Boy Scouting Over the Years

Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson 

Boy scouting started in our section of Virginia in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.  The first troop established in the C.E. and H. area was Troop 43 which was sponsored at first by the C.E. and H. Civic Association.  This later became the C.E. and H. Ruritan Club.  Troop 43 began in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s.  The troop at the time was very active and most boys of age joined Troop 43.  Many fathers were troop leaders.  A good portion of the troop earned their God and Country award and several scouts became Eagle Scouts.  Not much is known about the troop in the 1960s but Eclipse resident Don Carter who had no sons re-activated Troop 43 in the early 1970s with the help of Les Ward.  In the early 1980s Troop 43 grew is size to several dozen scouts.  Camping and Hiking were popular with the troop as well as attending summer camp at Camp Siouan on Lake Gaston.  The troop folded in the late 1980s but was re-activated by Jim Spady who was scoutmaster until the mid-1990’s.  After this Troop 43 ceased to exist.

A small Boy Scout troop was attempted by St. Andrews Presbyterian and Ebenezer Methodist Churches but the troop which eventually ended up at Ebenezer had few scouts and only lasted a few years.   That was the end of boy scouting on the C.E. and H. peninsula.

However, several nearby towns have had Boy Scout troops most of which still exist today.  Troop 5 in Chuckatuck, Troop 16 in Driver, Troop 36 in Carrollton and Troop 7 in Smithfield still have active troops. Driver for example has been in continuous operation since 1939.  It has had over 100 scouts some years and currently has a roll of 70+ boy scouts.  Troop 16 has over 20 trained Boy Scout leaders and has an active program.  Scouts in this troop have enjoyed high adventure trips to Philmont National Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Florida Sea Base and the National Jamboree in West Virginia.  Troop 16 recently celebrated its 80th anniversary.  The troop also has over 100 Eagle Scouts.

In addition to boy scouting, cub scouting for younger boys was active in these areas.  Pack 43 sponsored by the C.E. and H. Ruritan Club probably began about the same time as Troop 43.  A lot of scouts in the troop began their scouting career in Pack 43.  Like the troop the pack had its ups and downs with membership and activity.  While Les Ward was active with Troop 43 he took over as Cubmaster in Pack 43 and pack membership grew to over 50 cub scouts.  Popular activities were the annual pinewood derby, blue and gold banquet and raingutter regatta.  Ebenezer Methodist Church’s attempt at a Boy Scout troop also included a Cub Scout pack.  Both ended about the same time. 

Area towns mentioned above that had troops also had Cub Scout packs.  Driver for example has Pack 89 which just recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.  Pack 89 has over 70 cub scouts, many trained leaders and hold’s not only its own pinewood derby but hosts the Colonial Train District Pinewood Derby each year.  It also hosts the district’s annual Cub Scout Camporee.  This pack is extremely active providing cub scouts with an annual bottle rocket launch competition, raingutter regatta, blue and gold banquet with rank recognition, and Halloween carnival.

Les Ward, 5/16/2020

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