York-Adams Area Council Squadron Sea Scout Ships

Chapter 9

York-Adams Area Council Squadron Sea Scout Ships

SSS YORKTOWN – SES 460, SES 91, SSS 64

The York-Adams Area Squadron’s current senior ship in terms of longevity is SSS YORKTOWN. YORKTOWN, named for both the colonial name of the City of York and the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier of the same name, was founded in September 1960 and was sponsored by the U.S. Naval Reserve Surface Division 4-60 as Sea Scout Ship 460. The group met at the Naval Ordnance Plant, Arsenal Road, York, PA with James Schwartzer, Skipper, from September 1960 to September 1963. Skipper Schwartzer was the first Sea Scout Leader from the Council to earn the Seabadge trident, the Sea Scouting equivalent of land Scouting’s Woodbadge beads.1

Photo (above) taken on 29 April 1961 at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat Show in Hanover, PA. Left to right: James Schwartzer, P. Stevens, C. Gotwalt, Don Young, W. Hansford, and W. Bowers.2

On ______, SES 460, completed a weekend training cruise onboard USS SNOWDEN (DE-246), a Naval Reserve Destroyer Escort homeported in Philadelphia, PA. The cruise was arranged through LCDR Earl Brown, Commanding Officer of the local Reserve unit. The Sea Scouts slept onboard, ate their meals with the reservist crew, and observed the crew’s drills. A movie was also shown onboard and enjoyed by the Scouts.3 Seated (L to R): Herb Horn, Eric Winkelman, Mike Swift, William LaPrarie, Curt March (rear), Henry Doll, Carl Kauffman, and Lee Schell. Standing (L to R): Charles Rupp, E. Ickes, Jim Schwartzer, and

1 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003. 2 Identifications per back of photograph from Donald R. Young’s Ship 460 scrapbook. 3 Donald R. Young, Ship 460 Scrapbook.

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Ron Rudy.4

SSS YORKTOWN, then SES YORKTOWN, was rechartered as Sea Explorer Ship 91 sponsored by Faith United Church of Christ, Pacific Avenue in York, from September 1963 to December 1980, with Perry E. Young and later his brother Donald R. Young as skipper.5

In December 1980 SES YORKTOWN was rechartered as Sea Explorer Ship 64 sponsored by Messiah United Methodist Church of North York in Indian Rock – later York Imperial, now First Capital District, Donald R. Young, Skipper, where she remains today as SSS YORKTOWN.6

4 Identifications as per back of photograph. 5 Perry E. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003. 6 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003.

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Photos From Sea Explorer Ship YORKTOWN’s Photo Album

Ship 91 Canoe Trip – August 1968 Ship 91 Canoe Trip – August 1968 Conodoguinet Creek, PA Conodoguinet Creek, PA In the photo at left from the York Dispatch of 14 April 1977: “Four Yorkers were among a group of 88 Sea Explorer executives who attended a three-day meeting at the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Fla. The executives represent youths in this area. They toured Navy facilities and discussed Sea Explorer business during an educational orientation visit. Pictured with Capt. T. F. Rush, center, commanding officer of the training carrier USS Lexington, are, from left, Donald Young, Bradley Ayres, James Schwartzer and Allen Myers. The group viewed flights operations aboard the ship.

Landship from 1983 Bridge of Honor and Sea Explorer Ball in Philadelphia. Sea Explorer Kathy Bowers and Skipper Skipper Don Young in background Don Young (right) at 1983 Bridge of Honor and Sea Scout Ball, Philadelphia

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Photos from Sea Explorer Ship YORKTOWN’s Photo Album

Sea Scouting Display at the Landship gangway at the 1983 Explorer Dinner (L to R) Kathy 1983 Explorer Dinner (L to R) Kathy Bowers, Tammy Little, and Mary Young, Bowers, Tammy Little, and Steve Bowers. Chairperson of the Ship Committee 8-9 March 1986 – Gettysburg, PA

“Fun and games for 150 explorers.

