Boy Scouts founder loved view from Brooklands

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Boy Scouts founder loved view from Brooklands

 

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/NEWS03/608150307/

http://tinyurl.com/zweel

 

By IRENE PLAGIANOS

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original Publication: August 15, 2006)

 

When Daniel Carter Beard first came to Suffern in 1928, he was already nationally renowned for his role in founding the Boy Scouts of America.

 

The naturalist, with his signature white buckskin clothing, soon became a "unique, beloved character" in the community, said Ramapo Town Historian Craig Long.

 

From Flushing, Queens, Beard and his family moved into a secluded 13-acre estate along the Mahwah River known as Brooklands.

 

Though a number of different owners lived on the property before Beard, Frederick Howell, a New York City businessman who worked in the sugar industry, constructed the elaborate manor he called Brooklands. The grounds included a greenhouse, servants' quarters and a garage that could hold eight cars and was equipped with a turntable.

 

The name of the estate, said Long, is most likely derived from its riverfront location, as well as Howell's hometown of Brooklyn.

 

Beard, known as "Uncle Dan," lived in Brooklands until his death at the age of 90 in 1941.

 

After a number of years, the once-extravagant home was divided into apartments and eventually torn down in 1978.

 

In 2001, 9 acres of the original estate were transformed into Brooklands Park, creating a verdant sanctuary in honor of Beard's dedication to nature. A bronze plaque and signpost are mounted in the park in Beard's memory.

 

Though he traveled extensively to expand the Boy Scouts, Beard felt content on his wooded property. He told the New York Times in a 1936 article, "On my place at Suffern there are beaver, deer, raccoons, 'possum, rabbits, woodchucks and all kinds of birds and animals. They keep me pretty busy looking after them."

 

Born in Cincinnati in 1850, Beard, the son of an artist, spent his childhood in Covington, Ky. After earning a degree in engineering, Beard moved to New York City, where he studied at the Art Students League.

 

He became an illustrator and created the drawings for Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court" and "Tom Sawyer Abroad." He also regularly contributed his illustrations to a number of magazines.

 

Along with Beard's love for art, he had great passion for the outdoors. He felt it was important for young boys to have the opportunity to enjoy and learn about nature, according to his New York Times obituary. While living in Flushing, he actively campaigned for the creation of safe parks and playgrounds where children could take pleasure in outdoor recreation. A park and a junior high school in Flushing are named in Beard's honor.

 

In 1905, Beard founded nationwide scouting programs known as the "Pioneer Boys" and the "Sons of Daniel Boone." Five years later, the groups merged with the Boy Scouts of America. Beard served as the organization's national scout commissioner for many years and remained actively involved with the Boy Scouts until his death. Throughout his life, Beard also wrote dozens of books about nature, camping and scouting.

 

More than 10,000 people attended Beard's funeral at the Brick Church Cemetery in New Hempstead.

 

"It's fitting that a beautiful piece of nature is preserved in Beard's honor," said Long. "The park gives the community another great, scenic place to enjoy the environment."