Historical Information

Those Who Fail to Learn from History Can’t Teach the Next Generation

Connecticut Yankee Council has a rich history, with roots back to the earliest days of Scouting in the United States, and to the pioneers of our program. On this page are a few links to this history.

Council Merger History

Connecticut has had its fair share of Boy Scout councils since 1910, with a total of forty. Connecticut Yankee Council was formed in 1998 through the merger of Quinnipiac Council and Fairfield County Council. The origins of these two Councils are illustrative of Connecticut’s great Scouting history of the earlier councils. Learn more.

See this listing of the Key 3 for Connecticut Yankee Council since inception in 1998.

 

Scouter Newsletters

Read our history in old editions of the Scouter newsletter, available from 1968 through 1993, starting with Mauwehu Council and then Fairfield County Council. If you have old editions of the Scouter sitting in your attic or under your bed, please share them with us, to add to our electronic archive. We would also like to add historical newsletters from Quinnipiac Council. Learn more.

 

Camp Sequassen

With roots back to 1927, Camp Sequassen is our premier summer camp. Learn more. Also, learn about the origins of the Chi Sigma Society.

 

The Story of Chief Sequassen

Chief of the Quinnipiac indian tribe in the 1600s, namesake of Camp Sequassen. Learn more.

Hoyt Scout Reservation

Named after John Sherman Hoyt, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. View the Hoyt deed here. Also location of the General Carter Training Cabin.

Camp Pomperaug

Another Council camp, with a long history. Learn more.

Alfred W. Dater Council

One of the origins of Connecticut Yankee Council. Learn more.

BSA National Charter

US Code, Title 36, Chapter 2. From June 15, 1916. Learn more.

BSA Articles of Incorporation 1910

The Fathers of Scouting

Over 100 years ago, three famous men of the day formed the Boy Scouts of America, and a fourth man helped BSA grow from its infancy. Learn more.

 

Order of the Arrow Lodge History

Origins of Owaneco Lodge from 1998. Learn More.

Origins of Owaneco Lodge from 1944. Learn More.

Chi Sigma and Arcoon Lodge History. Learn More.

 

Wood Badge History

A listing of KNOWN Wood Badge courses which relate to our Council, either by location or Course Director. Learn more.

Short Biography of Lord Laden-Powell
Another Short Biography of Lord Laden-Powell
The Origins of Wood Badge
The Origins of the Woggle
A History of Wood Badge in the United States
Part 1 Part 2 Appendix 1 Appendix 2

 

Housatonic Council

Our neighbor. Learn More.

Seton Scout Reservation

Our neighbor, in Greenwich Council, named after another founder of the Boy Scouts, Ernest Thompson Seton. Learn more.

History of the Eagle Scout Award

From the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). Learn More.

 

Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatar

Scouting’s pre-eminent artists. Learn more here. And here.

Obituaries of Famous Scouters

Lord Baden Powell
James E. West
William D. Boyce
Daniel Carter Beard and here
Ernest Thompson Seton and here
William “Green Bar Bill” Hartcourt
John Sherman Hoyt
General Arthur Carter
Alfred W. Dater

Connecticut has had its fair share of Boy Scout councils since 1910, with a total of forty. Today the youth of Connecticut are proudly served by five councils; four (Connecticut Rivers, Connecticut Yankee, Greenwich, and Housatonic) are located within the state of Connecticut. The fifth, Narragansett Council, serves the community of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, in addition to Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

Connecticut Yankee Council was formed in 1998 through the merger of Quinnipiac Council and Fairfield County Council. The origins of these two Councils are illustrative of Connecticut’s great Scouting history of the earlier councils that made up the current council. This is a diagram of the history.

