Camp Wisdom
Posted by: 
CacheSafari
N 32° 40.384 W 096° 55.956
14S E 693854 N 3616932
Camp Wisdom is a Boy Scout Camp in SW Dallas.
Waymark Code: WM1EP7
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/22/2007
Views: 153
Camp Wisdom was first used as a Scout Camp in 1923 and is the oldest existing camp in Texas. It is no longer used as a summer camp, but is now used as a weekend camp for Troops in the Dallas area. It has also become a Cub Scout Camp with many exciting new facilities such as a fort, two pirate ships, a castle, large Cub World activity building, an Indian village and other structures for use by Cub Scout Packs and Dens. The camp now has more people use the facility in a year than the other three camps of the Circle Ten Council combined.
John Shelby Wisdom October 1855 – March 7, 1931
Born into a large family in Tennessee, John Shelby Wisdom moved with his family to a farm near Mulberry, Arkansas, when he was very young. He moved to Texas as a teenager, and found work in ranching and cattle driving. Years later, he met a 12-year old fiddler named Madison Pinkney “Pink” Wright and his widowed mother, Hattie Wright. Wisdom married Mrs. Wright in 1880 and the three of them lived in various parts of Texas before coming to reside in this area in 1897. In 1901 they purchased 148 acres of land from J.M. Kuhen for $400 and later acquired 37 more acres for $100. Hattie Wisdom died in 1918. Wisdom and Pink Wright began to observe the Boy Scouts who camped on the property just west of their own. In 1920 John Shelby Wisdom was so moved by a troop of Scouts holding an Easter Sunday service in the woods that the older man was inspired to invite the Boy Scouts to camp on his land whenever they liked. In 1922 Wisdom and Pink Wright deeded 185 acres of land to the Dallas Council of the Boy Scouts. Retaining a life estate in 135 acres. Known by this time as “Daddy” Wisdom, John Shelby Wisdom spent much of his time with the Scouts. In December 1924 the house shared by “Daddy” Wisdom and Pink Wright burned. The Boy Scouts immediately set to work building them a new home. Pink Wright died in 1925 of a cerebral hemorrhage. One month later, a grieving John Shelby Wisdom was reunited by neighbors with his oldest brother, who had come to Dallas for a Confederate reunion. Wisdom accompanied by several Eagle Scouts, later traveled to Kentucky to visit long-lost relatives. When Wisdom died in 1931, he was mourned by his family and thousands of Boy Scouts.
(Thanks to roland_oso for the narrative!)
Visit Instructions:
As of 1/26/06 you will need to post a photo of the camp gateway that also shows you and/or your GPS. If the photo is not posted, your log will be deleted.