Francis O. Belzer
Encyclopedia
Francis "Chief" Oliver Belzer (June 30, 1869 – February 24, 1947) was the creator of the Firecrafter
organization, and a longtime early Boy Scouts of America
professional in Indianapolis, Indiana
, for whom Camp Belzer of the Crossroads of America Council
is named.
, gave birth to a daughter, Katharine.
Following these first years, Mr. Belzer taught one year in Illinois
, and then became high school principal at Oaklandon and then Castleton, Marion County high school. Following this he became principal of Center Township school No. 2, then Tuxedo Park, now Indianapolis school No 58. He then became principal of Hawthrone School No. 60, Indianapolis, and after eight years he joined grade manual training staff, continuing for several years. In preparation for his teaching work, Mr. Bezler attended during summer months, courses at the State Normal at Terre Haute
, Chicago University
, Morgan Park Academy
, Butler College, Bradley Polytechnie Institute, Vories Business College, and Indiana University Extension
.
In 1911, Mr. Belzer, although still teaching, became interested in the Boy Scout Movement
, which was started in America
in 1910.
boys to organize Scout Troop 9, sponsored by the Irvington United Methodist Church
. Under his leadership it became one of the leading troop in the city of Indianapolis.
He was president of a Scoutmaster association and helped to organize early Scout camps at Flat Rock, Mt. Nebo and Ft. Benjamin Harrison
. It was near the latter that Camp Chank-tun-un-gi was formed in 1918. (Later rename Camp Belzer in his honor.)Belzer Middle School was named after Mr. Belzer in his honor.
In 1914 efforts to form a Central Indiana Boy Scout Council had been successful and the first charter was granted in June 1915. F.O. "Chief" Belzer applied for a temporary leave of from the Indianapolis Schools in 1915 to take over the job of Scout Executive. Mr. Bezler was appointed first Scout Executive and continued in that capacity until September 1940, when he retired from active Scout work. Since then he lived at 320 S. Audubon Rd, until his death in February 1948 (79 years old).
He still maintained a keen interest in the Scout program and on numerous occasions had taken part in activities at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi, his favorite camping site.
Firecrafter
Firecrafter is a service organization within the Boy Scouts of America. Formed in 1920, the Firecrafter Organization mainly operates within the Crossroads of America Council, Indiana, but has been known to exist in other areas including Illinois and Texas....
organization, and a longtime early Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
professional in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, for whom Camp Belzer of the Crossroads of America Council
Scouting in Indiana
Scouting in Indiana has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :...
is named.
Early life
In the year of 1893, Mr. Francis O. Belzer and Prunetta M. Hunter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hunter of Lawrence, IndianaLawrence, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,915 people, 14,853 households, and 10,337 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,937.8 people per square mile . There were 16,292 housing units at an average density of 811.3 per square mile...
, gave birth to a daughter, Katharine.
Following these first years, Mr. Belzer taught one year in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and then became high school principal at Oaklandon and then Castleton, Marion County high school. Following this he became principal of Center Township school No. 2, then Tuxedo Park, now Indianapolis school No 58. He then became principal of Hawthrone School No. 60, Indianapolis, and after eight years he joined grade manual training staff, continuing for several years. In preparation for his teaching work, Mr. Bezler attended during summer months, courses at the State Normal at Terre Haute
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, Chicago University
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy is a coeducational, college preparatory, independent Pre-Kindergarten-12th grade day school located in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1863, Morgan Park Academy was formerly known as Mt...
, Butler College, Bradley Polytechnie Institute, Vories Business College, and Indiana University Extension
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
.
In 1911, Mr. Belzer, although still teaching, became interested in the Boy Scout Movement
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, which was started in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1910.
Scouting movement
It was the winter of 1910-11 that F.O. Belzer and C.C. Osborne met with a group of IrvingtonIrvington Historic District
The neighborhood of Irvington overlaps Irvington Historic District, a historic district in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both are in Indianapolis, Indiana. The historic district is a area that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987...
boys to organize Scout Troop 9, sponsored by the Irvington United Methodist Church
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
. Under his leadership it became one of the leading troop in the city of Indianapolis.
He was president of a Scoutmaster association and helped to organize early Scout camps at Flat Rock, Mt. Nebo and Ft. Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
. It was near the latter that Camp Chank-tun-un-gi was formed in 1918. (Later rename Camp Belzer in his honor.)Belzer Middle School was named after Mr. Belzer in his honor.
In 1914 efforts to form a Central Indiana Boy Scout Council had been successful and the first charter was granted in June 1915. F.O. "Chief" Belzer applied for a temporary leave of from the Indianapolis Schools in 1915 to take over the job of Scout Executive. Mr. Bezler was appointed first Scout Executive and continued in that capacity until September 1940, when he retired from active Scout work. Since then he lived at 320 S. Audubon Rd, until his death in February 1948 (79 years old).
He still maintained a keen interest in the Scout program and on numerous occasions had taken part in activities at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi, his favorite camping site.
External links
- USSSP: Scoutcamp.org - Oldest Camps at scoutcamp.org
- Troop 9 BSA home page