Madison "Scouts"
Jim Fuller (RMCJimbo@AOL.COM)
Sat, 31 Jul 1999 13:46:41 EDT
John Marmet wrote:
Don't forget that the fleur-de-lis those guys wear is "for real"- at
least historically. Rumor has it that when created the Madison Scouts were
an all Eagle Scout drill team (though frankly I have my doubts). I believe
they even marched in full Scout uniform. Those days are long gone however
and the sole connection to the BSA is the name and that odd looking
"frenchie" symbol.
Right you are John! The "all Eagle Scouts" is untrue, although there were a
large number of them for the time (1938). Here's the "short history":
In 1938 a group of Madison businessmen, after hearing the Racine Scouts Corps
at the Stock Pavilion, decided that Madison should have a drum and bugle
corps.
These men wanted this corps to be composed of Boy Scouts. The first rehearsal
was held on February 8, 1938 in the basement of the Christ Presbyterian
Church with equipment borrowed from the Masons. The drum major's baton was a
broom stick and only three scouts had uniforms.
There were 18 Eagle Scouts in the 1945 Corps, 24 in the 1946 Corps, and 20 in
the 1947 Corps. One of the outstanding pilgrimages every year for 15 years
was a trip to Camp Waubeek, a summer camp for handicapped children.
The 1947 Corps attended the World Scout Jamboree of Peace in Moisson, France,
and was the only musical unit from the United States.
In 1950 the Corps attended the National Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge.
During 1951 the Madison Scouts were reorganized into two units, the Madison
Explorer Scouts and the Madison Boy Scouts. The Explorer Scouts became the
first
registered musical post in the Boy Scouts of America organization. The new
uniform were green and the pants were long for the first time. The Boy Scouts
continued with the regulation brown scout uniform. The Corps emblem "Seal of
Peace" used at the 1947 World Jamboree was worn on the white neckerchief of
the first uniform in 1951.
The uniform was changed, with the approval of the National Scout Office, to a
military cadet style which was designed after the uniforms of the United
States Armed Forces used since 1776 and the British Armed Forces used since
1580.
On January 15, 1968 the Madison Scouts suffered its greatest loss in the
death of its great Executive Director, Mr. C. H. Beebe. He was the recipient
of many
awards such as the "Silver Beaver" in Scouting.
In 1969 the popular forest green Explorer Scout uniform returned the Corps to
its former prominence.
On March 1, 1970 the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps Association, Inc.
became the sponsor with the primary objectives to provide a program for
today's youth which combines the citizenship building program of scouting
with the challenge, excitement, and self-discipline of Drum Corps
competition.
1974 was the first time a woman, Jeanne Beckman, served as Chairman of the
Board of Directors for this All-male Corps.
In 1990, the corporate name dropped the word "Scouts" and became the Madison
Drum and Bugle Corps Association, Inc., and the charter for Troop 600 was in
its last year.
Just a little Scouting history.
YIS,
Jim Fuller
SCCC
