The Bicentennial Muster ’76 (Part 8)

There are not many reminders anymore of this wildly successful event, perhaps the largest single Scouting event ever held in Middle Tennessee.  A look on ebay may turn up a patch or a neckerchief and if you’re really lucky, maybe you can find a copy of the 8 page “Muster Paper” filled with the photos of the event.  It’s a huge moment that has slid quietly into the mists of history.

In the Council, on the second floor, just outside the workroom that used to be part of the community space when Jet Potter was first built, hangs a photo.  It is a faded color photo of the Liberty gathering.  Taped to image is caption, clearly added years later that states, “Picture above is an aerial view of the ‘Liberty Spellout’ which was part of the opening ceremony at the Bicentennial Muster held at Boxwell Reservation in the Spring of 1976.”

A great photo, capturing a high-water mark in the history of Middle Tennessee Council.

A framed photo of the “Liberty” Spellout from the Muster, found in the Jet Potter Center. Collection of Grady Eades

The Bicentennial Muster ’76 (Part 6)

The Muster’s climax was on Saturday night.  But this event—already outrageously large in scope—didn’t close with a simple campfire.  The night had two stages.  The first was a re-enactment of the Battle of Fort McHenry.  Fort McHenry as you may recall was the War of 1812 battle that led Frances Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Following the re-enactment came a fireworks show.  A $3,000 fireworks show to be specific, which would be a value of around $17,000 today.  The show was advertised to the public, who were allowed to attend for three dollars.  Parking in the fields by the Assistant Ranger’s home, visitors walked the road and flooded into Boxwell to watch the show.  Spectators pushed the event tally to the estimated 20,000 people.

Seen here is an aerial photo by Michael Seay showing the people coming into camp.  The other photos show scenes from the closing ceremonies found in the so-called “Muster Paper.”

Crowds walking into Boxwell for the fireworks at the Bicentennial Muster, 1976. Collection of Michael Seay

The Bicentennial Muster ’76 (Part 5)

It is difficult to adequately relay the scope and size of this event.  There ended up being 4000 Boy Scouts, Explorers, and leaders, plus another 4000 Cubs.  That’s already a lot, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. Planning began in November 1975 with Scouter Bill Gray, who had attended seven national and world jamborees, leading the way.

Gray recruited 500 volunteers.  The event was broken into major sub-categories of station construction, arena shows, activities program, and physical arrangements.  There was a master plan and leaders’ guide, all pulling the best events from past jamborees.  Late night meetings (often to 2 or 3am) were held, with nights recording the arena shows’ music as WSM going to 6am!  A Walk-Through was held two weeks before the event with over 400 Scoutmasters and SPLs attending, including Sub-Directors like Scobey Rogers, Percy Dempsey, and Wood Badgers.  Locations were labelled around camp with historic names, like Jamestown (for Webelos), Lexington, Concord, and more.  Each troop knew on arrival—thanks to a computer print-out!!—which letter in LIBERTY they would make up.

There was coordinating the military aspects. There was a host of fisherman brought in to teach fly fishing.  There was a 60 flag gateway at Stahlman Dining hall.  There was laying out “Liberty.” There were competitions for Patrol flags, canoe races, log rolling, log sawing, rail splitting and fence building, fire building, relays, and obstacle climbing (and more).  There were 13 religious services on Sunday morning, followed by a campwide game.  Even Sunday afternoon had events, including making and firing  musket balls, marble shooting, and log throwing.

And how much did it cost to enjoy this Bicentennial event?  Appropriately, 200 pennies.

Seen here are some aerial photos to give an idea of the scope of camp covered by this event.  Color photos by Michael Seay.  Black White from the “Muster Papers.”

Camp Parnell during the Bicentennial Muster, April 1976. Photo by Michael Seay

The Bicentennial Muster ’76 (part 4)

Get a large group of kids together and one of the things that will absolutely fascinate them is something that flies.  Council Jamborees at the Warner parks in the 1980s often had a helicopter visit and Scouts lined up to see it.

The Bicentennial Muster utilized flying objects as well. In addition to the helicopter rides over the Reservation that allowed for some of the photos we’ll see in upcoming posts, there was also a fly-over by a military squadron of choppers as well as at least two hot air balloons that landed by the Crab.

Hot Air balloon floating above the water tower, April 1976. Photo L16. Collection of Russ Parham.

Military helicopter fly-over, Explorer Island, April 1976. Collection of Michael Seay.

Two hot air balloons at the Bicentennial Muster, April 1976. Photo C30. Collection of Russ Parham

The Bicentennial Muster ’76 (Part 3)

There were a host of activities for Scouts at the Muster. The _Nashville Banner_ reported after the event that “scouts fired muskets, shot flaming arrows, ran obstacle courses, and joined in a variety of other events, including log-rolling and kayak races. Standard scouting events were not overlooked, however, as hundreds of scouts participated in firebuilding, pathfinding and other activities to earn badges.”

To showcase some of these events—and to capitalize on how successful the event had been—the Council published an eight page booklet.  The booklet was filled photos—all black and white and coded—capturing the events of the weekend.  Color prints could be ordered from the Council office of your favorite photos: 70 cents for a 3 ½” x 5’, $3.50 for an 8”x10”, or $5.88 for a Bicentennial Muster Slide Set of 10 slides.

Seen here are pages four and five of the “Muster Paper.”  There are variety of Scout activities here as well as historical re-enactments from the Revolution and the Civil War as well as evidence of the costume competition.

Pages 4 & 5 from the Council’s Muster paper. Collection of Russ Parham.