Boy Scouts at Tucapau

by

Betty Austin

Professor W. D. Nixon organized the first Tucapau Boy Scout troop in the 1920’s and became the first Scoutmaster.  It was registered as Troop # 20 and remains Troop # 20 today, more than 80 years later.

 Braddie Austin, now 97 years of age and a memory very much intact, was a member of the first troop.  In 1929, Professor Nixon went to France and Brad die, at the age of 20, became the 2^nd scoutmaster.  He still has in his possession and treasures a post card he received from Professor Nixon postmarked “ Paris , France -July1, 1929.”  The message on the card reads, “Bring the Troop over for a tour”.

 Tucapau Mill Company supported the troop by letting the boys earn money to go for a week each summer to Palmetto Boy Scout Camp in Saluda , N.C.   They did this by spraying the village for mosquitoes, planting and weeding flowers in the “Big Star” located as you enter the Village, picking up trash, painting and etc.

 Braddie was a dedicated leader and contributed many hours helping and encouraging the boys to earn merit badges.

 On October 9, 1942, 5 boys were honored as the first Tucapau scouts to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.  Mr. Charles Lee, executive Boy Scout leader for the Spartanburg County , presented the awards in a Court of Honor ceremony held at the Community Building .  The following were awarded a sterling silver Eagle Scout ring by Mr. Walter S. Montgomery, owner of the mill.  Ed Austin, Howard Cook, Jack Phillips, Dewey Towery and Jr. Woodward.  One of the Eagle Scouts, Ed Austin, later worked for two summers at the Palmetto Boy Scout Camp.  While there, the “Order of the Arrow” was organized and Ed was chosen to be the first “Chief of the Order of the Arrow.”

 Among those who later became Scoutmasters were:  Ed Austin, Eddie Austin, Leonard Woodward, Bill O’Shileds, Joe Love and others.

 Many young boys in the community learned respect. Honor and skills through scouting.

 Braddie remembers Mr. Walter Montgomery saying “These scouts will become future leaders of the community”.

 Those to later receive The Eagle Rank were:

 Earl Cook                    1945

Eddie Austin                 1945

Jack Wilson                  1945

Charles Dobbins           1945

Bobby Allen                 1945

Bobby Johnson            1945

Gene Austin                  1951

Hugh Holcomb             1952

Jerry Cook                   1953   

Harry McKown, Jr.      1959

Dan Smith                    1959

Reed Hunt                    1959

Jim Snoddy                  1961

Johnny Kirtsey             1962

Larry Farmer                1962

Phil Austin                    1964 (click on name to see an old newspaper article on Phil).

 There were others but not listed.

 Now the troop is inactive but the Boy Scout organization in Spartanburg would be very interested in coming out to help get it active again.