Presented here is the Troop history written and compiled by William Falconer III along with links to other materials from an archive preserved by the Falconers and Lavoies. Bill held many positions over his decades of involvement in Troop 180, Explorer Post 180, and in the District, Council, and Region of the B.S.A. His father was a Troop 180 Scoutmaster and the namesake of our camp.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE FIRST MEETING MINUTES February 27,1939. Troop 180 Ludlow Mass.
First meeting of
Troop 180, St. John Baptiste Church, Boy Scouts of America.
Meeting began at 7 P.M. with the introduction of our
Troop committeemen. Chairman of this committee, Edgar
Beauregard, gave a short talk pledging
himself to do his best to make a success of our new Troop. Walter Sedelow
another committeeman gave a short talk. Homer Domaingue, co-founder of the new Troop, also spoke a few words and issued a challenge from Troop 181 to meet them in
competition anytime we find ourselves ready.
Mr. Hambridge,
field executive from Hampden Council Boy Scout Headquarters, gave the boys a very inspiring and interesting talk on Scouting in Scout work.
Eight
former Boy Scouts were registered to enable us to receive out
Troop Charter from National Headquarters.
Nothing much happened
this evening in a way of teaching the boys their tenderfoot requirements and
names of all the boys present were taken. There were 41 boys totally counted
with the exception of the 2 Assistants and Scoutmaster.
We
adjourned early so that we could attend the District Meeting being held at Pine
Point. Mr. Hambridge promised to have the Charter for
us as soon as possible.
We adjourned at 8:30 P.M. Raymond Dumais Scribe
THE FIRST YEAR (from document dated 1/17/1990 by William Falconer III) Boy Scouting in the United States began on February 8, 1910. The first Boy Scout Troops were sponsored by YMCA or Protestant Church groups. Until 1938 the only Boy Scout Troop in Ludlow was Troop 181 sponsored by the Protestant men of the Union Church on North Street. As a result Catholic parents frowned on the Scouting program for their boys. As Scouting became popular some Catholic boys did join Troop 131. Knowing the thinking of their parents many boys of St. John the Baptist Parish expressed a desire to have their own Troop. St. John's Pastor, Reverend E. M. Chabot understood the need for a youth program in his parish. He began working on developing a Troop with the few men of the parish who had some knowledge of Scouting. With the urging of the parish boys who had joined Troop 181 and the arrival of his new Curate Reverend Raoul W. Ouellette the time to move forward was at hand. Father Ouellette held an informal meeting with eight boys and five men. A committee of three men was given the task of chartering a new Boy Scout Troop. The news of the new Troop in the parish prompted more boys to quickly join the movement. The first official meeting, recorded by the Troop Scribe Raymond Dumais, was held on February 27, 1939 at the Parish School with forty one boys and men present. The first Charter was officially presented to Revernd E. M. Chabot on March 9, 1939 by Chief Scout Executive John C. Norsk of the Hampden Council of Scouting. The presentation was made at a the first Council Scout Banquet at the Union Church in Ludlow on the occasion of Troop 181's 25th Anniversary. During the first year of the Troop, the meetings consisted of scout skills advancement programs, games and boxing matches. Meetings were opened and closed with songs and prayers. At the first parents night held on April 11, George Domaingue Jr. received the Life Scout Award and the Flamming Arrow Patrol received the Patrol Honor Banner. In September the boys served as aides at the Eastern States Exposition. Arthur Duquette became the Troop Scribe. On October 16, Louis Girard was appointed Scoutmaster and Armand R. Langevin Committee Chairman. The second yearly Charter was applied for in November according to Council policy. <return to page index>
During the first five years of the Troop's existance, the Committeemen controlled the admistration and financial needs of the boys. The Scoutmaster ran the troop meeting programs and boy leadership, other than the Scirbe, was powerless. As more experience and education was attained the Troop began to mature. 1939 February 27. First Troop meeting. Forty one boys present.
April 19. Bicycle ride to Enfield Ct.
January 25. March of Dimes collections began.
November. Forty two Scouts registered
January. Court of Honor. Romeo Talbot Promoted to Assistant SM.
