and Print Shop Museum
(at left). Photo taken c. 1974. The building is of Salisbury pink marble and wood construction. The Print Shop Museum at the left houses a number of antique printing presses and "old time" printing elements used by Lone Scouts to produce Tribe papers and, later, newsletters mailed to other Lone Scout alumni.
* Annual Work Week usually held in mid-April
October 1915 through March 1924
The Beginnings
In 1910, William D. Boyce brought the Scouting plan to the United States and incorporated the Boy Scouts of America. He had intended the program to be for all boys. In 1915, because he was disturbed that farm and country boys were being left out of Scouting because of their isolation and inability to meet in Troop size groups, he organized the Lone Scouts of America, LSA. In the LSA, a boy, by himself, or with a few others, could enjoy Scouting, without any major expenses. Because of Boyce's background in publishing, and given the remoteness of the LSA membership, LSA had a strong program of writing and correspondence.
The first advertisement for this new organization appeared in Boyce's Chicago Ledger on October 30, 1915 and possibly also in the Saturday Blade and the Farming Business. Simultaneously, the first issue of Lone Scout magazine was delivered to each of his approximately 20,000 paper carriers. The LSA program was an instant hit, and started growing just like the BSA before it.
Recognition in LSA was achieved in three ways: Degree Work, Literary Achievement, and Promoting the Organization. As the Lone Scout progressed in his Scouting skills, he was awarded Degrees (1 through 7), and these Degrees made up the Lodges of LSA. Lone Scouts were encouraged to write and illustrate stories and published (not all articles made the cut) in Lone Scout magazine, local Tribe papers, and other publications. By Boostering or promoting LSA, and convincing other boys to join, the Lone Scout earned awards and titles, as well as recognition in Lone Scout.
It was Boyce's goal that LSA was to be self-supporting through the sales of Lone Scout magazine. However, as the years passed, Boyce spent thousands of dollars of his own funds to keep it afloat. By 1924, the yearly drain on Boyce's finances became too much, so he negotiated a merger of the LSA with the BSA in March 1924. Of the approximately 490,000 Lone Scouts that reregistered in 1922, about 45,000 Lone Scouts transferred to the BSA. This was primarily because the burden was on the BSA to recruit them and this was not easy. Also, at that time, few Lone Scouts read Boys' Life and were, perhaps, still stunned by the loss of Lone Scout and were ill disposed toward another magazine.
The other probable reason was that many Lone Scouts lived in Canada, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. BSA Lone Scouts peaked in 1926 at about 108,000. The BSA continued the Lone Scouts, replacing its less successful Pioneer Scout Program (which never had more than about 2,000 boys) as the official program for rural boys. For many years it was the Lone Scout Division, then, for the most part, it was absorbed into the mainstream of Scouting as the BSA reached more and more of the remote areas of the nation. By the mid 1930's, however, the BSA Lone Scout program had dropped to about 4000 members. Lone Scouting and Lone Cub Scouting still exist today as official programs, however the membership is now only a few hundred.
The Seven Degree Advancement Path
Advancing through the degrees, the Lone Scout earned ranks and badges of increasing prestige. It also gave the achiever a strong sense of self--worth, something these "isolated" boys had never experienced in any other way. Surely the legion of boys who joined the LSA, and especially those who persisted, enhanced their own lives and the lives and environment of others. The Seven-Degree system of advancement was continued without change until July 1, 1927 for all Lone Scouts.
The Tepee Lodge (First, Second and Third Degrees)
The First Degree (Lone Scout Degree) was published in the first issue of Lone Scout magazine, October 30, 1915. Its several tests challenged the novice to learn about his body and become aware of his relationships with other persons and the natural world. Upon mastering the tests of this degree, and then future degrees, the Lone Scout certified, on his honor, to Chief Totem that he had done so and became eligible to wear the badge of either the degree or lodge.
The Second Degree (Woodcraft) emblem is the crossed logs of the council fire. The twelve tests were designed to give the Lone Scout "a glimpse of life in its various phases and the forces which control it and those which threaten it...Finally [the Lone Scout looks] about...and find[s] that life is good and pleasant and that obedience to [Nature's] law has made the earth a pleasant place to live on. We judge from that that He who made this universe and sustains it by His will has good intentions to us, His creatures...It always was and always will be "so with the Great Spirit...Our only hope is to surrender ourselves to His will as near as we can find out what that will is and be instruments in the great work."
