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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 Area Council 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."  Eventually 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 is made up of Niagara Gateway & Niawanda Districts.   Silver Lakes Chapter is made up of Erie Shores & Southern Hills Districts.  Theodore Roosevelt Chapter is 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.

There are MANY holes in the lodge history.  As a result, these lists may need revision.  Let us know if you have any additions or can see any errors.  We need as much help as possible!

Lodge history compiled by Mike Hulsizer.  WNY BSA/OA Memorabilia Collecting Links also hosted by Mike Hulsizer.

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