Paul’s skills with tools were many, from using a small hand axe to sharpening a pencil, to building a New Old House. The outside of this house was a replica of Sweet Briggs’ homestead; inside were the central gathering room and lofts at opposite ends and a kitchen for small group year-round camping.
Groups of campers sometimes met at Paul’s workshop to learn the use of tools, encouraged by “Paul” and led by a counselor.
His craftsmanship and ingenuity have served for Facilities for the former dishwashing system at Rooftree, the docks for the swimming area, and for campfire seating. “Paul will do it” was a common statement for the Council Camp Committee members or Camp Staff members.
All of this work was continued by the equally skilled Eddie Arnold, whose living quarters after 1947 were in the memorial Paul Bunyan House at the camp entrance.
Ralph Eldred, by which few campers will recognize him, for he was “Paul Bunyan” throughout his many years as Camp Hoffman’s Caretaker, Builder, and Yankee Tinkerman.
Paul was large of stature, and strong enough to “do most anything.” He supervised the building of many of Hoffman’s buildings, using second cut timbers known by him as “wairny-edged boards.” Trefoil was one of these. Legend tells us that the plans for this building drawn on rough paper were somehow lost, but Paul and his helpers finished the building with a staff room, a large gathering room for campfires, ceremonies, and a stairway to a library loft.
Ralph Eldred