Recently, I wrote a story about Boy Scout Troop 624, whose 50-year run of success has come to an end.
At a farewell banquet signaling its demise was an old black and white photo of former Cordova Boy Scouts Bob Arvidson and David Pettijohn, bearing pack sacks and boarding an Alaska Steamship Company vessel on their way to the National Boy Scout Jamboree.
Such a historical clue demanded more research. And in Cordova, such sleuthing can be downright fun, especially when rain and snow are screaming by in gusts reaching 50 mph.
It occurred to me that much of Bob Arvidson’s past is right outside our window, for across Odiak Slough sits the Rose Lodge, named in honor of his wife Rose. A long-time documenter of Cordova History, she authored “Cordova: The First 75 Years”, a fascinating photographic history that is a must read for those interested in bygone eras.
Guess what? That very photo of Scouts Arvidson and Pettijohn heading off on their adventure is on page 78 of her book.
Alas, both Bob and Rose are gone. But another Cordovan who was inspired by Bob, and became one of the earliest Eagle Scouts here, was just a phone call away.
“I remember Bob Arvidson going to that Jamboree in 1950,” said Phil Lian, who was part of Cordova Scout Troop 621 at that time. “They went all the way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Over 50,000 Scouts attended, and speakers included President Eisenhower.”
“When Bob came back, he told us it was an incredible experience and something we should all try to attend,” Lian said.
By 1953, Lian and Charles Manual had become Eagle Scouts, but not Cordova’s first. Tommy Nestor, who graduated from Cordova High in 1944, was the first that Lian could recall.
The 1953 Scout Jamboree at Irvine Ranch in Orange County California attracted 50,000 Scouts from 22 nations. Seventy-seven of them were from Alaska, with four from Cordova: Lian, Manuel, plus Johnny and Marvin LeFevre.
The Alaskans flew to Seattle, and then boarded two busses for a six-week tour through 11 states as part of the experience.
“I remember the fee for the whole trip was $1,500, and I raised the money by early season gill-netting on the Flats with my dad,” Lian said.
Lian recalled proudly wearing his uniform sash with the 21 Merit Badges necessary to become an Eagle Scout. He discovered many there that had earned so many Merit Badges that they had to wear two sashes.
He remembered all the tents, and movie stars including Bob Hope and Debbie Reynolds from nearby Hollywood coming to entertain them.
Plus, a very unusual moment.
“I picked up an ear infection and was stuck in a tent for three days,” Lian said. “I was pretty miserable and couldn’t even eat.”
The scouts from Alaska had invited Reynolds to a camp dinner of hamburgers. With 50,000 scouts to choose from, Reynolds picked out this tiny contingent.
Don Leege, a scoutmaster from Anchorage with the group, was so nervous he ran into difficulty.
“She stepped in and did the cooking,” Lian said. “And when she found out I hadn’t eaten in three days, she brought a burger to my pup tent, crowded in, and refused to leave until I had finished it.”
Phil was 14 years old; Reynolds was a very young looking 21. He thought she was 16, and was seeing stars, indeed.
One wonders if he deliberately took small bites.
“I had a crush on her for years,” confessed the Cordova Eagle Scout.
Lian also remember befriending Jim Butcher and Jim Derringer, two Scouts from Valdez, while together traveling for six weeks. Later they played high school basketball against each other in the Cordova-Valdez rivalry.
He recalled that local small-plane pilot Jim Edwards was the Cordova scoutmaster at that time, but couldn’t make the trip due to a busy flying schedule in the summer.
Lian graduated from CHS in 1957, and later served as Cordova’s assistant scoutmaster.
“I remember taking a group up to camp at Camp Gorsuch near Anchorage,” Lian said. “The mosquitos were horrible, and we could barely leave our tents.”
Lian still has his Eagle pin, which is made of sterling silver.
Yet, in 1987, with a gesture befitting an Eagle Scout, he offered to give this pin to the first Cordova scout after him that reached that milestone achievement.
“The Eagle pins these days are made of pewter,” Lian said. “So, I offered mine to Scoutmaster Brent Songer to give to John Harding.”
Songer declined.
Correction: Matt Jones and Jake Songer were left off the list of Eagles Scouts from Cordova Troop 624 mentioned in the Feb. 21 edition of The Cordova Times.