Quinnipiac Council

The merger took place in 1998 forming the modern day Connecticut Yankee Council, between the Hamden based Quinnipiac Council (#74) and Fairfield County Council (# 68). Quinnipiac Quinnipiac CouncilCouncil can trace its roots to the earliest council in the state, the New Haven Council (#74), founded in 1913. In 1921 the council name was modified to New Haven Area Council, and in 1929 the council name was changed yet again to Southern New Haven County Council, while still being based in New Haven. New Haven’s hosting duties ended in 1935 when the council changed its name to located in Hamden. With the motto “Cherish the Wide Earth” the council continued operations in Hamden until the 1998 merger. During its run as Quinnipiac Council, it also picked up another council in 1978, Meriden based Central Connecticut Council. This council started in 1915 as Meriden Council # 71 and kept that name until 1929 when the council became known as the Central Connecticut Council # 71.

Fairfield County Council

The Fairfield County Council was itself, the result of a number of earlier council mergers. The town of Norwalk first hosted the Norwalk Council # 75 in 1917. In 1932, this became the Central Fairfield Council. In 1935 there was a namechange to Mid-Fairfield Council. This name lasted until 1952 when another merger took place creating the Mauwehu Council # 75. With the formation of Mauwehu Council the council banner left Norwalk for Ridgefield. In 1972, the various scout councils in Fairfield County consolidated to a single council. At this point, Mauwehu Council #75 joined up with Pomperaug Council #65 and Alfred W. Dater Council # 78, forming Fairfield County Council #78. The new Fairfield County Council also returned to Norwalk and ran from 1973 to January 1st 1998 before becoming a part of the modern day Connecticut Yankee Council #72. Obviously there were other earlier councils involved with Pomperaug Council & Alfred W Dater Council. Pomperaug Council was based in Bridgeport. Council Scouting got it’s start there as simply the Bridgeport Council # 65 in 1915. In 1936 the name Pomperaug was adopted and the council continued on until the three-way county consolidation in 1972. The other part of what became Fairfield County Council was Alfred W. Dater Council but its origins go back to the Stamford Council #78, established in 1916. This council continued there until 1939 when the Alfred W. Dater Council name was adopted (still Council #78) but with the headquarters moving to Glenbrook. The Glenbrook based council continued on from 1939 until the three-way merger 1972

The following is an alphabetical tour of predecessors to Connecticut Yankee Council

 

Alfred W. Dater Council

Alfred W. Dater Council #078, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The council came about from a name change of Stamford Council in 1938. Alfred W. Dater served as the first president of the Stamford Council until his death in 1937. He also served as the First Chairman of the National Sea Scouting Committee and was a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award. Link to obituary here. On December 2, 1938, in honor of his 22 years of service to Stamford Council, the council was renamed in his honor: Alfred W. Dater Council. In 1947, John Sherman Hoyt, one of the founders of the BSA, donated 18 acres of land in Norwalk to be used for short term camping. The camp was named Five Mile River Camp. As Scouting was celebrating its 40th anniversary in February 1950, the council celebrated with the paying its last mortgage payment on Camp Toquam. The council reported that it was serving 3,269 boys and adults and plans to build their own Scout headquarters in Glenbrook section of Stamford. The building was sponsored by the Union Memorial Church and financed by donations from the Lions Club and by selling a portion of the Five Mile River Camp. The purchase of the Williams Training Center in the late 1950s was made possible by the selling of the remaining portion of Five Mile River Camp. Ponus Lodge #521 of the Order of the Arrow was established in 1956. The council celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1967 with 2,620 registered scouts. Alice Sanford donated 173 acres of land in West Redding to the Council in 1966 (link to deed here), and it was soon named Hoyt Scout Reservation. A Training Cabin was built on Hoyt Reservation in 1968 based on a donation by Marjorie Sells Carter; the cabin was dedicated to her late husband, General Arthur Carter. In 1971 the council reported 3000 registered scouts and plans were being developed for the merger of the council in 1972. The Boy Scout councils of Alfred W. Dater, Mauwehu, and Pomperaug voted to consolidate their operations into a new council. In 1972 the council ceased operations and the new council, Fairfield County Council began its history.

This link has more history of the Alfred W. Dater Council.

Bridgeport Council

Bridgeport Council #065 was founded in 1915 and changed its name to Pomperaug Council in 1936.

Central Connecticut Council

Central Connecticut Council #071, headquartered in Meriden. Council came about from a name change of Meriden Council in 1929. The council ceased to operate in 1978, when it was absorbed by Quinnipiac Council.