GETTYSBURG – A group of Explorers from Ship 64, sponsored by Don Young’s Furniture in York, arrived at the Sheraton Inn Saturday for an Explorer Weekend event. From left are, Bev Bortz, Cookie Knisley, Jennifer Painter, Crystal Tate, Lyz Emminger and Nadine Hagen, ready with their baggage and portable stereo. The weekend is full of seminars and social activities. About 150 Explorers and leaders are attending the event, which ends today.”

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1961 – SES YORKTOWN crew enjoying a game of miniature golf near Spry, York County. Don Young, Skipper of SES YORKTOWN, is piped aboard at the Delaware Valley Bridge of Honor in 1986

1961 – SES YORKTOWN – Sea Explorer Ship 460 looking sharp in undress whites at B.S.A. National Headquarters, Brunswick, New Jersey

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SSS YORKSHIRE – Sea Scout Ship 25

The other currently active Sea Scout ship in our Squadron is SSS YORKSHIRE, chartered on 15 May 2000 as Sea Scout Ship 25 to Yorkshire United Methodist Church, 125 Edgewood Road, York, PA, George Hay Kain, III, Skipper. YORKSHIRE is named for her sponsoring church, for the County she serves, and for a famous clipper ship of the same name. She has adopted as her emblem the 1930’s Sea Scouts sweater patch,

YORKSHIRE has been extremely active since her launch, regularly attending the Chesapeake Flotilla Wardroom events such as the Nygard Regatta, Catoctin Winter Training Weekend, Chesapeake Regatta, Deep Creek Summer Training Weekend. Her crew also attends the Northeast Region Bridges of Honor and Sea Scout Balls as well as the Regional Sailing Championships each year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. In 2002 one of her teams won a spot to attend the National Sea Scout Sailing Championships in Chicago, IL. Her 2000 long cruise was a 6-week tour of the waters from Cape Cod to the Chesapeake. In 2001 the long cruise was 2 weeks in the British Virgin Islands in company with two Maryland Sea Scout ships. In 2002, a large YORKSHIRE crew attended the Northeast Region ScoutFleet 2002 event in New York Harbor celebrating the 90th anniversary of Sea Scouting in America. Some of her crew returned by sea with Ship 548 of Avenue, MD onboard SSTV SEA EAGLE, covering the Atlantic coast from Staten Island, NY to the Patuxent River in MD. YORKSHIRE was the first Sea Scout crew to accomplish the Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (C.O.P.E.) course at the South Mountain Sea Scout Training Facility, a/k/a Camp Tuckahoe, and was the first crew ever to have female members also accomplish the final optional element of the course. Her crew served on staff for the First Capital District Fall Camporee in 2002, and attends mall shows regularly. YORKSHIRE was asked to provide the color guard for the 2003 York-Adams Area Council Dinner.

YORKSHIRE has an extensive website which is located at http://ship25bsa.org. On that site are detailed descriptions of the crew’s adventures to date along illustrated by an extensive collection of digital photographs.

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Selections from SSS YORKSHIRE – Ship 25’s Patch Collection

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SSS YORKSHIRE – Sea Scout Ship 25 at ScoutFleet 2002, INTREPID Sea Air Space Museum, New York City, 27 July 2003. (L to R: Skipper George Kain, Boatswain’s Mate Matt Wagner, Boatswain Emeritus Adam Blackford, Specialist Chris Sheaffer, Boatswain Tim Klinedinst, Storekeeper Isaiah Landis, Yeoman Amanda Klinedinst, Crewmembers Ashley Nearhoof and Amanda Glusco, Purser Leah Snyder, Committee Chairman Wesley Garrod, YAAC Commodore Don Young, and Mate Mary Wills.

