Cabrosha Lodge

Cabrosha Lodge #537, was first chartered October 1, 1959, during what is generally thought of as the dawning of the Golden Era of Scouting. The lodge can actually trace its roots to 1956, when Harold J. Alexander became the Council Executive of the Sonoma-Mendocino Area Council, bringing with him the concept of the Order.  That same summer marked the last meeting of the Tribe of Noyo, and thus the birth of the Order of the Arrow in our area. 

In the fall of 1957, the future lodge met for the first time, with such long time Scouters as then District Executive Sam Withrow and Harold Yoder in attendance as well as Mr. Alexander. The first Ordeal took place with the aid of Mow-A-Toc Lodge #262 from Eureka.  Key leadership in the lodge leaned heavily upon Dick Livingston from the Yokayo District in Ukiah and Pop Bond of the Miwok district in Petaluma. In addition, Sam Withrow (knew a great deal about Plains Indian dances and regalia); Hume Bunyan (one of the scouting dads--very supportive and helpful); Steve Yaeger (another very supportive dad; he and Hume accompanied the Scouts to the 1957 Jamboree); Bill Soderquist (active adult leader at camp Navarro); and Alexei Sokolovski (Alex Sokol, father of Nicolai "Nick" Sokol, and very helpful transporting kids to camp and events).

Mike Moratto one the charter members of the lodge and an early Lodge Chief spoke of lots of workshops where the lodge made authentic costumes and practiced Indian dances.  Several of our lodge members--Bob Race, Larry Knight, Bob Nichols, a few others (whose names escape) and I became rather accomplished dancers and began to compete, initially with other California OA lodges.  Under Sam Withrow's guidance, we formed the Nawaka Indian Dancers and began performing at local events. The lodge was well known throughout the Sonoma Mendocino area for their performances.

Sometime in 1964 Jerry Barndt became a member of the lodge while serving as Program Director for Camp Navarro.  Jerry would go on to become Lodge Adviser in 1969, throughout the 70s and into ’80’s with the assistance of Martin Webb.

From 1958 – 1965, the Cabrosha Lodge flap depicted a Seal on a Rock. In 1965, the patch was changed to reflect the North Coast Indians’ rendition of the face of a Seal.

In the spring of 1967 the first Vigil Honor Members of Cabrosha Lodge were inducted at Lake Mendocino, once again with the aid of Mow-A-Toc Lodge.  The first Vigil Honor members were Hume Buyan, Dick Hacke, Doug McDonald, Chester Dunning and Dick Livingston. 

In the summer of 1967 Cabrosha Lodge hosted its first Area 12-C Conference at the Ukiah Municipal Park. It should be noted, that at this time, lodges bid to host conferences and the other lodges voted for what was perceived to be the best choice. Unique to this event was all meals were taken at local restaurants in Ukiah, away from the conference site. The Area 12-C Chief was Doug McDonald with Dennis Mowbray serving as Secretary. The Cabrosha Lodge Chief that year was Marty Webb.

In the summer of 1969 at the close of Summer Season at Camp Navarro, Jerry Barndt and several other members of the Lodge went on a Road Trip. Their journey found them attending the 1969 NOAC at Indiana University. Thus they became the first delegates of Cabrosha Lodge to attend a National Conference. Among those making the trek were Jerry Barndt, Alan Meyer, Dennis Mowbray, Jim Panttaja and Marty Webb.

This road trip adventure was repeated in 1971 with the merry band traveling to the University of Norte Dame where the National Order of the Arrow Conclave was taking place. Among those making the trek this time were Jerry Barndt, Gordon Robertson, Dennis Mowbray and Marty Webb.

But they had to hurry back, as Cabrosha Lodge had once again been selected to host the 1971 Area 12C Conference at Camp Navarro.   The Area 12-C Chief was Gordon Robertson, with Jim Panttaja as Secretary and Keller McDonald as Treasurer. With over 500 members journeying to Navarro, the conclave was a huge success.