Central Fairfield Council

Central Fairfield Council #075, headquartered in Norwalk. Council came about from a name change of Norwalk Council in 1933.

Fairfield County Council

Fairfield County Council #068, headquartered in Norwalk was created in 1972 with the merger of three councils: Mauwehu, Pomperaug, and Alfred W. Dater. The council ceased operations when it merged with Quinnipiac Council to form Connecticut Yankee Council in 1998.

Mauwehu Council

Mauwehu Council #075, headquartered in Ridgefield, came about from a name change of Mid Fairfield Council in 1952. The council ceased operations when it merged with two other councils to create Fairfield County Council in 1972. Where did the name Mauwehu come from?

Meriden Council

Meriden Council #071 was founded in 1915 and changed its name to Central Connecticut Council in 1929.

Mid Fairfield Council

Mid Fairfield Council #075, headquartered in Norwalk. Council came about from a name change of Central Fairfield Council in 1935.

New Haven Council

New Haven Council #074. With the Scouting movement starting in the United States in 1910, the New Haven Register reported on August 21, 1910 that the Lion and the Arrow Patrols were forming. New Haven Mayor Frank Rice, City Librarian Willis Stetson, and Judge Albert McClellan Matthewson strongly supported the scouting movement and in 1912 founded the New Haven Council. In 1913 the council was reorganized as a Second Class Council. Two years later, in 1915, the council was incorporated as a First Class Council and hired Gilbert N. Jerome as the first Scout Executive. In 1929 the council changed its name to Southern New Haven County Council.

Norwalk Council

Norwalk Council #075 was founded in 1917 and changed its name to Central Fairfield Council in 1933.

Pomperaug Council

Pomperaug Council #065, headquartered in Bridgeport. Council came about from a name change of Bridgeport Council in 1936. The council ceased operations in 1972 when it merged with two other councils to create Fairfield County Council .

Quinnipiac Council

Quinnipiac Council #074, headquartered in New Haven until 1961 when it moved to Hamden. Council came about from a name change of Southern New Haven County Council in 1935. The name Quinnipiac comes from the Indian tribe which occupied the area. Originally formed in 1912 as the New Haven Council. After years of growth and expanding outside the boundaries of New Haven, the council name was changed to Southern New Haven County Council in 1929. In 1935, the council name was changed to Quinnipiac Council. The council absorbed the Central Connecticut Council in 1978. In 1997 the council voted to merge with Fairfield County Council. After 75 years in existence, the council ceased its operation on January 1, 1998 and became part of the Connecticut Yankee Council. The council is most notable for its operation, which was a model for the rest of country. In 1943, Elbert K. Fretwell, Chief Scout Executive of the BSA described Quinnipiac Council as an example to councils all over America for the high quality of the scouting program being provided. Camp Sequassen was opened in 1927 and was eventually rated a double A camp. Link to Camp Sequassen history here. In 1962 the council hosted the first of many successful International Camporees. On July 4, 1962, scouts from 14 countries assembled at Camp Sequassen.

Southern New Haven County Council

Southern New Haven County Council #074, headquartered in New Haven. Council came about from a name change of the New Haven Council in 1929. Though a county system of government was not used in Connecticut, the name was used to represent the geography of the council. In 1935 the council name was changed to Quinnipiac Council.

Stamford Council

Stamford Council #078, headquartered in Stamford. An article in the Stamford Advocate, 1941 Tercentenary Edition, stated that on March 22, 1912, the city’s first Boy Scout Troop was being formed at the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Troop 5. By 1918, unofficial Wolf Cub packs appeared in Stamford. As with most early Boy Scout Councils, they usually formed after local organizations started organizing scout troops. Local citizens met on March 23, 1917, to discuss Scouting in both Stamford and Darien. In June, their application to the Boy Scouts of America was accepted and the Stamford Council was born. The council opened its first camp on property in Long Ridge during the summer of 1920. In 1922, the council camp, now named Camp Toquam was located in Hunting Ridge on Holly’s Pond and moved two years later to Lake Mamanasco in Ridgefield. The council incorporated on March 6, 1924. During 1926 and 1927, plans were developed to buy property for a larger camp ground. A new Camp Toquam opened its 1928 season on the Shores of Dog Pond in Goshen. In 1937, Alfred W. Dater died. Dater was council president from the first day and was instrumental in the organization of Boy Scouts in Stamford. On December 2, 1938, the Stamford Council was renamed in his honor as the Alfred W. Dater Council. See above for more information and history on the Dater Council.

