In the year 1920, only three years after the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart was chartered, three acres of land was purchased for the establishment of a Boy Scout Park, as it was first known.
Judge William B. Hile was the club's president when the sale was completed for $750.00 from Charles Webber. The property is located on the East side of the Elkhart River just South of East Hively Avenue between County Road 115 and the Elkhart River.
Contributions totaling $3500.00 were made by the 70 Club Members for the purchase of the land and the erection of a 22' x50'building along with tradesman assigned by the Club Members who could not be present. With a fine stone fireplace and a loft area with bunks this structure was complete. At one time Scoutmaster Charles Lawson recorded 18 different species of trees on the three acre tract of land.
Upon the completion, the title to the property was recorded in the name of William B. Hile Trustee for the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart, Indiana.
On June 15th 1921 Kiwanian's, their wives and many local Scouts held a picnic at the "PARK" and dedicated the property to the perpetual use of the Boy Scouts of America.
On April 3rd, 1939 a committee composed of Stan Raymer, Claude A. Lee and Paul Myers was appointed by the President to render an opinion on the title of this property. Their search revealed that it was and is in the hands of the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart and the trustees had no power of disposition or conveyance and on the death of the trustee the property remains in the hands of the beneficiary.
The Kiwanis Club of Elkhart was incorporated on August 21st,1942. The incorporators being Howard Bowman, M.C. Longenecker, and Fred Reich. On March 11th, 1943 a Board of Directors Resolution authorized N. Fred Reich to employ Vern G. Cawley as Attorney, to take legal action to get the title of this property transferred from the trustee, William B. Hile to the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart , Inc. This was accomplished on October 20, 1943 when a deed was recorded transferring the ownership of the property from title in trustee to Kiwanis Club of Elkhart, Inc.
The Scout Executive of the local Boy Scout Council at the time of construction of the cabin was C. M. Arnold. Since that time Scout Executives Francis Geiger, J. Ben McGill, and Graham Howard were also Members.
In the summer months of 2010, Scout Leader and Kiwanis Club member Al Benham, Scout Leader Brad Wright, Attorney and Club Member Larry Meteiver suggested to the Kiwanis that several improvements must be made to the building and it's contents. The structure needed the electrical up-dated, the interior had received water damage from a leaking chimney, the exterior walls had no insulation in them and there was mold that needed to be removed. Paneling placed over the interior walls needed to be removed. Many trees that were deemed un-safe had already been cut down as this 3 acre tract fills up with more tree growth.
With the approval of the board the interior was cleaned up. Electrical was brought up to code. Lighting was cleaned and some replaced. The paneling was removed, glass in the windows were replaced and re-caulked. Insulation was added in the walls and ceiling. The chimney was repaired. The metal bunk beds were painted. The complete interior was repainted by Al Benham. The floor was stripped of all of it's finishes and resurfaced. The flags that once hung in the building were cleaned by Al Benham. It is in the plans for the summer of 2011 to work on the kitchen, bathroom and possibly re-create a woman's bunk area in what has been used lately as a cold storage area. The Scout leader adult training patrol flags are ready to be hung again. A beautiful new wood mantle was added to the fireplace.
The cabin is available anytime for rental from the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart by filling out a application. A small fee is asked to offset the utility costs and maintenance of the property.
Sunday June 15th, 2011 This Cabin is 90 Years Old!
