Scrap Book
1927
April 8, 1927 - Groundbreaking for Camp Bert Adams
Scout Albert S. Adams, 15, breaks ground for construction of the 80-acre Scout Camp named as a memorial to his father. Pictured l-r are: Scout Reuben Moore, R.C. Darby, J. Jones, Mell R. Wilkinson, W. Eugene Harrington, Scout Albert S. Adams, William C. Wardlaw, Thorn Flagler, R.B. Burrows, Scout Howard Doyle, Scout G.R. Yarbrough, A.A. Jameson, Robert Doyle.
Wilkinson was the Council President (later awarded the Silver Buffalo and the only recipient in Region 6 for many years). Wardlaw was chairman of the committee who raised $75,000 for the construction of Camp Bert Adams, and Jameson was the Scout Executive. The other men were on the fund raising committee as well as being active Scouters. (The lake at Bert Adams would later be named "Dick Darby Lake" in honor of R.C. Darby, and the mountain at Bert Adams is (still) named Mount Wilkinson.
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1939 Dan Beard And Ed Dodd
Daniel Carter Beard and Ed Dodd at Bert Adams. Beard was a founder of the BSA and its Chief Scout. He was also a noted artist and ran a private boys' camp in Pennsylvania.
Dodd worked for Beard at his camp for 13 years, as well as being mentored in art by Beard.
During the 1930's Dodd worked as a Field Executive for the Atlanta Council and was Camp Director of Bert Adams for several years.
Eventually, Dodd successfully broke into the comic business and was most noted for his "Mark Trail" comic strip.
Dodd has also been credited with designing the first flap patch for Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge.
Submitted By: Tom Watson
Unknown Year (1928, '29,'30 or '31)
Ed Dodd, Served as Camp Director from 1928 to 1931. Shown at his tent at Bert Adams in Vinings
1944
Dedication of Mt. Wilkinson
People driving around Cobb County today probably don't realize the connection between Scouting, Bert Adams, and the Mt. Wilkinson Parkway. Well here's the story, reprinted from Rotary Magazine.
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1948 Old Camp Truck
What seems to be members of the Bert Adams staff and the old camp truck. Anybody know the exact date of this picture?
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1952 Photo of of young Troop 61 Scouts relaxing in the crafts pavilion.
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1954 Hiking Into Bert Adams, most likely from the train station in Vinings
1954 Trading Post at Old Bert Adams
Unidentified staff members enjoy a Coke at the old trading post. This photo was probably taken for the Coca-Cola Company and is from the Georgia State Archives.
1955, '56, or '57
Basketry Merit Badge Judging from the T-shirts this is around years 1955-1957
1956 Troop 61 Checks In
Troop 61 of Smyrna checks into what we believe to be campsite #3 - some of these Adirondack shelters were moved from the old camp to the "new" Bert Adams.
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1958 Adams Apple Newspaper
The camp newspaper was the Adams Apple!
1959 Camp Capital Campaign
We have dated this as 1959, but it's likely earlier. The new camp was constructed in 1960-61, so the capital campaign to raise the money for the land and construction had to be at least a year or more earlier. I had saved this from my youth and I didn't join scouting until 1957 and wasn't aware Bert Adams was moving until the year I was first on staff, 1960. So, I doubt I would have saved this newspaper clipping much before 1960.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1959 Trading Post at old camp
Another view of the trading post at old Bert Adams (looking strangely unpopulated! But it was only open a few hours per day as the staff that ran the trading post also taught merit badges or had other duties)
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1959 Axe Yard
Axe yard at old Camp Bert Adams, located across the main road from the handicraft and quartermaster building.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1960 Last Camping Season for Bert Adams in Vinings
This article, from the Marietta Daily Journal dated June 12, 1960, tells of the opening of the last summer camp season at Camp Bert Adams in Vinings. Since this article was in the Marietta paper the four youth in the photos are all from Cobb County. Bill Orange (Smyrna) and Randy Rakestraw (Mableton), Bob Higgins (Smyrna) and Rob Cross (Marietta). The two unidentified scouts looking over Lake Darby are Bill & Randy. Also, note that near the end of the article there is reference to a Woodbadge training course being held September 3-11, 1960. This is believed to be the first Woodbadge course offered by the Atlanta Area Council, Course 92-01. Correction: the hand drawn map shown on the "Where in Vinings" page which is believed to be from the 1940's or early 1950's shows an area identified as "Wood Badge Camp" so 1960 was not the first Woodbadge in the Atlanta Area Council. Further investigation on-going.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1960 Bob Higgins (staff '60) at Nature Lodge (Museum) at old camp.
Bob Higgins standing in the doorway to the Nature Museum. It is believed this building was formally a staff hut (see maps in the "Where in Vinings" page). In 1960 we had turtles, snakes, including a five and half foot Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, which the camp director milked every Wednesday (see photo below). The turtles could be checked out by troops and entered in the Great Turtle Race which was held once a week.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1960 Council Newsletter
The council newsletter, "The Scouter" announcing the 1960 Bert Adams season.