Photo (left) of then Boatswain Adam Blackford onboard SSTV TWIZZLER at anchor in Chatham Roads, MA during Long Cruise 2000. Signal hoist displays the Hydrographic Office Publication 102 signals for “Wishing You a Pleasant Voyage.”

SSS YORKTOWN and SSS YORKSHIRE are only the latest of many Sea Scout ships that have served the older youth of the York-Adams Area Council. A 1948 issue of the York-Adams Area Council’s Scout Duffel (a predecessor to today’s YAAC) (probably the February issue) mentions Ships 17, 37, and 44.7

7 Donald R. Young, current (2003) York-Adams Area Squadron Commodore, telephone interview conducted 5 February 2003 by George Hay Kain, III, Skipper of SSS YORKSHIRE – Sea Scout Ship 25 of York, PA.

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SSS MATTHEW HENSON – Sea Scout Ship 11

Ship 11, SSS MATTHEW HENSON, sponsored by [probably Crispus Attucks community center], is the earliest Sea Scout ship in our Council that I have been able to document. It was mentioned in the January 10, 1933 and March 16, 1933 newspaper articles quoted above. Ivan Reeves was the skipper.

The April 1, 1933 article quoted above mentions Sea Scout patrols being formed in troops in the Red Lion area at St. Paul’s Evangelical church, Joseph Hidebrand, Skipper; Bethany United Brethren church, Curvin Ness, skipper; and Springvale troop, Charles Kyle, skipper.

It is not clear how the first Sea Scout patrols or ships in our council lasted. An unidentified holographic note attached to a collection of early newspaper clippings concerning Sea Scouting in the York-Adams area mentions that a “troop” of Sea Scouts was organized by Commodore Haines on June 12, 1939 at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 700 East Market Street in York. “Noted that this will be the only sea scout troop in York.” Stewart L. Olewiler, of 729 Wallace Street, is identified as the Scoutmaster.8

It seems that the first rush of enthusiasm for Sea Scouting had dampened somewhat by 1939. The lease on the Sea Scout base John Paul Jones on the Susquehanna River was transferred to the York Hiking Club, a process in which my father was instrumental. The York Hiking Club actively uses John Paul Jones Cabin to this day, and my Ship, SSS YORKSHIRE, holds its annual Sea Scout Quarterdeck Training weekend there. It’s a nice feeling to keep a Sea Scouting connection with this great stone cabin that was constructed as a home for the lockkeeper on the Pennsylvania and Tidewater Canal in the early 1800’s, and was used later as a sea base by the first Sea Scouts of our council.

8 Photocopy of note attached to file of copies of news articles relating to Sea Scouting received from John Seville of the York Hiking Club.

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SSS SEA HOUND – Sea Scout Ship 17

A Sea Scout Ship from out council that clearly did flourish and become synonymous with Sea Scouting for over ten decades was Ship 17, SSS SEA HOUND, sponsored by the Anchor Club of the YMCA in Indian Rock District. SEA HOUND started as a Sea Scout patrol within Troop 7 of York, David H. Glatfelter, Scoutmaster. When Glatfelter returned to York after his World War II service in the United States Coast Guard, he organized a separate Sea Scout Ship 17. Skipper Glatfelter served Ship 17 for 26 years until his death in 1974. Earl Gibbs, Jr. took over Ship 17 and served as skipper until 1976 when the ship was decommissioned.9 Ship 17 went on a number of summer Long Cruises. Skipper Glatfelter prepared elaborate certificates and cards as souvenirs of these cruises.

9 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003.

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Skipper Dave Glatfelter sent his compatriot Skipper Luther Lease of Ship 37 a post card from Ship 17’s 1965 cruise from Cambridge, MD on August 4, 1965. Glatfelter had gone to the trouble and expense of having special postcards made up showing the vessel his ship used for the cruise. (Possibly this is why there was 1 cent postage due).

