The History of Troop 64
Part III

It was now the dawn of the "Que-Era". In 1955 Jack E. Quaintance became the 9th Scoutmaster in Troop 64 history. His reign will be the longest ever recorded. These were called the "Q-years". Many local sage's can divulge with great admiration this interval. He was known as "Jack", "Mr. Quaintance", "Mr. Que" or just "The Q", the legendary Scoutmaster who served for close to two decades. To this day the allegorical tales of "The Q" are recited in great reverence as they echo throughout the community.

To procure a refined discernment of the "Q Era", I searched for Mr "Q's" son. Troop 64's third Eagle Scout; Raymond Quaintance. We converged one winter afternoon at a Bridgeport diner. There we each had a rich blend of coffee as we reflected on Troop 64's past. Tales of the 50's and 70's reverberated across the table, as my pen advanced across my notepad.

The serenity of an August Summer was interrupted by a double assault. Hurricane Connie produced major flooding in the community on August 11th and 12th, 1955. A week later, Hurricane Diane made its demeanor on a saturated terrain. The town was demarcated as a frantic Pequonnock River rose over twenty feet above its banks. The Daniel’s Farm Road Bridge was immersed by a bombardment of an overwhelming deluge of water. The heroism of Troop 64 was mobilized to support the police and fire departments to safeguard the town. Scouts convened on both sides of the river. A sandbag wall construction sequestered the surge of an aroused river. For several days the troop continued to aid the town in withstanding the wrath of Hurricane Connie and Diane.

To make provisions for future onslaughts, project Mobilization was inaugurated. Troop 64 was a participant in a Tremone District Mobilization. Scouts were to meet at the Stepeny Volunteer Fire Company House in Monroe, Connectiut. Responce time was recorded along with troop attendance. Next came a backpack inspection. Search and rescue procedures were focused. Afterwards the Scouts all converged on Jackie's Hotdog Stand for their famous "foot-long-dogs", Best! in town at the time. The next actual mobilization was called by the Trumbull Police Department for a run-away horse in the wooded area of Daniles Farm Road and Whitney Avenue.

William Fitzgerald moved to Trumbull in 1955. As a 4th grader at Center School, he was attentive to a gathering of older boys in uniform each Wednesday night. Intrigued by this gathering, prompted him to register with Troop 64. William reminisced the troop being divided into four patrols; Wolf, Bear, Eagle and Hawk. Mr. Que allowed the boys to run the troop. Meetings contained advancement, 1st aid training, baseball and football games. The troop did monthly camping trips. The troop would often camp in the Pequonnock River Valley. Scouts would backpack in from Park Street. Each patrol would assemble a campsite contrived of a baker style tent, tarp, campfire interspersed with a few lashings. In the summer months the Scouts would climb the steep rocky cliffs edging the cold tumbling waters of the Pequonnock River. A favorite Troop 64 pastime, suspend a rope from a tree branch. Grasp the rope, jump from the cliff, swing out, dangle over the river. Next release your grip for a plunge into the river, without melding with the surrouning jagged rocks.

Back at the campsite, there was always a pot of "Q-Coffee" brewing. Jack Quaintance liked to drink coffee. Over the Scoutmasters fireplace, rested a large pot brewing a mixture of coffee, egg shells and tree branches. This was Mr. Q's favorite blend. Don't expect to find this as a latte on the Starbucks Menu.

Catamount was an enduring Troop 64 tradition started by Mr. "Q" in the winter of 1956. The older Scouts climbed a mountain trail ascending to the "Catamount Cabin" for a weekend camping excursion in South Egermont, Massachusetts.

In the summer of 1957, Jack Quaintance brought a contingent for the troop's first Jambo visit. A bus ride to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to join with over 50,000 Scouts for the 4th National Scout Jamboree. Ray Quaintance believed that 15 to 20 Troop 64 memebers attended this event. That same year, Jack Quaintance was awarded the Scouter's Key Award by Pomperaug Council.

In 1958 Raymond Quaintance became Troop 64's third Eagle Scout. The earliest Troop 64 canoe hike was evoked in the summer of 1958 for a four day, four canoe expedition through the Saranac Lakes of the Adirondacks.