It was during the late 60’s and early 70’s that Cabrosha Lodge emerged as a political force in Area and eventually Section politics. A relatively small lodge in comparison to other lodges at this time, Cabrosha actively led the way in lobbying for rule changes and who would be successful in their bid to host conclaves. To this day, Martin Webb is immortalized as the “White man who speaks with Forked Tongue" for his performance at an area planning meeting held in Yuba City.

In 1972 the lodge was moved for a time to Area 12-B, which was basically all the lodges surrounding the San Francisco Bay. The lodge was not pleased and fought the move. Area meetings were attended and the lodge lobbied heavily to be returned to Area 12-C. Letters were written, phone calls made, much coffee was drunk. Cabrosha remained faithful in attending all Area meetings and was as much a pain in the neck as possible, by citing all infractions of Roberts Rules of Order, belaboring points, and otherwise dragging out meetings. It worked. In less than a year’s time Cabrosha was back in Area 12-C.

But only for a short time, as starting in 1973, the BSA had decided to change to larger regions. Cabrosha fell into the Western Region OA Section W3B. In 1972 the last Area 12-C Conference took place at Beale Air Force Base. The ever political Cabrosha was not planning to bid for the 1973 conclave, but did join forces with several other lodges to thwart Mayi Lodge who placed a strong bid to be the first host lodge of the new section. Cabrosha was successful in getting Mow-A-Toc Lodge selected as the first W-3B host. This was the end of the conclave bidding process and forward hence, a rotation was created with each lodge in succession taking turns hosting.

In 1973 the only NOAC ever held west of the Rockies took place at University of California Santa Barbara. The lodge sent a large contingent via automobile and had a great time. From here on out, to the best of my knowledge, the lodge always sent at least two members to NOAC. It should be noted that during this time the lodge had continued to grow and at one point had over 400 members. Bruce Mayfield and Bob Lake both recall an Ordeal in 1969 wherein over 100 ordeal candidates were inducted (it took two shifts to cram them all in the ceremony site). Bob Lake served as Lodge chief in 1972 and was followed by Bruce Mayfield who started a tradition that would last for the next 10 years of back to back terms as Lodge Chief in 1973 and 1974. Not to be out done, Dave Gilmore repeated the back to back thing in 1975 and 1976, then Bob Luttrell in 1977-1978, Dave Cooper in 1979-1980 and Ray Leonard in 1981-1982.

In 1974 the Lodge took on Leadership of a Council-wide event, the Harold J. Alexander Jamboree.  It was held on October 25, 26, and 27, 1974 at Two Rock Coast Guard Training Center.  The event was to honor Harold Alexander at the time of his retirement as Executive of the Sonoma-Mendocino Area Council.  One memory etched in many minds is that of Mr. Alexander standing in the back of Jerry Barndt’s Jeep waving to the over 500 Scouts lining the road as he slowly motored out of the Jamboree.

Conclaves, ordeal, fellowships, even NOACs came in swift succession. In 1979 it was finally Cabrosha’s turn to serve as host for a W3B Conclave. Held at Camp Masonite Navarro, once again over 500 Arrowmen made the journey. Many will never forget the band hired by Bob Luttrell to play the Saturday night theme show. “Lips” generated their own aura that was almost smokier then the campfires cheerfully burning around them. Dave Cooper was Lodge chief that year and was key to convincing Kitty Tipitts to serve as the first Conclave booklet centerfold.

Year 1979 also saw the lodge send a contingent to NOAC in Fort Collins, CO, via train. A grand adventure was had by all, including a wildcat union strike that found the lodge aiding passengers in unloading baggage and getting all on buses to continue the journey. Arriving 12 hours late, and having stood in the aisle of a bus for 5 hours, we finally made it to NOAC. On the way back, the trains once again were running. The contingent made the acquaintance of John Madden, recently retired Oakland Raiders Coach. We played cards with him and talked through the night. Dave Cooper even has an autographed sash signed by Mr. Madden.