^{BSA Troop 1 - Shokan, NY}

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Lore of the Boy Scouts coming to America

Ask any US scouter about how the boy scouts came to existence in America and you will here the story of William Boyce. Boyce is credited with starting the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Legend has it that in London in 1909 William Boyce was lost in the dense fog when a young boy stopped and led him to his destination. Once there, Boyce attempted to tip the boy who refused to take it because he was a Boy Scout. The boy explained that Boy Scouts do not accept payment for doing a good deed. This experience stuck with Boyce as he returned to the US. This is where the legend ends and I can start providing the rest of the story.

Building of the Ashokan Reservoir

During this time, the Ashokan Reservoir was under construction. It would be the largest reservoir in the world at that time and would supply water to New York City. It is roughly 100 miles from Shokan to NYC so a massive underground aqueduct was also built. There were estimates of 4000 migrant workers living and working in Shokan during this time. Just for perspective, we have about 1200 residents today.

With the large influx of migrant workers and their families into this tiny town, there were many boys finding ways to get into mischief. The number three engineer in charge at the project, Sidney K. Clapp, noticed these boys aimlessly wasting their time, and in some cases risking their lives in the freight yard. Having three boys of his own and understanding the need for proper activities for these boys, he organized a 'boys club'. It became very popular with the boy as they would hike, camp, and do other exciting activities. The group continued to grow and eventually established their own procedures and by-laws and elected officers. A truly boy run organization. As will all boys, there was a level of competitiveness that lead to games and challenges which attracted more boys to the organization. Things were going so well that the Commissioner of the Board of Water Supply, Charles N. Chadwick, offered the club free use of a building to hold their activities.

William Boyce and the Boy Scouts

Another engineer on the Ashokan Reservoir project, J.S. Langthorn often made trips to New York City as part of his job. While in NYC he became aware of William Boyce's effort to establish a Boy Scouts of America organization based upon his experience on that foggy night in London. Langthorn, who had a son in the Shokan boys club, brought back the suggestion that they consider joining the Boy Scout of America. The boys voted and unanimously agreed, and Boy Scout Troop 1 - Shokan, NY was born. The troop continued to grow and the necessary adult citizens established the first Boy Scouts of America Council to support the growth and advancement of the young men and troop.

The first Eagle Scouts

On November 1, 1912 Troop 1 awarded Eagle rank to five members of the troop. This was the first year Eagle rank was awarded in the United States and they where numbers 4 thru 8. There were a total of 22 Eagle ranks awarded nationwide this year, and 5 of them where from the little hamlet of Shokan.

^{Troop 1 Eagle Scouts - (from left to right) J.S. Langthorn Jr., Robert T. Pleasants, Sindey K. Clapp, Bertram Van Vliet, and Leon Van Vliet}

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After the completion of the Ashokan Reservoir, a large portion of the families moved on to the next reservoir to be built, the Schoharie Reservoir. Amongst these was Sidney Clapp and his family. The Langthorn family stayed and purchased Sidney Clapp's house. They also kept the Boy Scout Troop active.

Forgotten History - Almost

The real irony to this story is that I actually grew up only a couple of miles away, on the same dead-end country road where Clapp's home still resides. I was unaware of the history of this "hunting camp" until my son became a Boy Scout and I started to research the history of Boy Scouting in our area.

It seems this was a lost story until 2010 when I re-erected it. 2010 was the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America and our troop thought a good celebration would be to hike from the Ashokan Reservoir to NYC along the aqueduct. Sort of retracing the roots of Boy Scouts in America. With the beefed up security after 9/11, we thought the chances where very slim but reached out to the NYC DEP anyway. We were pleased that we received a response, but it was from their historian, who has written multiple books on the reservoir system, asking if we had any proof to our claim. In all her research she had never come across any reference to the boy scouts and the reservoirs. Luckily I had found the article written by Sidney Clapp and published in the New York Times in 1922 (attached at the bottom) that I quickly forwarded to her along with some photographs I found through the town historian. We were approved for the hike which was an adventure in itself that I will detail in a future post.

As it turned out, the Sidney Clapp home remained in the Langthorn family until 2 years ago when the last remaining relative passed on. It has been used as a hunting camp for many decades and still remains pretty much the way it was when Clapp and his family lived there. In fact, there is still a handwritten note from Sidney Clapp attached to a kitchen cabinet door. In true Boy Scout fashion, the note tells anyone that may end up stranded to make themselves at home. It is now owned by a family friend, who at some point became partial owner in the 'hunting camp'. Their intent is to leave it unchanged.

When my son earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2016, we were fortunate to be able to hold his honor court on the original Clapp homestead. I believe it is safe to say that few Eagle Scouts have had their honor court at the house of the 1st Scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts of America. In fact he may be the only.

^{Sidney Clapp Homestead - 2016}

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It is hard to see in the photo, but the sign above the door still reads LANGTHORN, one of the original five eagle scouts in 1912.

I hope you enjoyed this ride through history that was almost lost until 10 years ago when it was rediscovered. I will recant the epic 10 day hike from the Ashokan Reservoir to NYC in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in a future post. I also plan to share more about the Ashokan Reservoir and how it devastated a community a hundred years ago when it was built and the lingering animosity that still exists to this day.

