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Lodges
Ganosote
Tuscarora
HoDeNoSauNee
Chapters
BRIEF HISTORY
Ganosote Lodge was formed in Erie County Council in 1921 by Hans Walter, the chairman of the Camping Committee. The name "Ganosote" means "longhouse," the living building of the Iroquois. In 1949, the Erie County Council merged with the Buffalo Council to form the Buffalo Area Council. The Buffalo had an organization similar to the Order of the Arrow called the "Tribe of the Wa-canda." This organization was dissolved and the new council adopted the Order of the Arrow and continued the name and totem of Ganosote. In 1960, the Lodge broke up into twelve chapters allowing more members to take an active part in the Order of the Arrow. Chapters were Amherst, Apache, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Cazenovia, Ellicott, Erie, Iroquois, Kenton, Mohawk, Red Jacket, and Tonawandas. The lodge was in existence until the 1967 merger with Tuscarora Lodge 284.
In 1945, Tuscarora Lodge came into being. The five original members came from all over the U.S. One even came from the Philadelphia Council where the OA was introduced to Scouting. In August of 1945, the first Ordeal ceremony was held on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation. The name Tuscarora was taken as the Lodge name. The name means the "Shirt Wearers." Eventaully two chapters were formed - Ongara and Portage. The lodge was in existence until the 1967 merger with Ganosote Lodge 159.
In early spring 1967, the Greater Niagara Frontier Council was formed with a merger of the Niagara Frontier Council (Tuscarora Lodge) and the Buffalo Area Council (Ganosote Lodge). A new merged Lodge was formed, taking the name Ho-De-No-Sau-Nee, meaning "People of the Longhouse."
Merger Details: 1/24/67 Consolidation Meeting; 2/13/67 Name Approved; 2/14/67 Camping Committee Approval; 2/67 Executive Board Approval.
An interim lodge chief (Paul Murray) was chosen to lead the lodge until elections were held at the spring lodge conclave. Mark Warner was elected and became the first official Ho-De-No-Sau-Nee lodge chief. Initially, the lodge had fourteen chapters (twelve from Ganosote and two from Tuscarora). However, a year after the merger the number of chapters was reduced to twelve. In 1970, the Niagara Falls chapters merged. In 1983, 1986, and 1990 there were a series of chapter mergers. Finally, from 1990 until 2002 there were only three chapters. Things changed in 2002 when the lodge added a chapter (Theodore Roosevelt). In 2004 the Council split three of the four districts in half. The chapters retained the same boundaries with Onondaga Chapter containing Cayuga & Iroquois Trail Districts. Polaris Chapter was made up of Niagara Gateway & Niawanda Districts. Silver Lakes Chapter was made up of Erie Shores & Southern Hills Districts. Theodore Roosevelt Chapter was the Theodore Roosevelt District.
In 2007 the Theodore Roosevelt Chapter merged with the Onondaga Chapter. Silver Lakes Chapter changed it's name to Seneca Chapter. Polaris Chapter changed it's name to Falling Waters.
YOU CAN HELP!!!
There are MANY holes in the lodge history. As a result, these lists may need revision. Let me know if you have any additions or can see any errors. I need as much help as possible!
This web site is maintained by Michael Hulsizer. I was the Ho-De-No-Sau-Nee lodge chief from 1987-1988. I maintain several web sites devoted to Lodge 159/284 memorabilia. Check out the links below.
WNY OA Patch History
WNY Chief and Advisor History
WNY Summer Scout Camp Memorabilia
WNY OA Area/Section Conclave Memorabilia
Additional OA Links
Site Page Last Updated 07/28/09
Disclaimer"This site and the information it contains is provided solely for the use of people interested in the Order of the Arrow and has NO OFFICIAL CONNECTION WHATSOEVER with any council or lodge, nor the Boy Scouts of America. It is operated by a private individual providing a public service. No BSA or Lodge money was used in the creation, modification or maintenance of these pages."
