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CAPT. AUGUST C. WAHL, MATE PASHLEY, et al : 1930s SUPER, ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT SHIP'S LOG DETAILING THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF ONE OF AMERICA'S FOREMOST YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMS

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is a rare handwritten log book of an American Sea Scout unit in the years prior to WWII. The hard bound volume measures 12.5 inches by 8.25 inches. The book was printed with 476 numbered pages. However, the first 28 pages have been removed. The log actually begins on page 29. The book is about 25% complete. It spans the period 1931 to 1939. The cover, bindings and pages are all in good condition. The hand writing is legible. The Sea Scouts are a constituent part of the Boy Scouts of America. Founded in 1910 by Baden-Powell in England, the program was established in the United States in 1912. The purpose of the program is to promote better citizenship and improved members' boating skills. The program is open to boys and girls age 14-21. The basic unit is called a 'Ship' and ships are sponsored by various community organizations. They are located all across the country. The Ship is led by the youth who belong to it, under the guidance of an adult skipper. This is the log book of a Sea Scout Ship at Jacks Island Base in Torresdale, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. The units name was "Nine Bells". The skipper is August C Wahl. Wahl was 27 years old at the time. He was an employee of the City of Philadelphia and worked as a juvenile probation officer/district supervisor in family court. He served with the Coast Guard in WWII. Wahl was born in 1904 and passed away in 2004. The log book details the routines in the life of the unit, particularly the weekly meetings: "8.15 Yeoman read the treasury report and collected dues and money for various incidentals 8.30 OD struck one bell. 1st Mate Pashley instructed a large group on the rules of the road. Mate Soron instructed some new applicants on sea history and cabin boy tests 9.00 OD struck two bells and gear was stowed for ten minute recess" [p 29]; "9.55 OD called for attention and Sea Scout Promise was repeated. H Laessig appointed to relieve the OD. Side boys took their place and the Skipper went ashore. All hands faced aft and the colors were lowered. 10.00 OD struck four bells, crews were dismissed and ship secured" [p 39]; "On Feb 14th, 1931, the Ship had its first Ball, held at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. The guests included a number of officers and citizens involved in the program, as well as guests from the Philadelphia Naval Yard. Whatever happy feeling that resulted from the Ball evaporated when they discovered that during the evening, two prospective Sea Scouts had drowned while everyone was at the Ball." In Memorium Today is one that we do not like to write about but must do it in respects to two brother Scouts. .... Skipper Wahl was notified in the afternoon and went to the morgue in Palmyra NJ to identify the body. The body of Ed O'Brien has not been found as yet." [p. 43]; "On Feb 16th, the body of the 2nd Scout was found. Paul Waldenmayer and Ed O'Brien were buried later that week." The log continues on over the next few years, detailing training, development of seamanship skills, community service activities, events such as dances and cruses taken to fulfill Sea Scout requirements. This is a unique and detailed picture of the pre-war youth training program of one of America's leading youth organizations. It is an excellent description and provides the basis for a very clear comparison to the programs today, both within Scouting and without. Genealogists and family historians will appreciate that a number of full names are used which can assist in tracing family histories.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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