Butler, H. Karl, Memorial
Why it's listed
Atop the highest hill in Camp Manatoc, near Peninsula, Ohio, a sandstone memorial honors H. Karl Butler, an Akron industrialist who gave his land for the Boy Scout camp. The Akron Lions Club built it in 1931. It has a semicircular concrete platform reached by six steps, a curved half-wall of local ashlar sandstone with two stone benches, and a segmental arch that holds a commemorative plaque. A 100-foot flagpole rises from the center of the platform. Butler, who used a wheelchair for most of his life, donated land in 1923 and bequeathed 420 acres to the Akron Area Council, a gift that helped inspire further donations during the Depression. The memorial is described as reflecting the era's philanthropy and its emphasis on outdoor recreation for youth, and as a rustic design using native materials to blend with the landscape. Its designer is not documented, though it matches the style of the camp's buildings by Good and Wagner. It remains in use in daily scouting flag ceremonies.
Significance in brief: The memorial is argued to symbolize the progressive-era paternalistic philanthropy of Akron's elite and the growth of organized outdoor recreation for youth (Criterion A). It is also a good example of rustic masonry design consistent with the camp's other buildings (Criterion C). Its commemorative value and continuing use in scouting rituals support the exception for commemorative properties.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96001510, listed January 2, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Truxell Rd., SE of jct. with Peninsula Rd., Camp Manatoc, Peninsula |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | January 2, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001510 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1931-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by the Akron Lions Club; the form suggests it was probably designed by the Good and Wagner Architectural firm, possibly A. H. Good) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used and observed as originally intended; the form reports a high degree of integrity, with its original location and setting, and maintenance done with similar materials. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Kendall, Virginia, State Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.22201, -81.53025 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96001510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.