THE NEXT YEARS (from documents dated 2/19/1990 by William Falconer III) 1945 Troop 180 receives the Eisenhower War Service Award for it's patriotic efforts. Thirty three boys collected over 1000 pounds of paper each to earn this medal. Robert Blais Clement Bourcier Lawrence Bourcier
A Troop 180 and Troop 181 competition was held at the St. John the Baptist School Hall with over 150 scouts, scouters and parents in attendance. The events included first aid, signaling, knot tying, compass and fire by flint and steel. Troop 180 had sent Leo Belisle to Troop 181 to learn this last event the week prior to the competition. He surprised everyone by starting a fire in 8 seconds. Overall Troop 180 scored 28 points to Troop 181's 16 and the judges awarded the First Trophy to Troop 180.
1949 (First mention of Explorer Post 180) Troop and Post 180 participated in the recycling of the 1948 aluminium automobile license plates. A total of 1600 were collected. Over 300 parishoners had their plates removed after the Sunday Masses and replaced with the new 1949 plates. The top individual collectors were Leo Belisle 500, Leandre Boucher 270 and Stanley Haluch with 256.
On an October Orienteering hike around the Ludlow Reservoir, James King suffered a wound below the knee while using a machete. Emergency first aid was administered and runners dispatched to the nearest phone for help. Jimmy was carried out of the woods on a make shift stretcher of jackets and poles by the Scouts.
The Patrol corners in the Scout room were turned into cabins made of slab wood. Each Patrol designed their own unique mini-room.
The last camping trip held in the first camphouse ended at 8:30 P.M. on December 15 when fire was discovered under the camp by Neil Severns. He immediately notified Jim Lavoie who went for help. Other scouts in the camp were Robert Duby, Ernest and Albert Fontaine, Nelson Record, Walter Mosio, Ronald White, Thomas and Roger Gregoire, Charles Chenaille, Leo Vigneault and John Gamache. These boys did a heroic job in saving equipment and personnel gear. William Falconer Jr., Odilla Chenaille and William Jarvis were the first to arrive after the fire trucks. These men drove the boys home while William Falconer 3rd and Alfred Dugas drove his trucks to carry the saved equipment.
The first of many camping trips to Chet's in Northfield MA took place in January with 15 boys attending. This was a winter adventure including tobogganing, skating, snowshoeing and camping in the snow. Chet helped us to replace our camp loss by allowing the troop access to his property and camphouse.
A February Scoutweek camping experience on the front lawn of the St. John the Baptist school was the center of attention for scouting in Ludlow. The annual March of Dimes townwide collection was conducted during this event.
On the 15th Anniversary of the Troop, the records show that 40 scouts, 8 explorers and 17 adults were registered.
The growth of the Troop prompted the creation of Troop A which met on Wednesday nights and Troop B meeting on Thursday.
A total of 50 scouts were active in the Twentieth Year of the Troop. Camping trips averaged 40 boys and leaders with tentage and equipment stretched to the limit.
Troop conducts presidential election poll at the Wide World of Scouting. They are the first to predict John F. Kennedy would defeat Richard M. Nixon. The vote was 575 Kennedy, 276 Nixon.
Explorers conduct mountain climbing and mountain hikes on Mt. Tom, The Holyoke range and Mt. Monadnock.
On a camping trip at Camp Ouellette, a fire broke out in the Wildcat Patrol site. Three tents were lost along with some personnel property. The fire was contained by the Scouts to a half acre and was under control when the fire department arrived.
The Troop held a Klondike derby on the Falconer Farm.
The Scout Banquet featured Kenneth Abair who talked on his experience in the Peace Corps.
The Troop and Post hike the Knox Trail from Blandford to the Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation.
The Troop continues the Knox Trail Hike from Stanley Park in Westfield to the Springfield Armory.
The Troop participates in the week long Eastfiled Mall Display.
The Troop Participates in the Town wide 4th of July picnic at the Ludlow Fish and Game Club
Explorers conduct winter survival course at Camp Woronoak. Troop and Post march in the Ludlow Bicentennial Parade. Post begins a karate program at their meetings.
Post begins scuba diving lessons.
Troop participates in the Knox Trail Hike.
The Troop participates in the Horizon 77 Encampment at Westover Field which was conducted by the Pioneer Valley Council.
THE SCOUTMASTERS (from document dated 11/04/1996 by William Falconer III and updated to current)
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