Here we continue our analysis (see part 1) of this photo from the Boy Scouts of America:

I had a good feeling that we could find out more about this photo, because of the following clues:

Clue #4 – Richard H. Pugh Realtor

Clue #5 – 325 Garde Building

Clue #6 – Building Tenants

[G or C]M KRINSKY, MD – NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY

JOSEPH BECKER, MD – DISEASES OF THE SKIN

DR JOSEPH D. GIT[LIN], DENTIST

GREENES, LAW

HELLER

What surprised me is how quickly our readers figured out the location of this photo.

Here is how it unfolded.  I posted the original challenge on 10 Aug 2010 at 8:40 am. 

Just 2 hours later (10:50 am), Jennifer made the following comment:

1910′s? Really?

I’m guessing somewhere around 1941 in New London, CT.

I must be WAAY off.

Now that we are into the analysis, it appears that she was spot on.  I’m still not sure how Jennifer came to the conclusion of New London, CT.

She was not the only one.  By 5:07 pm that same night, EddieB commented:

The photo is taken in front of the Grande Building, 325 State Street
New London, CT.

Sorry, I really blew that, its the Garde Building, 325 State Street
New London, CT

Now we had a street address, but we needed more proof.

On 11 Aug 2010 at 9:43 am, Jill joined the investigation with this information on our dentist, Joseph D. Gitlin:

University of Maryland GRADUATION EXERCISES Baltimore and College Park Divisions RITCHIE COLISEUM SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE FOURTH AT FOUR O’CLOCK 1932 lists a graduate of the School of Dentistry: Joseph D. Gitlin of Connecticut. A search on Ancestry.com revealed a family tree with a Joseph Donald Gitlin; I’ve inquired if he was a dentist.

We have our first Connecticut connection!

At 10:52 am, Jennifer provides a key piece of information:

I agree with previous commenters that the building is in New London, 325 State Street. Now the Garde Arts Center.

GenealogyBank carries the Springfield Republican, in which paper there are a few ads for Richard H. Pugh, Realtor, 345 State Street, New London, CT (these ads date from 1946-1948). There is also an article regarding Pugh’s marriage to Elizabeth Wilson in 1935, which article again states he is in “the real estate and insurance business in New London, CT”.

We have the address of the Pugh realty office and it matches perfectly as being next to 325.

At 11:29 am, Jill adds:

Richard H. Pugh, Realtor – listed in New London, CT, phone book 1953-1965 per Ancestry.com

John J. Tierney added the following on 12 Aug 2010 at 8:24 am:

Here’s a Google street view of the 325 State Street address EddieB listed – does looks like a match: http://bit.ly/bFYGML

Also, found a CT death index listing for Richard H. Pugh in New London – business: Real Estate.

Name: Richard H Pugh
Father’s Surname: Pugh
Death Date: 8 Dec 1989
Death Place: New London, New London, Connecticut
Age: 89 Years
Birth Place: New York
Birth Date: 6 Jan 1900
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Kathr
State File #: 27299
Occupation: REAL EST & INS
Industry: RICHARD PUGH AGCY
Education: College
Residence : New London, New London, Connecticut
Address: 993 Pequot Av 063202825
Gender: Male
Race: White

Red Herring

Both John and Jill found the same New York Times article for a Richard H. Pugh who was a real estate man in Philadelphia:

10 Aug 2010 at 10:34 am by John

To throw a wrench into things, searching for the “Richard H. Pugh Realtor” company behind them offers a NY Times Obit for a man of that name in 1935.
If the obit references the owner of the company it is in Philadelphia.
Of course, the company could easily have continued into the 1940s – the obit mentions his wife, a son and 2 daughters.
Obit here: http://drop.io/zswaqkv7641

11 Aug 2010 at 9:43 am by Jill

New York Times article 17 Sept. 1935, pg 23, Social News Books Section: “RICHARD H. PUGH.; Philadelphia Real Estate Man Built More Than 1,000 Homes.”

Interesting that there are two men named Richard H. Pugh that both were into real estate. One died in 1935 and the other in 1989. I wonder if there was a family relationship?

Remember the shoulder patches on the Scout uniform?

Clue #7 – Shoulder Patches

NEW [?]

22[?]

Clue #8 – Shoulder Patch #2

WA[?]

They are community or council patches.  It is possible that the first one says “NEW LONDON” and the second could be for the nearby community of Waterford or the more distant communities of Watertown or Waterbury.

The Garde Office Building is now part of the Garde Arts Center and together with the Mercer and Meridian buildings form an “arts block” of historic buildings. We continue to learn from the History of the Garde page, that all three buildings were built between 1924 and 1926.

Here is a photo from Google Maps of the block:

If I am interpreting the photo correctly, then the doorway with the big “G” by it is the same as the doorway to the right on the Scout photo.  The first window to the left of the “G” is where Richard H. Pugh had his realty office.