Note that the council was still segregated in 1960 and this newsletter also contains the announcement of the season opening at Camp J.K.Orr, the black camp.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1960 Milking the Rattlesnake
Once a week the camp director, Carlos Meyer, would take our five and a half foot Eastern Diamond Rattler out of his cage and milk it for anyone that wanted to watch. Left to right in the photo are Glen (Corky) McQueen, Rob Cross (holding snake body), Dupont Smith (seated in background), and Carlos Meyer (hands only). Nature Museum in background.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
"Land of High Adventure" advertising flyer for the first year summer camp was held at the new Covington Bert Adams Boy Scout Reservation
1961 Camp Bert Adams Moves from Vinings to Covington, GA
Advertisement flyer from 1961. The top two images are the front and back of the handout. The inside fold covering two pages is an aerial photo with added text showing location of campsites, buildings, etc.
Note: The 1961 price for a week at summer camp was $17.50. In 1965 the price was $18.50 as shown in the flyer farther down on this web page.
Note future location for Camp Dobson east of east end of the lake ("D" on the map). Camp Jamison was built later on the south side of the lake and Camp Dobson, to my knowledge, was never built.
1961 or 1962
These camp entrance pyramids first appeared on the 1962 camp patch and were on all the summer camp patches from 1962 through 1969.
1961 Camp Gorman Trading Post
Under construction, the trading post at Camp Gorman was completed in time for the opening of camp in 1961. (see a postcard of this TP in the museum).
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1961 Lake Bulow Campbell
This aerial view shows Lake Bulow Campbell under construction. The photo is dated March 26, 1961. The dam and lake water appears to be drawn in on this photo.
1961 (June 12, 1961)
This the Camp Emerson Pool, located just south of the Morcock Building. See next photo which shows both plus Camp Gorman and Lake Bulow Campbell in the distance.
1961
This aerial view shows Morcock Building in the lower right, Camp Emerson pool in the center right. Distant view of Camp Gorman pool in the upper right and lake Bulow Campbell and water front in upper left.
I believe what is now the Morcock Building was the Trading Post & Handicraft building for Camp Emerson in 1961. Camps Emerson and Gorman were basically identical camps except they shared Woodruff Hall for dining. The each had their own swimming pool, water front, rifle and archery ranges.
1961
This I believe is the Camp Emerson staff hut. This photo appears to be taken much later than 1961. The building is currently used by the OA. The Camp Gorman staff hut was an identical building but located on the edge of Gorman field. The Camp Gorman staff hut no longer exists.
1961 Troop 61 In Camp
Troop summer camp, Camp Gorman, photo from early 1960s
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1961 Ahoy!
Troop 61 members rowing in eastern side of Lake Campbell
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
June 17, 1962 Official dedication of Bert Adams Boy Scout Reservation
Although the first summer camping season in Covington was in 1961, the official dedication was in June 1962.
Submitted by: Kerry Sartain
1962 Pouring Cement For The Kohn Memorial
Camp Ranger Chuck Bailey and Jimmy Wheeler pour cement into forms to construct the Kohn Memorial Fountain. The two staffers on the left and center are not known, but the third one appears to be Danny Borowski.
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1963 Ready on the right...
Troop at Camp Emerson rifle range...
Submitted By: Tom Watson
1965 Camp Flyer
1965 flyer, based on the artwork-- that's the neckerchief design for 1965. Note the price for a week at camp compared to over $300 today!
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1969 Jimmy Wheeler Memorial
We're totally guessing about the year this monument was placed. In fact, if you have any information on it, please contact us. It has been moved from the lower end of the assembly field to the east side of where Woodruff Dining Hall once stood. Several other monuments are located in this area.
Submitted By: Bob Higgins
1977 Free Swim!
Free Time Swim for Troop 61 in the eastern section of Lake Campbell, near our [Camp Emerson] campsite, which was then called "Apache" (now the "Chaka Khan" site in Cubworld).
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1977 Roll Call....
Morning Roll Call! Acting Senior Patrol leader Robert Christensen (age 13 in the white Bert Adams t-shirt & khaki green shorts),Scoutmaster James Christensen (blue t-shirt), COR Robert McBath (blue pants)
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1977 Camp Gorman Pool
The Pool that used to be located in Camp Gorman east of the Health Lodge. The Troop 61 members are congregated near the {EMPTY?} lifeguard stand
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
1977 Troop 61 in Camp
Members of Troop 61 in campsite
Submitted By: Robert Christensen
19??
Not sure of the year. Judging by the uniforms and council shoulder patch rather than a community strip I would guess in the late 1980's or 1990's, maybe even as late as the 2000's. Please let me know if you can identify any of the scouts or the year. Click on photo for larger image.