A Brief History of Camp Cachalot:
Fire!
One of the most significant events in Cachalot's history took place on the weekend of May 22nd, 1964, during the spring Camp-o-ree.
The majority of Camp Cachalot lies in what is known as an Atlantic pine-oak barren (the largest example of which is the 1.1 million acre New Jersey Pine Barrens.) These types of forests consist of an area with predominantly sandy soil populated with pitch pine and scrub oak, fire-adapted species. Fire is an essential occurrence in this type of forest, clearing away dead wood and placing nutrients back into the soil. As with other pine-oak barrens, Cachalot and the surrounding areas experience relatively frequent, usually small (less than 2 acre) forest fires, which are typically brought under control by local fire fighters quickly. This history of fire accounts for all the soot and ash mixed in with the sand that invariably stains one's ankles after walking through Camp [1].
During that spring Camp-o-ree, however, fire swept into Cachalot from the adjoining Myles Standish State Forest, burning through Cachalot, eventually threatening homes in Plymouth and Wareham, and stopping only when it reached White Island Pond to the east, on May 24th, 1964. In all, 5,500 acres of forest, including most of Cachalot, were consumed by the blaze. [2] Over 700 Scouts and Scouters were evacuated from Cachalot, but fortunately there were no significant injuries at Camp. Most of the major buildings on the property were spared — but the Quonset Hut (which exploded when the gasoline stored inside ignited), a commissary building, the original Cook's Cabin, and the outpost shelter at Abner's Pond were lost, along with all of the tent site latrines. The New Bedford Standard-Times later reported that the fire was the work of an arsonist who had set no fewer than 63 separate blazes [3]! Most of these were lit by improvised incendiary devices comprised of a lit cigarette and pack of matches affixed to rocks with tape and thrown into the forest.
< Previous: The Early Years Next: The late 1960s and 1970s >[1] Rumor has it that this combination of sand and ash acts as a filter for the water in and around camp. While it is possible this has some impact on rain runoff, there is no evidence to suggest that it has any real effect on the large ponds, several of which have feeder springs, or on the groundwater.
[2] You cannot tell simply by looking at the forest today what areas were more significantly affected by this fire. Looking at photos that predate the 1964 fire, it can be clearly seen that the forest canopy over Cachalot was no thicker than it is today, and in some instances was actually thinner.
[3] The Standard-Times also carried a brief article while the fire was still raging reporting that the Fairhaven Civil Defense was ready to assist in the fire control and evacuation efforts, quoting the then-leader of the Fairhaven CD, Armand Guilmette. It was only a few years later that Armand became the first resident Ranger at Camp Cachalot.
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