The Third Degree (The Degree of Lone Eagle) required the Lone Scout to learn the customs and respect concerning their nation's flag; sanitize drinking water in camp; make a fire with only two matches; know and be able to identify five different trees; know the hand signals of the U. S. Army used in the field; learn to use a knife, hatchet and ax correctly and know the "twelve rules of caution," learn the "Fireman's Lift" and its application; be able to tie five different knots correctly; learn the compass, know how to point north without aid of a compass, and know how to observe landmarks; learn how to make trail signs and mark a one--mile trail so that a brother Scout could trail your steps; learn how to identify five named constellations or any other five stars or groups of stars which are well known; and be able to identify five common weeds that are injurious to crops and learn how to prevent their spread.
The Totem Pole Lodge (Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Degrees)
The Fourth Degree (Lone Bachelor Degree)was the first of three degrees which had to be earned in order to earn the Totem Pole Lodge badge. The knowledge in this degree was aimed at getting the Lone Scout out into the woods for camping and living outdoors. It also included knowledge about the animals found in the outdoors. In addition, the Lone Scout was required to learn certain signals (railroad, semaphore, and hand signals) for sending messages over short distances, and "rules of the road" for automobiles and bicycles. Part of living outdoors was to build a shelter out of natural material large enough for two Scouts. Included also was knowledge of first aid for burns and scalds, bandaging and caring for injured persons, and using home remedies for cuts, toothaches, sunburn, etc. Walking the trail properly and building fireplaces were also items included. Each Lone Scout had to start a collection of ten natural objects with information about each item and a comparison of each with the others. Learning to mount and ride a horse or bicycle, or learn to drive an automobile or motorcycle. The last test was to learn to climb a tree using rope slings.
The Fifth Degree (Lone Woodsman Degree) continued the out of doors theme started with the Fourth Degree. It started with the Lone Scout selecting his own Totem, making it and placing on his own totem pole. It had been explained "at the conclusion of the Tepee Lodge, [that each Lone Scout now had the] right to set up a Lone Scout Totem Pole, upon which [was] placed a record of [his] accomplishment." The Lone Scout also was required to learn how to pitch a tent; how to treat sunstroke, heat exhaustion and shock; and how to make a short splice and lashings. Each Lone Scout was to learn how to rescue a person from drowning and apply artificial respiration. Other first aid requirements included the rendering of first aid in the case of bruises, strains, sprains and dislocations, In addition, the Morse Code was to be learned and used to solve a message. Knowledge of good and poisonous mushrooms was a requirement also. The Lone Scout had to learn three methods of measuring heights or distances and be able to verify them when possible. Making a workable model of a raft, sailboat, two-wheel cart or some other object was included in the requirements. Lastly, the Lone Scout had to learn and practice the art of stalking.
The Sixth Degree (Lone Hunter Degree) was the last degree needed for the Totem Pole Lodge badge. It started with learning the Wig-wag signal system, how to paddle a canoe or row a boat, and learning about five kinds of fish in the local area. In addition, each Lone Scout needed to learn the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes (and other harmful insects and animals). Furthering the Lone Scout's woodcraft skills required that he learn how to use an ax accurately and the required care of woods tools. He had to learn to know the tracks of any four wild animals. The personal totem pole started earlier was to be brought up to date with a symbol of all the achievements thus far in his Lone Scout career. Also included were the requirements to build at least one kind of bridge, learn to know the poison ivy plant and how to treat oneself if exposed, and learn how to make and use a small animal trap using natural materials. Also, the Lone Scout was to learn how to select good camping sites. The last requirement was to learn several strokes and swim at least 25 yards. When this degree was earned, the Lone Scout could apply for the Totem Pole Lodge badge.
The Sagamore Lodge (Seventh Degree)
The Seventh Degree offered three different choices. The first choice, Pioneering, could be compared with the modern day Pioneering merit badge except that the Lone Scout also had to learn how to prevent fires outdoors, how to construct a canoe, and learn how to mend garments, tools, and other pioneering implements. The boy had to make a survey of twenty acres of timberland, measure the streams, the height of landmarks, and the gradients thereon. The second choice, Woodcraft, concerned the outdoors and taught about the stars, weather, edible wild plants, and how to construct make-shift weapons for hunting food. The boy had to identify twelve different kinds of birds and wild flowers, six species of wild animals, ten species of trees. The ability to recognize the tracks of men, women, children and all principal domestic animals and follow, unnoticed, any one of them for one mile. Making a fire by friction using flint and steel and bow and drill was also required of the Lone Scout. The last test, a knowledge of angling, served the dual purpose of teaching the Lone Scout how to fish for locally available fish and to teach him how to improvise fishing equipment in cases of necessity. The third choice, Camping, could be compared with the modern day Camping merit badge with the additional requirements for planning and detailing all aspects of camp sanitation procedures for a group camping experience and "detailed activities which would be interesting as well as instructive in a Lone Scout camp."