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Troop 7, and therefore presumably Ship 17, had the distinction of having its own log cabin on the banks of the Susquehanna River known as “Lookout Lodge”. Dave

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Glatfelter also allowed his property at Lake Pinchot to be used by Ship 17 as a Land Base. Skipper Glatfelter and the Ship 17 Land Base at Lake Pinchot are discussed in more detail in a separate Chapter.10

10 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003.

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SSS/SES ALEXANDER D. GOODE – Sea Scout Ship 37

York Lodge B’nai B’rith #1157 in the White Rose District sponsored Ship 37 commencing March 1, 1946 with Sol Singerman, Skipper. The ship remained in commission for 29 years until it failed to recharter on March 1, 1975. Luther Lease served as skipper for most of the latter years, commencing in about 1961. 11

Ship 37 was named the ALEXANDER D. GOODE after Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, one of the founders and first Committeeman of Troop 37. Rabbi Goode was one of the four chaplains who gave up their life preservers to others when the troopship S.S. DORCHESTER was torpedoed off Greenland on the night of February 3, 1943. For this act of supreme heroism and self-sacrifice for the good of others, Rabbi Goode was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

During it’s almost 30 years in commission, Ship 37 was one of the leading Ships of the Council, participating in virtually all of the Squadron’s various activities, often in conjunction with her running mate, SSS/SES SEA HOUND – Sea Explorer Ship 17.

11 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003 and review of Ship’s documents provided by Luther Lease.

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In the ALEXANDER D. GOODE’s final charter year, March 1, 1974 to February 28, 1975, the roster shows: Chartered to York Lodge #1157, B’nai B’rith,; James Trattner, Institution Representative; Harry Welber, Committee Chairman,\; Leon Butler, Barry Cluck, Michael Goldstein, Paul Leiphart, Thomas R. Reynold , and Bernie Zuckerman, Committeemen; Luther Lease, Skipper, and James Trattner, Mate. The final 6 youth members of Ship 37 were: Robert Lease, Jeff Leiphart, Jeff Peters, Bruce A. Smith, Joel Stover, and James Stover.

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Sea Scout Ship 44

A third Sea Scout Ship is reported as being organized during 1947: Ship No. 44 chartered to “Group of Citizens of Windsor”, Theodore F. Arnold, Skipper; Paul V. Cunkle, Ship Committee Chairman.

SES MARLIN – Sea Explorer Ship 45

Ship 45, SES MARLIN, sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church of Spry, Allen Myers, Skipper, was active from 1961 to 1985.12 Skipper Myers was originally a Sea Scout in Dave Glatfelter’s Ship 17 and was a crewmember on the cruise of the schooner Catherine in 1946 as related earlier. Al Myers recalls that in 1965 Ship 45 chartered a skipjack out of Cambridge, MD, and took another Chesapeake Bay cruise.13

Sea Explorer Ship 104

Sea Explorer Ship 104, Raymond Wilt, Skipper. Active at least in 1969.

Sea Explorer Ship 647

In 1974 there was also a Ship 647, SES ______, Dwight L. Myers, Skipper, in the Hanover area chartered to Dubbs Church.14

Sea Explorer Ship 657

Ship 657, SES ______, John L. Ennis, Skipper, was chartered to the Lion’s Club of New Freedom from 1973 to 1983.15 Skipper Ennis (2nd from left in photo) received the Exploring Division Award of Merit at the 5th annual York- Adams Area Council Exploring Awards Dinner at the Avalon Restaurant in 1978. Therefore, the tradition of an Exploring dinner must have started in 1974.

12 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003. 13 Allen Myers, telephone interview with George Kain, 12 February 2003. 14 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003. 15 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003.

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Other Notes

Edward Huston was the Pennsylvania Sea Exploring Commodore in 1976. He was followed by Rear Admiral Dean B. Sciler, SC, USNR (Ret) sometime prior to December 1978.16

16 Donald R. Young, telephone interview with George Kain, 5 February 2003.

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