1958 David Ambrose joined the troop, who in the slipstream of time, will oneday be the 11th Scoutmaster. I had the opportunity to visit with him one warm winter night. Dave pulled out a corrugated cardboard box holding a repository of troop artifacts. As each item was pulled from this vault, Dave placed it across his living room floor recollecting what story it told.

Dave reminiscenced his first trip to Camp Pomperaug in the summer of "58". The cost was $20 for the week which included a round trip bus ride from Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. More retentive memories emerged of meeting in the Center School Gym, loading camping equimpment into Don Broadbent's pickup truck, then the Scouts would climb in for an open-air trek to South Britain. We watched a silent 8mm film converted into video. Black and white images flickered across the screen as a representation of the past came alive. Catamount, Pomperaug, swimming in the Pequonnock River, water skiing on Lake Zoar, building a monkey bridge or even a glimpse of the "Q". The film ended as the screen turned to blue, leaving an imprint enshrined within the mind of times past, yet we were only spectators looking into the past.

By 1959 Troop 64 experienced two major changes. First was on the national level. The 6th Edition Boy Scout Handbook was instituted. A larger size manual with a Norman Rockwell cover showing a Boy Scout hiking. This new handbook was infused with color diagrams of Scouts in action, which replaced the black & white diagrams of years past. The second change was a new meeting location. Troop 64 moved from Center School to the Old Town Hall building. This structure was built in 1883 and went by the names "Old Town Hall", "The Meeting Hall" or the "Helen Plumb Building" which became Troop 64's headquarters for the next 17 years. Mr. "Q" was tapped into the Order of the Arrow in 1959. He later became the leader of OA Pomperaug Lodge, with ceremonies conducted at Big Den, Scoutland, Beach's Park.

Mr. "Q" instituted an enduring induction ritual for tenderfoot Scouts. Each fall, on a clear, cool night, the troop would assemble at "Big Den", ScoutLand, Beach Memorial Park. Within the natural amphitheater, a fireball campfire was built. A steel wire cable is thethered between a tree and a ground based stake. Around the stake a campfire is structured. A pipe surrounded by rags is lit on fire from the sumit of the cliff. Above the assemblage, the fireball falls toward the base, the campfire comes to life. Mr. "Q" would act as Sachem as elder troop members dressed in authentic Indian costum, danced around the tribal fire within the walls of "Big Den". The "Q" would then start the decorum of presenting each Scout with a Troop 64 Neckercheif and slide. The ceremonial ordinance initiated each brave (Scout) to be accepted as a member of the Troop 64 Fellowship. A brotherhood of comradership spirit that would last a lifetime. All within a world Scouting fraternity.

Through the "Q-years", several traditions were cast that would set the stage for the direction the troop would play. Every winter the troop would take part in the grueling district "Klondike Derby". Eight hardy Scouts would challenge the terrain, weather and distance on a course designed to measure Scouting skills and endurance. Spring time saw the Spring Camporee, while the older Scouts were to glimpse another section of the Appalachian Trail for a backpacking trek. The highlight of each summer was a week of camping at Camp Pomperaug. An illustrious week of endless swimming, hiking and canoeing within the woodlands of northern Connecticut.

By 1960 the membership surged to over seventy registred members, the largest in Troop 64 history. An array of ribbons and awards were festooned from the flagpole summit. As the collection became too abundant, they were removed only to give way to a colossal regrowth.

1962 Troop 64 had its 4th Eagle Scout awarded to William Fitzgearld. Mr. "Q" attempted to retain as many older Scouts and adult leaders on the roster. Most older Scouts made it to the rank of Star and Live. I questioned William as to why the troop did not have more Eagle Scouts. He surmised that it was the Camp Pomperaug Waterfront that forestall further advancement. William stated that it was very difficult to pass Swimming and Lifesaving Merit Badges. There always seemed to be a waterfront director named "Moose". The objct was to rescue Moose from drowning.