I am confident that we have found the correct address, but there are a few items of extra credit:

1. How has the building facade changed since the early 1940s?  I would like to see an older photo of the building to compare with the Scout photo.
2. Is there anything that we can learn by looking at a Sanborn map of the city (post 1926)?
3. Is there a 1940s city directory for New London and can we find all the building tenants in it?
4. Are there any Scout troops in New London whose troop number starts with 22 that date back to 1940?
5. By using the Minuteman design of the defense bonds (and the dates it was used) and knowing the location (and weather information) can we pinpoint a year and month range when the photo was taken?
6. Are there any clues at to what time of day the photo was taken?

From the original post we are dealing with a photo from the BSA site that is listed as being from the 1910s with a title of Defending Liberty.

Clue #1 – For Defense

John J. Tierney did some investigating and he thinks that the Minuteman image is from the WWII bonds and not WWI:

At first look I would have guessed this is a 1910s photo as well – but when searching for that particular Minuteman image and the savings stamps associated with it, the only references I am finding are from a 1941 (and subsequent years) WWII savings stamp program.

See this postal museum presentation for several slides beginning at page 32. The beginning of the presentation shows WWI era stamp programs, but those appear to have used Founding Fathers as the images.
http://bit.ly/9RJKcy

Also look about 3/4 of the way down this page for some more info – including a statement that in “May, 1941 the America on Guard series appeared…”
http://chsclassof1963.webs.com/piecesofchshistory.htm

Here is a link that I found about Boy Scouts selling defense savings stamps in 1941 with the Minuteman logo:

Also note their uniforms compared to the one below.

The United States was involved in World War I from 1917-1918 and in World War II from 1941-1945.  The Wikipedia page for War bond shows some examples of WWI bonds as well as a video of Franklin D. Roosevelt introducing the Series E Bond which looks like the design the boys are holding in our original photo. Interestingly the first Series E Bond was sold on May 1, 1941 as a “defense bond” but the name was later changed to “war bond”.   There were 8 different war loan “drives” from 30 Nov 1942 to 8 Dec 1945, although Series E bonds continued to be sold until June 1980.

I wonder if the wording “For Defense” limits the time frame of our photo to May 1, 1941 – November 30, 1942.

So quite unintentionally we discover that this photo from the 1910s is really from the 1940s. 

Clue #2 – Scout Uniform

Using A Guide to dating and identifying Boy Scouts of America Badges, Uniforms & Insignia by Mitch Reis we can learn the following about the Scout’s uniform:

1. The tan long sleeve shirt issued from 1910 to 1918 had no pocket strip and the shirt from 1918-1920 had a 2 line “Boy Scouts of America” pocket strip. The uniform color changed to khaki starting in 1946.

The uniform in the photo has a 1 line pocket strip which has been the design from 1920 to the present:

2. The boy in the photo is wearing Scout breeches that had lace on the leg below the knee:

Breeches were issued from 1910-1946.  The olive drab stockings worn over the breeches were issued from 1910-1944.

3. Most Scouts are wearing what would be considered low crown hats:

As compared to the boy who is wearing the high crown hat:

High crown, wide brim felt campaign hats were available from 1910-1920 whereas the low crown hats are from 1921 to the present.

4. Metal rank or office badges were worn on hats from 1917-1946.  From this photo we see that there are the following ranks: 4 Tenderfoot, 2 Second Class, and 1 First Class.

5. On 4 of the uniforms on the left shoulder we can see an arch with letters on it.  This could be either a community strip (red on tan, 1929-1945) or a council shoulder insignia (red on tan, 1930-1945).

So just from the uniforms the photo dates from 1930-1944.

In the next part, we will continue our analysis and see why some people think this photo was taken in New London, CT.

Here are various clues that I found in the photo that might help us figure out more about it.

Clue #1 – For Defense

Clue #2 – Scout Uniform

Clue #3 – Different Scout Uniform?

Clue #4 – Richard H. Pugh Realtor

Clue #5 – 325 Garde Building

Clue #6 – Building Tenants

[G or C]M KRINSKY, MD – NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY

JOSEPH BECKER, MD – DISEASES OF THE SKIN

DR JOSEPH D. GIT[LIN], DENTIST

GREENES, LAW

HELLER

Clue #7 – Shoulder Patches

NEW [?]

22[?]

Clue #8 – Shoulder Patch #2

WA[?]

Clue #9 – Additional Signs

Although I can’t make anything out of them yet, maybe you can.

What is this item? A newspaper stand?

The following are some ideas of resources that you might use:

• Census records
• City directories
• A Guide to dating and identifying Boy Scouts of America Badges, Uniforms & Insignia by Mitch Reis

Good luck!

Update:

To follow the analysis of these clues read:

• Scout Photo Detective Challenge – Analysis 1
• Scout Photo Detective Challenge – Analysis 2

The photo is from the BSA site, is titled Defending Liberty, and is categorized as being taken in the 1910s.  Here is a link to the photo.

There are plenty of clues in the photo that hopefully we can figure out where this photo was taken and a narrower time of when it was taken.

Please comment on this blog (or on your own) with what you find.

