kecoughtan.com has a new host

After almost a decade of residing within my personal web space provided by Time Warner's Roadrunner service, the Kecoughtan Emblems and History site has moved to a new internet host, WireNine.com. The move was made to consolidate site resources and implement scripts and features that are beyond the scope of the Roadrunner personal site host. I am looking forward to implementing much more automation and revising the site to include many of the new web technologies that have developed since my site first appeared hosted on AOL.com and every update was over a dialup modem!

If you happen to notice a broken link or encounter any other anomaly please let me know so that I can address it. I expect it will take some time to uncover all of the items that didn't make the transition gracefully, and I appreciate your patience and help!

If you link to the prior site please update your links to http://kecoughtan.com - while I will set up redirects at the old site to point to the new one I can't promise they will be there forever.

Wahunsenakah and Blue Heron 2006 NOAC flap issues

The 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Michigan State University in Lansing, MI from July 29-August 3. Like many other Lodges, Wahunsenakah Lodge issued a patch for the occasion. The flap was offered in two versions, one with a red border (considered the "trader" issue) and one with a silver mylar border which was limited to three per delegate. 1,500 of the trader and 150 of the delegate version were made. 13 delegate flaps remained after members of the contingent made their purchases and they were sold for 100.00 each.

I am particularly fond of the design since it salutes the heritage of Wahunsenakah by featuring the totems of the two lodges which merged to form the new Lodge ten years ago. Kecoughtan's acorn and Chanco's Chief and deer flank each side of the flap, with the Wahunsenakah duck totem centered between then, and the text "The Legend Lives On NOAC 2006" at the top of the flap. "Wahunsenakah 333" is centered at the bottom point. Until the next edition of the Blue Book is issued in 2008 the issue numbers for these flaps are unofficial, but for now they are listed on oaimages.com as s31 (trader) and s32 (delegate).


Another notable 2006 NOAC patch design which recognizes Kecoughtan and Chanco lodges is the two-piece set issued by Blue Heron Lodge 349 of Tidewater Council, Virginia, based just across the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk. Blue Heron's design features silhouettes of the Kecoughtan Acorn and Chanco Chief with the Octoraro Lodge 22 horseshoe totem centered between them. Blue Heron Lodge was founded in the Fall of 1946 when a ceremonial team from Octoraro Lodge traveled from Pennsylvania to hold the first ordeal at Camp Darden. Octoraro is thereby recognized as Blue Heron's "Mother Lodge." Octoraro Lodge was founded in 1927, with its first members inducted by the founder of the Order of the Arrow, Dr. E. Urner Goodman. It's official Lodge totem is the goose, however may of their Lodge emblems include a horseshoe in reference to their council camp, Horseshoe Scout Reservation.

Similarly, Blue Heron Lodge was key in the founding of both Kecoughtan and Chanco Lodges, and is considered the "Mother Lodge" for both. The original members of Kecoughtan Lodge began their first ordeal during the 1951 Area III-A ordeal held at Camp Delmont in Pennsylvania. When it was clear that the candidates could not finish their ordeal during the conclave it was agreed that the remainder would be completed at Camp Darden of Tidewater Council the following weekend. On June 14th of 1951 the original six candidates for membership in Kecoughtan Lodge 463 were inducted by the Blue Heron Lodge ceremonial team. (Source: Silver Acorns)

A year later almost to the day the Blue Heron Lodge ceremonial team inducted 15 charter members of Chanco Lodge into the Order of the Arrow at the conclusion of their ordeal held June 13-15, 1952 at Camp Waters in Surry, Virginia. (Source: History of Chanco Lodge)

The Blue Heron 2006 NOAC set was issued in three varieties: a black bordered trader set (S75/X22), a silver bordered 2 piece set for delegates (S76/X23), and a unique black "ghost" background with red border set (S77/X24).

It's great to see Blue Heron and Wahunsenakah Lodges celebrate the rich heritage and perpetuate the tradition of our brotherhood in the design of their 2006 NOAC patch issues by including the totems of their forebearers and children.

Kecoughtan Kryer online archive expands exponentially

Thanks to the generous efforts of Tim Ewing, who sent me over 500 MB worth of scanned images over the past few weeks, there are now over 75 issues in the online archive of Kecoughtan Kryer newsletters. You can now view issues of the Kryer in PDF format dating back to 1967 all the way through the final year of the lodge existence, 1995.

