Early in 1970 a move was started by former members of the troop, members of the American Legion and Explorer Post 713 to investigate the possibility of constructing a building to house the various youth groups in Canby that did not have adequate places to meet. A committee representing the various groups developed a plan and in December 1970 construction began on the A-frame that now stands in Canby Community Park.
THE A-FRAME LODGE IS NAMED AFTER HERMAN BERGMAN, SCOUT MASTER FOR TROOP 258 FROM 1959-1969.
The responsibility of obtaining materials and funds for the building fell on the leaders of Troop 258, who organized scrap metal and glass drives, a Christmas tree sale, and a consolidated solicitation of money and material pledges. The latter was headed by Mrs. Woodson LeSueur of the Troop 258 wives’ committee. Crown Zellerbach Corporation provided the logs used in the basic structure and the scouts used the next several months to peel and clean the bark from the logs. The main support logs were raised and secured on June 12, 1971 with the use of boom trucks supplied by Larry Whitman Boom Company and the Canby Telephone Association. National Guard members assisted in fitting lower crossbeams, nailing decking and shakes on the roof, and framing sidewalls.
Gerald Rothi became Scoutmaster in 1973 and also became sort of “chief builder.” Under Rothi’s direction the side walls were competed, both ends of the building were framed and plexiglass windows were installed. Most of the construction completed in 1974 was done by the officers and men of the Naval Reserve unit (SAMAR), Swan Island. These men framed the sleeping deck, ran electrical conduit, did landscape and cleanup work, cut steps and prepared the flagpole for varnishing.
