Choccolocco Council 1964 Jambo Neal Slide



Well, a patch it is not.  But a great pieces of Scouting history it is.  Neal Slides were known far and wide in Scouting circles from the 1950's through the 70's.  Famous for their Bakelite slides that could be personalized for any event or theme, they were seen by many Scouts across the country. There are many collectors of Neal Slides and one of the hardest to find is the 1964 "Choccolocco 1".

On July 10^th 1964 one hundred and twenty-four Scouts and leaders from the Choccolocco Council boarded buses in route to the 1964 National Jamboree held in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. While ate the National Jamboree the contingent from Northeast Alabama participated in many Scouting activities along with 53,000 other Scouts from across the country and world. Highlights of the trip included a visit by President Lyndon Johnson.

Each member of the Choccolocco Council contingent received the above Neal Slide for the event. It was based on the design of the Choccolocco Council # 1 patch.  These slides although distinctive presented a problem for the group. Many complained of the top of the “one” poking into their throat while at the jamboree and many of these slides didn’t survive in tact for that same reason. A great piece of Choccolocco memorabilia that is rarely seen! Many thanks to Seth Hill for providing this scan and history!

Tennessee Valley Council "Man on the Moon" CSP Patch

In 1994 the Tennessee Valley Council headquartered out of Huntsville, Alabama issued a special 25th Anniversary CSP in recognition of Man Landing on the Moon in July 1969.  This had dual meaning besides it being the 25th Anniversary.  Huntsville was called "Rocket City USA" where the Redstone program had begun which led to the Saturn rockets that took us to the Moon.  Dr. Wehrner Von Braun and his team of Rocket Scientist worked at nearby Geaorge Marshal Space Flight Center to make this happen.

While many of the scientists were German, their children were becoming Americanized rapidly.  Many participated in the Boy Scout program and as such the scientiest and Dr. Von Braun were often seen at Boy Scout Expositions supporting the program and their son's.  The CSP above was sold from 1994=1997.  Here is the official Council information on the Patch:

On July 20, 1969, Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, a Ternderfoot Scout, became the first men to walk on the surface of the Moon. In the next two and one-half years, ten other astronauts would also walk on the Moon. Nine of them were former Scouts. As part of the 25th Anniversary of Apollo 11, the 1994 Limited Edition Council strip, authorized by the Tennessee Valley Council Camping Committee, commemorates the six Moon landing missions and the efforts of Scouters in the Tennessee Valley who contributed to the design, development and testing of the Saturn V launch vehicles which placed the Apollo spacecraft into orbit. This full-sized, eight color strip depicts one of the lunar landing scenes. This issue sold out in May of 1997. The price for each strip was $10.00. All revenue from the sale of these strips was used for capital improvements of council camps. The total production run was 500 strips.

This Limited Edition Council Strip is not authorized for wear on the Scout uniform

Kaskanampo 310 "Cowpile" Flaps

Kaskanampo Lodge 310 of the old Tennessee Valley Council in north Alabama issued their first flap in 1953 so that Arrowmen of the lodge would have a flap to wear to the Irvine Ranch National Jamboree in California.  The flap was based on the prevalent BSA uniform pocket flap of that time (rounded bottom).  The flap was basic and pictured the Mussel Shell totem in the center of the flap.  Unfortunately many could not tell this was a Mussell Shell.  With its wrinkled stitching designed to look like the exterior of a Mussel Shell, it ended up looking more like a "Cowpile".

From this point on Arrowmen of the Lodge affectionately referred to the F1 as the "Cowpile".  The first flap above left (F1a) was known as the Smaller White.  It could be distinguished from the F1b (ordered around 1955) on the right by its size as the F1b was known as the Larger White.  But the most telling difference was the lettering.  On the F1a, the M tags the P in Kaskanampo at the bottom.  On the F1b the M tags the P in the middle.  The F1a is the rarest patch in Lodge 310 and very few examples are known to exist - especially Mint condition flaps.  The flap may have gained an ugly name, but it is first in the hearts of 310 collectors.  It is worth noting that Arrowmen in 1957 opted to change the style of the flap to avoid comments about the "Cowpile" on their uniforms.

Camp Pushmataha

The Mobile Area Council of south Alabama once used Camp Pushmataha, near Citronelle, AL as the Council's Summer Camp and OA Lodge Home.  It served in this capacity up until around 1966-67 when the new Camp Maubila was opened for use.  Pushmataha was named after the Choctaw Chief Pushmataha and was home to many OA events over the years.  The 1955 Va Conference was held here having then National Chairman H. Lloyd Nelson in attendance.  Mr. Nelson would pass away in late 1955 making this his last true OA function to attend.  The world renowned & Pulitzer Prize winning Biologist & Eagle Scout Dr. E.O. Wilson who serves on staff at Harvard University, once attended camp here and served on the Nature Staff - thus developing his love of biology and his later fascination and study of Ants.

The patch pictured above is from the late 1940's to early 1950's.  It cam with a presewn rocker where additional years of attendance could be added.  Though this design was used with other camps (most notably Camp Old Indian in South Carolina) it is still highly sought after since Camp usually ran only three weeks and very few of these were issued.  Another prize Camp patch if you are lucky enough to find it.  The Camp ceased functions in 2010 after being sold.  The Mobile Area Council purchased new property near Bay Minette, AL to replace it - called Camp Pinetreat.