Indian mythological lore conjures a thunderbird. An enormous mystic bird to equivocality produce thunder, lighting and rain. Full of sound and fury signifying everything. Spring of 1964 Troop 64 joined a fellowship of other council Scouts for a series of leadership training programs. The project was declared "Thunderbird". Five evening classes culminating with a weekend campout in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. Each participator was awarded a Thunderbird neckerchief, slide and patch. The patch displayed a pictograph emblem devoid of any linguistic symbols. For the next two decades the logo exhibited the right pocket uniform of troop leaders.

July 1964 Lance Barney and Charlie Heimann ventured to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for the 6th National Scout Jamboree.

The 7th Edition Boy Scout Handbook found minor changes in 1965. The most notable was the cover. It was rumored that the artist who designed the cover, was at Camp Pomperaug that summer and sketched several Troop 64 members for the cover.

Within the woodlands of Monroe, Connecticut, USA. Atop an embankment edging a sandy stream, a new Troop 64 tradition is born. In 1966 the "1st Brotherhood Campout" is conducted. An event to be reinstated every seven years, when a new generation of Scouts carry on this legacy. The campout will conclude with the "Brotherhood Campfire" within the ruins of an abandoned copper smelting plant of the American Copper Factory of 1893.

By 1968 the Troop 64 Eagle Scout Honor Roll, added Lance Barney and Dennis Gleason, bringing the total to eight. Membership included 19 adult members, 40 registered Scouts. It is believed that Assistant Scoutmasters; Robert Guertin and Jack Stawarky activated the troops first visit to Algonquin Provincial Park for a week long canoe trip.

Woodstock, peace, love, man on the moon are what come to mind in the summer of '69. For Troop 64, they made their 31st visit to Camp Pomperaug. Assistant Scoutmaster Robert Guertin activated a high-adventure canoe trip for the older Scouts to Baxter State Park in Maine. A six Scout team packed into Bob's Jeep. They started at Grand Lake Matagamon. Traveled west along Webster Brook to Chamberlain Lake, then returned to Grand Lake Matagamon. At the conclusion of the week long camping trip, when Brandon Woolley was being dropped off, his father ran over to the jeep and told everyone to come inside quickly. As they entered the home. A small black and white TV set flashed the transmition of Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. Across the continent, at the 7th National Scout Jamboree two other Troop 64 members watched this event from a tent based TV located at Farragut State Park, Idaho. Peter Canevari and Ed Davies viewed this historic event that summer at Jambo '69.

A hike on the lunar surface is momentous for a Scout who for years has tread the backwoods of America. While Neil and Buzz walked the moon, 36,000 Scouts walked the boomtown known as the 1969 National Scout Jamboree, Farragut State Park. The week long event became the second largest town in the state of Idaho. Ed Davies and Pete Canevari continued the tradition since 1957 of representing Troop 64 at a National Jamboree. They had a chance to market test a new soft drink called "Mountain Dew", listened to Jesse Owens address the Scouts, along with being a beholder to one of the worlds best fireworks display.

A record four eagles took flight in 1970; Peter Canevari, Thomas Matthews, Wayne Medoff and Brandon Woolley. Pomperaug Council presented the highly coveted Silver Beaver Award to Scoutmaster Jack Quantance in 1971, with Mark Topham being awareded the rank of Eagle Scout. By 1972 the troop added two more Eagle Scouts as Jeff Adzima and Mark Schiro brought the honor roll up to 15.

An announcement in 1972 disseminated throughout the membership like a tsunami. The end of an era was forthwith. After seventeen years of service, Mr. "Que" (Jack Quantance) divulged that he was relinquishing his reign of Troop 64 for retirement in Maine.

On the evening of Saturday, May 6th, 1972, a surprise testimonial dinner was held for Mr. and Mrs. John (The "Q") Quaintance. St. Catherine of Siena hall was filled with over two hundred townspeople. Jack Stawarky was master of ceremonies. Mr. "Q" passed his Scoutmaster's Badge to his successor; Ronald Henchcliffe who became the 10th Scoutmaster of Troop 64. Mr. "Q" then stepped off the stage for retirement in Wiscassett, Maine.