Connecticut Yankee Council was formed in 1998 through the merger of Quinnipiac Council and Fairfield County Council. This is a listing of the Council Key 3:

 

Year	Council President	Council Commmissioner	CEO – Scout Executive
1998	William B. Laudano, Jr.	Dennis J. Murphy	Douglas L. Krofina
1999	Ronald T. Urquhart	John Farley	Douglas L. Krofina
2000	Robert A. Payne	John Farley	Douglas L. Krofina
2001	Robert A. Payne	Vincent P. Nolan, Jr.	Douglas L. Krofina
2002	Robert A. Payne	John Santucci, Esq.	Douglas L. Krofina
2003	Robert T. Sadock, MD	John Santucci, Esq.	Douglas L. Krofina
2004	Robert T. Sadock, MD	John Santucci, Esq.	Louis Salute
2005	John C. Andres, Esq.	Douglas Machin	Louis Salute
2006	John C. Andres, Esq.	Douglas Machin	Louis Salute
2007	Stephen L. Crews	Douglas Machin	Louis Salute
2008	Stephen L. Crews	John Farley	Louis Salute
2009	Christopher L. Caruso	John Farley	Louis Salute
2010	Christopher L. Caruso	John Farley	Louis Salute
2011	Douglas Machin	Raymond Moncevicius	Louis Salute
2012	Douglas Machin	Raymond Moncevicius	Louis Salute
2013	Michael Abrahamson	Raymond Moncevicius	Charles L. Flowers
2014	Michael Abrahamson	William Ference	Charles L. Flowers
2015	Christopher McLeod	Charles Blanchette	Charles L. Flowers
2016	Christopher McLeod	Charles Blanchette	Charles L. Flowers
2017	Christopher Luise	Charles Blanchette	Charles L. Flowers
2018	Christopher Luise	John Gelinas, Jr., MD	Charles L. Flowers

The history of Connecticut Yankee Council is both a merger of councils and a merger of Order of the Arrow Lodges.

 

Owaneco 313 Chartered: 1999 From merger of Tankiteke 313 and Arcoon 369

 

 

Chi Sigma 369 Chartered: 1947 Change: 1954: Changed name to Arcoon   (No Known Insignia)	Wangunks 274 Chartered: 1944 Change: 1978: Absorbed by Arcoon 369
Arcoon 369 Chartered: 1947 Change: 1954: Changed name from Chi Sigma 1978: Absorbed Wangunks 274 1999: merged with Tankiteke 313 to form Owaneco 313

 

 

Mauwehu 389 Chartered: 1948	Chief Pomperaug 408 Chartered 1949	Ponus 521 Chartered 1956
Tankiteke 313 Chartered: 1972 From merger of Mauwehu 389, Chief Pomperaug 408, and Ponus 521 1999: merged with Arcoon 369 to form Owaneco 313

Historical Collection of Old Scouter Newsletters (1968 – 1993)

Mauwehu Council published Volume 1 Number 1 of the Scouter on October 1, 1968. After the consolidation of the Councils, Fairfield County Council published Volume 1 Number 1 of the Scouter on September 1, 1972. Long time Scouter John O’Hern has an extensive collection of earlier Scouter Newsletters that he generously loaned to the Council for research. Newsletters from 1986 through 1993 are from the Council archives. Thanks to Karen Caiati for her perservation work.

Read about our history; see what Units participated in District and Council events. Remember names from our past. If anyone has missing editions of the Scouter, we’d like to borrow them and post them here.

Special thanks to Rob M from Troop 66 in Easton for locating the missing 09/01/1972 edition of the Scouter Newsletter in his Troop’s archives (11/11/2009).