Monday, March 09, 2009

Boy Scout Troop 26 of Santa Ana

OCThen reader, "92707", asks if anyone out there was a former boy scout troop member in Santa Ana...

Anyone out there who was also a member of Boy Scout Troop 26 in Santa Ana? The troop that was sponsored by the Santa Ana Police Department. We had our own building on the south side of what was then the Santa Ana Community Center when Civic Center Drive was still named 8th Street. For me it was a family tradition belonging to 26. At the Scout-O-Rama's we were often called the best-fed troop in Orange County!

21 comments:

  1. I was in troop 19 in Santa Ana. Our scout house was at the south end of Broadway, just before it curved into Main St. (South East corner of Broadway & Anahurst). It appears in Google that the original building is still there, but surrounded by other large buildings and fences) I also remember going to the Jamboree and Camp Rokali (not sure of spelling) in the San Bernadino Mountains.

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    1. Troop 21 st anne church main st santa ana

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  2. Cox Pilot,,
    Remember 19 too - it was a classy troop. Bob Luxembourger, the scoutmaster for many years, was my neighbor. Remember when Bob was severely burned doing a safety demo at a scout function at Santa Ana Bowl?

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  3. I was in the class of 1969 at SAHS and I was a member of Troop/Pack 166. I think the Cubs met at Madison Elementary and the Boys Scouts met at a Church somewhere around E. Bishop and Standard Avenue.
    So I was a Scout from 1959-1966 in that area.
    Bob Luxembourger, sure sounds familiar to me. I know my brother went to school with Jerry Luxembourger.

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  4. http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt9n39p7qs/

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  5. I was a member of Troop 26 from about 1953 to 1956. Santa Ana Police Officer Dean Breecher (sp?) was the Scoutmaster. All the leaders were super. Several of my Glenn L. Martin Elementary and Lathrop Jr. High friends were in the troop. Also guys from Willard Jr. High and Santa Ana High. We also had an Explorer Post that was attached to our troop.

    My uncles had also been members of the troop.

    Yes, we did meet at the south end of the former S.A. Community Center. We met in one of the old military buildings - "The Hut" (I believe it had been brought in from S.A. Air Base after WW2). We had a great time. Sometimes we would dig a pit in the dirt outside the hut, have a campfire, and cook our dinner.

    We also had fantastic camping trips. Many in Trabuco Canyon and Camp RoKiLi at Barton Flats. We were, indeed, the "best fed" troop in the county, but I remember one trip to Trabuco Canyon when Dean Breecher only brought canned milk; no fresh. We had to use it on our cereal and dilute it for drinking. We all hated it.

    We also went other places. We were a "host" troop at the 1953 Jamboree on the Irvine Ranch overlooking Back Bay (Newport Dunes). My mom kept practically every news article from the S.A. Register which pertained to the Jamboree. I still have them. She also was the "Doughnut Kettle Queen" of the Jamboree because she guessed how many doughnuts the scouts would inhale during the time they were there.

    We also helped construct the Peace Officers outdoor firing range located about where Angel Stadium or the Honda Arena ("The Pond") is now. Because we worked on the shooting range and were a part of the "Police Troop," we were allowed to practice with our .22 rifles there. I was Junior Assistant Scoutmaster before I was asked to join a new troop (940) at Wilshire Presbyterian Church and work with kids just coming out of Cub Scouts.

    I also remember Bob Luxembourger. Great guy. I do remember when he got burned at the Scout-O-Rama. We lived two houses from him on Rosewood Ave. I also remember well when his oldest son, Terry, got polio. My mom used to work a lot with him to help with his walking.

    I'm sure there are a lot more things I could write about concerning Troop 26, but I've rambled enough. They were great times, great memories.

    Don

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  6. I was in troop 940 from Wilshire Presbyterian Church. Live on Rosewood street at Borchard in the 60's. Achieved Eagle in 1972. Great friends, memories and times.

    Thomas_neely@bellsouth.net

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  7. I still have the big group photo from Camp RoKiLi. I remember when I was there it rain a lot, and we all got wet because of the lack of tents.

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  8. I to was at RoKaLi. It is a very fond memory. Does anyone remember the tap out or capture the flag? Troop 110.

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  9. My older brothers were members of Bob Luxembourger's troop. Can't wait to share this with them.

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  10. I was in troop 19 in Santa Ana when Bob Luxembourger was scout master. One time we rode bikes with our packs to a campout and I was on a tandem bike with Terry and he could not pedal because of his polio. On another trip to San Diego Zoo about hald way home we discovered someone was missing and had to go back and get him. His brother was with us and didn't know he was not on the bus. I have many memories from Boy Scouts.

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  11. If any of you former Santa Ana scouts would like to help rebuild the Scouting program in Santa Ana, please contact me! We only have 5 traditional units in the area. Troop 26 is no longer active, only Troop 28, and the newer Troop 265 in the southside.
    thomash@ocbsa.org

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  12. I'm sure there are a lot more things I could write about concerning Troop 26, but I've rambled enough. They were great times, great memories.

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  13. Gene Osteen, Terry and Jerry Lux. WOW! Now there's some names from the past!
    Chris Carroll

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  14. Troop 156 at Monte Vista and 239 at Smedley.

    239 was a great troop.

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  15. Hi my Name is Rick Horton, I was the senior patrol leader from about 68 to 70 if I remember right. Sgt Lee J, Danner was the scout master; we were a rug tag group but in 69 I think it was. we won first place in all the events at Irvine lake. at the time we were made up of a lot of inter city kid's that did not have a lot.

    I remember all the families pulling in to help buy uniforms for the boys who were unable to buy them.
    I later moved on to Post 50 disbanded long ago and was a O.A. Brotherhood member. anyone wish more information about my time in troop 26 may E-mail me at rlhltd@suddenlink.net

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  16. I was a member of Troop 19. Bob Luxembourger was the consummate scout master. Many great times.

    Bill Chilson

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  17. Hi. My name is Bob Starner and I remember boy scout troop 341 from city of orange going to camp Rokali twice for summer camp and once for winter camp. That was around 1962.

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  18. I was a member of scout troop 26 in the late 60`s, Early 70`s. Mr.Jabbs and Mr. Rocha, officers of the SAPD were our scout masters. A lot of fun times back then.

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  19. I was a member of Troop 165 from 1963 to 1970. We met at a church across the street from Smedley. I have fond memories of Camp Rokali. Anyone know how it got the name? It was started by the RO tary, KI wanis, and LI ons. I recall several OA events there and at least one camporee. Although nothing beats Lost Valley.

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  20. I was in Troop 239 I don't even remember the years. We met at a house in Santa Ana and our main meeting were at Centenial Park area I think

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