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.

The elusive Chanco chenille prototype

I originally created my web site to document the emblems and history of Kecoughtan Lodge, and expanded it to include Chanco Lodge when it merged with Kecoughtan to form Wahunsenakah Lodge in January of 1996.

One item that has always seemed to escape my research efforts is the mythical Chanco Lodge prototype chenille issue, also known as the 483 YC1. I first learned of this patch in the Blue Book listings for Chanco Lodge, but no Virginia collector I have ever queried about this item had ever seen one, or knew anything about it.

Turns out I was asking the wrong Virginia OA collectors. I recently asked DeWitt Holland, a longtime Chanco Lodge member, about this patch to find out if it really existed, and was thrilled to find out that not only does it exist, but DeWitt designed it and holds the only example in his personal collection.

DeWitt kindly sent me color pictures of the front and back of the 483 chenille prototype, as well as the historical background, along with the original order form and order confirmation. DeWitt explains why the patch was never produced:

There is only one prototype chenille. I did design the chenille. It was made in December of 1993. It was voted on at the January 1994 Lodge Executive Committee meeting. It was voted down as being too expensive to produce and the majority of the members thought it was just a fund raiser. Its cost would have been $30.00 each and the lodge had never produced anything that cost anywhere near that much. It has 6 colors and a 2 layer yellow felt background. It measures 3 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches.

The 483 chenille was manufactured by the Standard Pennant Company of Big Run, PA, which has been making chenille emblems since 1919 and is well known in collecting circles for many Scout items. It features the standard Chanco Lodge totems (deer and Indian brave):



The reverse of the chenille has a Standard Pennant Company label (SPC Type 11) with a handwritten number which would seem to indicate that more than one exists.



However, the Standard Pennant Company web site explains the notation:

While technology has enabled us to automate part of our production, many of our chenille items are still "handmade" by experienced personnel that consistently reproduce every required detail. All operators identify their own letters with pride. (Check for the operator number on the back.)

While not considered an "official" Lodge issue the 483YC1 is definitely a beautiful patch with a fascinating heritage and I expect I am not the only Virginia OA collector who wishes that it had been produced and sold by Chanco Lodge. One has to wonder how many Lodges in 2005 would pass up the opportunity to sell a patch because they didn't want to issue it only to raise money.

UPDATE: Be sure to check out the later article from March, 2010 about the discovery of a second example of the Chanco YC1.

The last patches of Chanco Lodge 483

DeWitt Holland, former member of Chanco Lodge, recently provided me with fascinating information about several Chanco Lodge activity patches. Mr. Holland designed all of Chanco's activity patches from 1990 until it merged with Kecoughtan Lodge 463 to form Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 on January 1, 1996. Below are his comments about the final patches issued by Chanco Lodge. They provide unique insight into the deep devotion of the Chanco Arrowmen for their Lodge and its traditions, and their emotions as the merger neared.

The Dream of Heaven patch

The Spring 1994 patch was designed when the Lodge first found out about a possible merger with Kecoughtan Lodge 463 so we were contemplating what would happen when Chanco Lodge died. It is called the "Dream of Heaven" patch and its meaning is as follows. The patch depicts the Indian Chanco sleeping under the stars with the deer looking on beside a smoldering fire. He is dreaming of what the Algonquin Indians believed it would be like when they died. They believed they would go to a place where food would be plentiful and they would enjoy singing and dancing and they would be very happy. It is arguably the best looking multi colored fully embroidered Chanco Lodge patch ever made.

The Angry Indians patch

The Fall 1994 patch was designed when the lodge first found out about a definite merger with Kecoughtan Lodge 463 so we were quite angry campers. It's meaning is as follows. The patch depicts the gathering of Indians on a warpath around a raging fire.

Final Chanco activity patches

Three different patches of Chanco Lodge 483 were issued the final year of its existence, 1995. They were issued for the Spring Induction, Fall Induction and Christmas Banquet. Complete sets were limited to attendees only. The top one was the Christmas Banquet patch. The bottom left is the Spring Induction patch, the bottom right is the Fall Induction patch. This patch set tells the historical story of how Chanco the young Indian boy saved the Jamestown colonists from being massacred in 1622.

I personally designed these patches back in 1995. A printed explanation of each patches meaning was given out to purchasers back in 1995. It is not very often you can tell the history and the origin of the lodges totem through a set of patches. These were very meaningful to each member who was able to get a set.