Good luck!

It is a wet and windy Thursday night in Mesa, Arizona.  I was able to get the Scouting Heritage booth setup at the Family History Expo.  A big thanks to all those who helped this idea become reality.

The Story

About a month ago I got the idea of doing a Scouting booth at the Arizona Family History Expo.  After all, it is Scouting’s 100th anniversary and I couldn’t think of a better group of people to share it with than those attending the expo.

The first contact I tried to make with the Boy Scouts was the Grand Canyon Council.  I mistakenly thought that there was already a group at council that would be interested in such an event and would already have the resources to make it happen. Now it was already the first week in January. 

I next tried the Mesa District since the expo falls within their boundaries and it would be easier to get local volunteers.  The timing must have been bad as they couldn’t offer any assistance.

I was about to give up on the whole idea, but couldn’t let it go.  I live in North Phoenix which is 40 minutes from where the expo would be held.  I decided to contact the Thunderbird district executive, Carol Chacon, to see if there was anything she could do.

This week started and I had to make the go/no go decision.  I decided to go ahead with the booth even if I had to do everything myself.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to.  My wonderful wife was there with a huge vote of support.  She outlined the 10’ x 10’ booth space in our living room and helped me gather items from our family & troop.  I can honestly say that without her, this would have never happened.  Thank you!

There were still 3 things that we needed: a “Boy Scouts of America” banner, posters, & brochures.  Carol was able to gather some brochures and we stopped by the Scout shop to buy some posters.  There was a great 100th anniversary banner that cost $70 that would have been perfect.  As a thrify Scout, I couldn’t justify paying for it for this one event.  Too bad there wasn’t one available from council that they could rent out for $10 to any district that needed it.  I ended up in a storage room looking through old banners to see if I could find one that would work.  I finally found the one that I ended up using, but the bottom half of the banner said “POW WOW”.  Being resourceful, I folded it in half and shortened one end so that it would fit in the booth.

This is what an empty booth looks like:

Early this week I called Holly Hansen, President of Family History Expos, Inc. to ask if there was any way the Boy Scouts could get some help with the booth fee.  She said that she would make it happen.  When I arrived tonight, I found that Scott Wilson from OneGreatFamily.com had a booth next to mine and that he paid the full cost of booth space for the Scouts.  What a wonderful thing to do.  I can’t thank him enough.

I also contacted some staff and attendees from the Woodbadge course I took about 4 years ago to see if they could volunteer at the booth.  Thank you to those who will be coming to help.

So one guy with a crazy idea and a wonderful wife and a small group of supporters can pull together a Scouting Heritage booth for a family history conference in less than 1 week.

The Tour

The back of the booth has a banner, Scouting shirts, and posters:

Along the right side is a table with various Scouting books including a reprint of the original Boy Scout handbook, a book of Norman Rockwell Scouting illustrations, current Scout handbook, Fieldbook, and a book about dating Scout memorabilia.  At the end of the table and on the floor are Pinewood Derby cars.  There are also pamphlets to visitors can take.

Starting on the left side in the back is a camp table showing knots & lashings.  It also contains various patches I’ve collected.  On this table is another reprint of the original Scout handbook that will be one of two prizes given out on Saturday.  This is where the visitor fills out an entry form.

Next to it is a Dutch oven hanging from a tripod.  This is where the entry forms will be put.  Completing the booth are two camp chairs and a small peach tree.  The tree is the 2nd prize and is there to symbolize the outdoors as well as the centennial tree-planting campaign.

Video

It is going to be a very busy next two days.  I am excited to see how the Scouting Heritage booth is received at the conference.  Maybe if it successful enough, someone else will take the challenge to have a Scouting Heritage booth at each of the Family History Expos in 2010.

What have you done that is similar to this?  What do you think of Scouting heritage booths at family history conferences?  Any ideas on how to make these more successful and more of a team effort?  What is something that you learned as a Scout or because of the Scouting values?

On Thursday, December 10th, the Boy Scouts of America will kickoff its centennial celebration with an audiocast.

Those presenting are:

Randall Stephenson,
AT&T Chairman and CEO and 100th Anniversary Chair

 John Gottschalk,
BSA National President

 Bob Mazzuca,
Chief Scout Executive

 Tico Perez,
BSA National Commissioner

 Jack Furst,
BSA National Executive Board

Register by 6:55 p.m. Eastern time to be eligilble for audiocast giveaway prizes:

• Two tickets to Gala Twenty-Ten, a very special and elegant 100th Anniversary event in Washington, D.C. on February 9, 2010. One night’s hotel stay is included.
• A signed, limited and special edition print of Joseph Csatari’s 100th Anniversary painting.
• A specially packaged, limited edition U.S. Mint commemorative coin honoring BSA’s 100 years.

Come join the fun and learn what you can do to help BSA support 100 years!

Submitted by Sheri Fenley

Stanley Beffort
Salina, Kansas
(c) 1953

Submitted by Sheri Fenley

Stanley Beffort
Salina, Kansas
(c) 1949