It is really an illuminating experience to spend time perusing the regular columns like "Chapter Chatter," "From the Chief's Tepee" and "Editor's Smokesignals." Reports from attendees to NOAC, Section Conclaves, and Lodge Ordeals and Banquets provide a unique glimpse into the world of an Arrowman over 30 years ago.

Some interesting items I came across include a picture of the first National Standard Lodge Charter, (pictured) and I look forward to spending more time reading the online issues once I have finished converting all of the Kryer's I have scanned copies of so far. I'll post interesting items I come across in this blog.

To date the archive comprises 98 issues, representing 978 pages of Lodge 463 history. Tim informed me that the Council's Kecoughtan Kryer archives were lost in two separate fires, so your help is desperately needed to make this collection more complete. Lodge history indicates that the newsletter was named in 1962 in a contest, with the winning name submitted by Allan Harvester of Troop 31, so I presume that the newsletter of Kecoughtan Lodge dates back at least that far. However, the earliest issue in the archive to date is from 1967. I am also in need of many issues from the 80's and 90's, so I hope you will take a moment to rummage through your Scouting memorabilia to see if you might have any copies of the Kryer tucked among your treasures.

Chanco Lodge 483 History booklet posted

Junior Harrell, a former member of Chanco Lodge in the 70's who now owns and operates the Broad Creek Fishing Center on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, kindly provided me with original copies of the Chanco Lodge Bylaws from 1971 and the Chanco Lodge 483 History booklet which was published in 1972 on the occasion of the Lodge's 20th anniversary.

Both are now available in PDF format following the links above. The Lodge History booklet includes information about Chanco Lodge officers, Vigil Honor Recipients, and Lay Advisors from the inception of the Lodge through 1972. I am actively seeking this data for the years 1973-1996 when the Lodge merged so that I can compile lists similar to those which are linked from the Kecoughtan Lodge History page. Please let me know if you can help!

Kecoughtan emblems reach new price highs

Recently many rare Kecoughtan Lodge emblems have been auctioned on eBay, and the final prices realized for several of these auctions are far higher than I expected.

Consider these items that went for several times the previous average values according to the pricing database in the members area of oaimages.com:

463s17 - Ordeal flap, 7mm W's - 11 bids, sold for 152.50 (5/14/06)
Prior average price was 12.38, prior high price was 18.70


463s15 - thin rounded 30mm sides, Vigil - 12 bids, sold for 168.15 (5/14/06)
463s15 - thin rounded 30mm sides, Vigil - 5 bids, sold for 86.00 (5/16/06)
Prior average price was 22.00, prior high price was 25.30


463s14 - thin rounded 30mm sides, Brotherhood - 12 bids, sold for 168.15 (5/14/06)
Prior average price was 20.00, prior high price was 23.00


These patches sold for prices more in line with previous auctions:

463s9 - 1987 SE-8 Conclave Host - 11 bids, sold for 115.15 (5/7/06)
Prior average price was 66.08, prior high price was 132.42


463s1 (black backing) - 4 bids, sold for 410.05 (5/8/06)
Prior average price was 408.67, prior high price was 489.90


463s16 - 1989 Jambo - 11 bids, sold for 52.11 (5/14/06)
Prior average price was 45.96, prior high price was 63.87


463c1 - acorn shaped chenille - 6 bids, sold for 179.50 (5/16/06)
Prior average price was 114.75, prior high price was 166.17


These rare white background anniversary flaps were bought at bargain prices by their lucky winners compared to prior auctions:

463s5 - 25th anniv white bg flap with black W's - 13 bids, sold for 113.15 (5/7/06)
Prior average price was 140.50, prior high price was 230.00


463s4.5 - 25th anniv white bg flap with white W's, no border stitching around acorns or flags - 11 bids, sold for 118.15 (5/7/06)
Prior average price was 205.92, prior high price was 311.63


463s4 - 25th anniv white bg flap with white W's, with border stitching around acorns and flags - 7 bids, sold for 113.15 (5/7/06)
Prior average price was 158.00, prior high price was 258.17


In the spirit to join the bidding frenzy? There's a number of Lodge 463 items on eBay right now, including the two different 40th anniversary flaps, the 1990 NOAC flap celebrating the 75th anniversary of the OA, and one of the yellow-bordered honor flaps.