cabin and three overnight cabins were built at this time also.

In 1946-47 a five year expansion was started, The Donnell Lodge was constructed, the three overnight cabins were moved and renovated and several new cabins and five Adirondack shelters wore constructed.

In the 1970’s another expansion plan was started and more acreage was either donated or purchased to expand the camp from 80 acres to over 200 acres.  It now is 360 acres.  This plan called for the re-routing of Eagle creek and the building of a four acre lake to be built

In 1992 a group of scouters saw the need to do something about the shape most of the buildings were in, and in general a lot needed to be done to bring the camp up to what you see to day. The Friends of Camp Berry was formed in April of 1992 and have worked since then repairing old and building new facilities and equipment.

The lake was dredged several years ago and a new pond was formed with the sludge. All the cabins have been sand blasted inside, and renovated to clean them up, every building has been painted and re-roofed, the Adirondacks have been moved and six new ones built A new shower house and a complete new septic system were constructed in 2000. The Woodsman cabin was torn down and Howard Lodge was constructed on the site and was dedicated on September 5, 1998.  The Health Lodge, Training Center and Maintenance Buildings have been remodeled and cleaned.  Shelters and new latrines have been built in several campsites.  Two new campsites have been constructed and a third is in the planning stages.  The Karl Edelbrock Nature Center was constructed in 1998 on a wildlife pond on the west side of camp.  The Campmaster cabin and Ranger’s house has been remodeled and renovated in the past few years.  Shelters have been added at each of the Shooting Sports areas.  Donnell Lodge is currently undergoing a major renovation.

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