Building Social Skills the Woodloch Way

It just so happens that Lake Teedyuskung was home to a famous resident. That would be Daniel Carter Beard, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America (May 1905). An avid woodsman, illustrator and naturalist, Daniel Carter Beard was a pioneering spirit of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1882, he illustrated Mark Twain’s ‘A Connecticutt Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.’ Already 60 years old when the BSA was formed, Dan Beard became a founder when he merged his ‘The Sons of Daniel Boone’ organization with the naturalist Ernest Seton’s ‘Woodcraft Indians’ in 1910.

Dan owned 3 parcels on the lake. He acquired one piece from the George Rowland Estate in 1878. The second piece was owned by his brother, Harry Beard. The third piece of property was purchased by Mrs. Kellog in 1888 from James Henry Thompson and sold to Dan Beard for his school in 1926. It was remodeled into a tavern during the 1950s.

The Howard Hughes Connection

The lake has other noteworthy celebrity connections. Howard Hughes, best known for being a big budget filmmaker in the early to mid-1900s, was an admirer of Dan Beard. He visited the lake several times in the 1930’s. In this letter, Howard Hughes writes:

“I was glad to get your letter, and I hope that I can come to your camp next year and bring my friend Dudley Sharpes. I have joined the YMCA and like it very much. Enclosed please find my Buckskin Badge. I have returned it on account of eating some candy. With love from Howard. P.S. I hope that you and Mrs. Beard and Bartlett and Barbara have a Happy New Year”.

The Inn at Woodloch sits on the area that was once Camp Elektor, founded by Maude B. Clarke. A small summer camp on Lake Teedyuskung that remained in existence until 1970, Camp Elektor’s main purpose was to teach small children skills and service. Next to Camp Elektor, where Woodloch’s lake houses are now situated, was a small weight loss camp for young girls. The camp was not a success as campers could easily sneak over to Woodloch and purchase candy and ice cream. The North Lodge was formerly Camp Teedyuskung, a private girl’s camp, which specialized in horseback riding and horse care. Woodloch purchased the property in the early 1960’s to expand the existing boarding house, which would eventually become Woodloch Pines Resort.

What’s In a Name?

In the 1930s and even earlier, Lake Teedyuskung was called ‘Big Tink Pond.’ Lake Teedyuskung means ‘He Who Makes the Earth Tremble.’ ‘Little Tink’ was the pond at the end of the outlet, also called Simpson’s Pond.

Want to learn more?

Pick up a copy of ‘Lackawaxen Township Bicentennial Book’, copyright 1998. Stuart Communications, Inc., Narrowsburg, New York. It serves as an excellent source of information about Lackawaxen Township. Look for ‘Dan Beard’s Animal Book and Camp-Fire Stories,’ by M.A. Donahue, 1910.