Origins of Troop 264

This history was written by David L. Brigham, the "First Scout" of Boy Scout Troop #264, and it appears on the Troop's homepage:

Troop 264 had its start from a summer 4-H State Camp near Blacksburg, Virginia. Ernest Thompson Seton, the greatest of nature writers including Wild Animals I Have Known, was a special invited guest. His role was to tell Indian stories and experiences at the campfires. He brought his friend Dan Beard, who had set the stage for the Boy Scout movement in the United States. My Dad, Reuben Brigham, was the U.S. Director of Information for the Agricultural Extension Service and had arranged for Thompson to participate. This was the early summer of 1927.

The inspiration of visits with these two youth and nature leaders during the idle daytime hours resulted in long talks about the Scouting program and all it provided young men age twelve and above. As a result, Brigham returned to his American Legion Post in Sandy Spring and asked his fellow veterans of World War I to help him set up a Troop for this community. They agreed, providing he would be Scoutmaster. The Washington Council sent professionals to assist from their very small staff. By fall, a Troop with 12 to 15 boys was in place. Dad was Scoutmaster, I was a Tenderfoot Acting Patrol Leader, and the Troop with a Sandy Spring address was #130.

There were Montgomery County Camporees, summer journeys to Camp Roosevelt on the Chesapeake Bay, fourteen mile hikes, fifty yard swims upstream in the Patuxent, wet wood and only two matches, first aid, cold nights, wet bodies, tests, games, and pledges (which I still remember). We sang Clemantine and went on Snipe hunts, climbed hills and slid down banks, wore shorts most the year and britches once in a while.

The troop lost the original number when several years of inactivity occurred. Charlie Hines served first as Assistant Scoutmaster. John Bancroft later served for several years. Original Scouts who come quickly to mind include Tom Hallowell, Francis Brigham, Fairman and Billy Fussell and Malcolm Thomas. Dick and Johnny Thomas had had other Scouting experience and for a period acted as Senior Scouts and advisors for us.

Norman Price Post #68 of the American Legion has been the sponsor of a Boy Scout Troop for nearly sixty years and during most of that period the present Troop 264 is in the record. It is a matter of mutual satisfaction when man and boy, Scout and Scouter, organization and organization, can work together for God and Country in a community of rich heritage and strong faith.

David L. Brigham