1. When was Troop Seventeen founded?

 No one knows exactly when the troop was first founded.
We have official records and anectodal evidence that it was officially formed in 19l7.
And we also have pictures of Scouts camping from a year or two prior to that date.
We also have an original Scoutmaster's warrant from 1912.

If troops were assigned numbers sequentially, then a strong case exists that the troop would have been originally founded in 1910 or 1911. However, this does take into account "broken service" ... and a subsequent re-issuance of the number 17

Therefore, the answer would be "officially" 1917;
"originally" probably 1911 or 1912.
























2. Origin of the Any Hat

 Goes back to the "pork pie" hats and "Zoot suit" styles
popular with teenagers in the early 1940s.






















3. Complete this part of The Troop Seventeen Marching Song:

"... will rend the air with song!"

"Rend" is the correct word!

Rend means to "tear or pull apart with violence...
to tear apart or split with violence...
as in 'a roar rends the air.'"
-- Webster's New World Dictionary






















4. Who was Troop Seventeen's first Scoutmaster

 Take your pick....
Dr. C. H. McMahon, father of one of the Scouts in the 1917 era days.
James B. B. Prosser was a SM in 1912...

Once again it depends on whether you use continuous dating or original dating.






















5. What is the origin of the Baker Flag?

 The flag was originally designed by John Pope Baker II
as a large flag for the Midland District

He also had a small companion guidon flag of the same design made,
which was probably never (or little) used.

The practice, at the time, was for the number one troop to have the honor of carrying the district flag-- at the head of parades, special events, etc.

After Troop Seventeen had won the flag for several years running, the practice was discontinued and Jack Baker gave the guidon to the Bakers.






















6. What are the primary patrol colors?

 Moose... Azure Blue
Stag.... Buckskin Tan
Eagle... Red
Hawk.... Yellow






















7. The troop's own camp in Troy, Missouri was most commonly known as:

 The camp was "officially" named "Nawakwa"
-- which is Iroquois Indian for "in the middle of the forest" --

but was always just referred to as "The Land"
much to the dismay of VOBJr.

























8. The troop motto is Latin for:

 "We build monuments more lasting than bronze"

Since there are so many old codgers still around,
checking in on the troop website and taking this test,
we rest our case!

(And just how long have most of your cars from the olde days lasted?)






















9. Troop Seventeen has had how many Eagle Scouts?

 The correct answer would be "all of the above.
Since there are now well over seventy that would encompass the over fifty also.
a remarkable achievement for a troop of our size.























10. Before the merger of Troops 17 and 31, the neckerchiefs worn were:

 Azure blue by the Scouts of Troop Thirty-One; and
a red color by Troop Seventeen.

After the merger, the neckerchiefs were combined
into two official Scout-issue striped designs.

The leaders (most of whom came from Troop 31) were reluctant to give up their blue neckerchief, and wore one with a red stripe on blue background.

However, when National Supply discontinued that pattern,
the now-traditional blue stripe on a red background became
the uniform neckerchief for all Seventeeners.























11. What does "spizerinctun" mean:

 Spizerinctum is a term meaning
"ambition to succeed"

Its geneology is unclear
but it was a favorite of Jack Baker and he used it frequently.

The term has been used for many years to designate the silver stars
(ie "Spizerinctun Stars")
on ribbons such as honor camper and honor patrol.

This is appropriate because, where used,
it indicates special effort or achievement.

























12. The Senior Patrol Leader was traditionally referred to as:

 GOD!!

Need we say more!


























13. What does the white border around the Seventeen patch mean?

 For many years -- before the middle of the 20th Century --
the white border around a troop numeral was designated by the BSA to honor
those troops who had completed 25 years

At that time that was quite a distinction for a troop.

Now that milestone is quite common and no longer in official use.

However, Seventeen's troop numeral patch had the square white border
as early as 1917
and is visible (if you look closely) in the formal troop portrait taken at that time.























14. The oldest and youngest patrols in the troop are:

Oldest would be the Moose Patrol which first appears in Troop 31 in 1914.

Youngest is the Hawk Patrol, being formed in 1951.


Both the Stag and Eagle also came from Troop 31
None of Seventeen's pre-merger patrols remain.






















15. Who served as SPL longer than anyone else?


The champion was (and still is)...

DICK BARNES... for 31 months

And what a glorious reign it was!

Runner-up goes to Irwin Albrecht... 24 months
and honorable mentions to:
Bill Shoop
Jim Landau
John Berger
... all with 20 months

























16.The traditional cavalry charge across the parade ground at Irondale was always preceeded by:
the troop bugle
concurrent with a thunderous,

"CHARGE!"

yelled in unison prior to
the Scouts racing madly across the parade grounds
to become first in line for meals --
at least once during their week of summer camp!.

























17.The "Lucky number" answer is....
"e) all of the above"

a) "17 in 1917" for the "official" date -- (see the answer to question #1)

b) the seventeen stars on the left-hand shield of the troop's coat of arms represent those seventeen "Thirty-Oners"

c) the drill team which put on such a stunning performance at the 1951 Scout Circus
consisted of a four-by-four block of Seventeeners
and Drill Master, SPL Bill Shoop.

d) yes, the Levi Baker Jacket of the 50's and 60's, incredibly, had
a "17" stamped on the backside of each metal button.

(And if you have any additional coincidences,
please forward them to the Troop Webmaster!)