Draft:Camp Biddle

Camp Biddle was founded in May 1920 as the second camp of the Philadelphia Scout Council of the Boys Scouts of America. The 150 acre property served as a summer camp for Lone Scouts from Philadelphia who were not associated with troops. The camp was dedicated to former scout of Troop 46 of the Temple Lutheran Church and sailor Herbert Biddle who died with the sinking of the USS Cherokee in 1918. The camp was located on the Earle property along the Darby Creek in Broomall, PA and was noted to have five Troop shacks, mess hall with fireplace, "swimmmin" hole, parade field, athletic field, Council Circle and Administration building. Fee for one week stay in 1923 was $7. On August 6, 1921 the Unalachtgo Lodge 8 of the Wimachtendienk, W.W. (predecessor of Order of the Arrow) was formed at Camp Biddle, preceded by the original Unami 1 Lodge from the Philadelphia Council from Treasure Island Scout Camp. On October 7, 1921, a portion of the first Grand Lodge Meeting of Wimachtendienk, W.W. was held at Camp Biddle for rededication of the organization at the camp's Council Circle. Joseph Adams of Troop 181 was the second African American Scout from Philadelphia Council to earn Eagle rank while at Camp Biddle in 1927. The camp came in to disuse by the council by the end of the 1920's with the opening of Philadelphia Camp Hart in 1930.