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Sidney Clapp Newspaper Article

BOY SCOUTS IN CATSKILLS

By SIDNEY K. CLAPP.

More than fourteen years ago, when the great undertaking of the City of New York was well under way in the vicinity of Ashokan building dams and other structures to provide a suitable water supply for the great city, it was noted by the writer that there were a great many boys running wild, so to speak, in the community.

These boys were in the habit of congregating in the vicinity of the railroad station, stores and Post Offices. They were in the habit also of associating with older boys, whose morals were not of the best, and who found great pleasure in telling rough, coarse stories, together with the playing of games of chance and smoking, and even drinking, and so wasted their time aimlessly. This was evidently not the best influence for young, growing boys.

There was also a group of boys who found it exciting to play around the freight yards, running around and climbing over the freight cars at the imminent risk of their lives. These same boys were ready also for any sort of mischief that might arise that had the least spark of excitement in it. They were full of life and spirit, bubbling over with enthusiasm, needing only a word or deed to direct them in channels of good or bad.

Noting this general trend of affairs and having three boys of his own growing up to manhood, the writer began an effort to gather all these boys into some sort of an organization whereby they could be more or less controlled, or at least guided.

This took the form of a boys’ club, which met regularly in an abandoned bowling alley. The nucleus of this club was instructed in the simplest procedures as obtained from Cushing‘s Manual. They made their own by-laws and rules, elected their own officers and in other ways found out how to govern themselves.

Keen Rivalry.

It was not long before the greater part of the boys were attracted to the club, which numbered about twenty at this time. Many games were played, both in doors and out, and a keen rivalry existed among the groups of members; In fact, many of the older boys became extremely anxious to join the younger boys, who at this time averaged about 14 years. Many picnics, later called hikes. were taken to the interesting points within reach, and all-night hikes were very popular, especially when tents and lean-tos were resorted to.

This work had been going on very satisfactorily when the late Charles N. Chadwick, Commissioner of the Board of Water Supply, who always took an active interest in the general welfare of boys, offered the free use of a building for the club. Later the use of a large hall was added to this, giving a fine chance for expansion. This was the beginning of real activities. But it was apparent that some more definite organization would soon become necessary to hold the loose ends together; some more definite objectives and clearer outline of purpose.

At this time J. S. Langthorn, an engineer on the work, became associated with the Boy Scout work in New York, which then was in its incipient stage. Knowing of the work we were doing, and also realizing the difficulties we were under, he suggested that we join as a body the Boy Scout movement, which, as stated, was just in its infancy. The matter was put before the boys, and they unanimously decided to join, as it filled a long-felt want.

A considerable number of leading and representative citizens of West Shokan, the most active centre and the most accessible point, were asked to come together to form an organization later known as the Local Council of the Boy Scouts of America. They elected their own officers, and the writer was made Scout Commissioner. It was also his pleasure to act for many years as Scoutmaster, ably assisted by some of the older boys who volunteered their services.

The number of boys enrolled had now increased to more than thirty, and the troop was becoming quite unwieldy as a whole, so it was decided to break it into smaller units called patrols, each with its own name and special leader. The active rivalry became keen, and it was soon apparent that examinations would be in order for further advancement.

Eagle Scout Honors.

An Honor Committee was formed consisting of the representative business men of Ulster County. That the troop was active may be judged by the remarkable showing made. It was required that a Scout obtain at least twenty-one merits (badges of honor) to become an Eagle Scout. Five members qualified as follows: J. S. Langthorn Jr., Bertram Van Vliet, Robert T. Pleasants, Leon Van Vliet and the writer, who were duly presented with Eagle Scout badges. At this time there were only three other Eagle Scouts in the entire organization in this country, so that it was truly an honor.

It was the duty of the Honor Committee to decide whether a Scout was duly qualified after strict examination to receive a “merit” in some particular line, meaning real proficiency in some certain branch of woodcraft or study. These subjects covered a wide and varied field from tracking, hiking, woodcraft, swimming, to gardening, forestry,&c. The writer as Scoutmaster had been fortunate in having a wide experience in many,lines of outside work which had prepared him especially for this kind of teaching. Assistance was also obtained from other Scoutmasters and persons interested in the movement.

At the headquarters they had a circulating library contributed by the boys and their friends. Many interesting collections, including specimens of wood from trees, leaves, flowers, grasses, butterflies, insects, minerals and fossils, were gathered from the woods and fields, and exhibited by the Scouts at their meetings. In this manner they were all becoming familiar with the interesting things in nature about them.

Practically all of the elder Scouts were active in the late World War, and everyone expressed his appreciation of the training received in the Scout troop. Those who were on the ships in the navy found that the signaling, rope tying and map drawing were a great help. Several of the boys saw active service in the Aviation Corps, others in the infantry or artillery; some did not get across but spent their time in the training camps; several did their bit in the munition factories, and, last but not least, some raised wheat and food for the boys across and invested in Liberty bonds to their utmost to carry on the good work.!