Seton Castle Restoration Ground-Breaking Ceremony Speeches

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January 21, 2005
Speech written by Dee Seton-Barber

In January 1930 Ernest Thompson Seton purchased this land. He and Julia lived in a tent until they built the first small house.

Again in January 1935, Seton and Julia were married. They continued to add to Seton Village and the Seton Institute.

And again in January 2005, Seton Village is embarking on yet another beginning.

The Castle grew as he sketched it, from the beginning basements (1930), through the ‘big room’, his library finished in 1934. They continued to build, adding to the house, the Institute camps; most of all building character into the lives they touched, young lives, old lives. The Woodcraft movement developed strong roots at this place which spread across the nation and around the world.

I know there must be some of the original campers here today. Their dedication to Seton’s principles of Woodcraft and Scouting, with legions of others has established his philosophy firmly in this country, Canada, England, the Czech Republic, Russia, Japan and other countries.

There has been a parade of those faithful ones to this place over the years, each one telling his or her story of how Seton influenced and enriched their lives.

‘ Teton’ Jack Langan, half Anglo, half Sioux made his pilgrimage here at the age of seventeen. I was privileged to become reacquainted and visit him in his beloved Teton Mountains in Wyoming. We remained friends until his passing.

General Avram Yoffe, hero of Israel’s six-day war, came telling how his admiration for Seton prompted him to start the Israeli Nature Authority. They succeeded in moving a number of rare and endangered animals from Iran when the Shah was deposed.

Vasili Peskov, “Russia’s foremost naturalist” made a pilgrimage here while visiting the United States. He and his translator waited in the patio for hours until we returned from a trip. His comment, rattled off in Russian, was translated, “I have felt this way only once before. When I entered the house of Tolstoy.”

Eiji Fujiwara came from Japan to arrange for the publication of Seton’s books and stories in Japan. In 1975 a crew came and packed up all the Seton art and memorabilia in the Castle for a national year-long tour of Japan’s major cities. This was Nippon’s celebration of our nation’s two hundredth anniversary. Hundreds of thousands flocked to the exhibit. Dale and I were honored to be invited to the opening ceremonies in Tsukuba. Many, many more came to tell their stories.

I always expected the house to be part of my life. It was for sixty years. I could not imagine living elsewhere, away from all the tangible memories I loved.

It has happened; and I believe for the good. It will be safe again, cared for properly and shared as it has always been.

I thank each of you for taking on this dream and guiding it through the next phase of its existence.
I am grateful that Aaron and the Academy came when they did. They took on the love and labor that are necessary to preserve this special place.

Most importantly, they will expand the philosophy that Seton held and shared with all who listened or read.