Windom
A. Rosene, a leader
of Troop 4, Lincoln, drew plans and wrote an article about how
to build a canoe, which were published in the April 1952 issue
of Boy's Life, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts
of America. The Cornhusker Council distributed the plans and
Rosene supervised construction of numerous canoes, including
this one. The photographs show Rosene and boys working on canoes,
probably in his basement. He also helped scouts make canoe paddles.
Source: 10139-3, courtesy
of Richard Spencer, Lincoln; RG1688-5-10; RG1688-6-11; 11055-2953,
Boy's Life; Rosene photograph and paddle loaned by Richard
Spencer, Lincoln.
Photographs showing Rosene canoes
being used by Troop 4 members on the Platte River and during
a trip to Minnesota and Canada in the early 1950s.
Source: Loaned by Richard
Spencer, Lincoln
Troop 4 canoeing
on the Platte River in Rosene-built canoes.
Rest or lunch stop on the Platte River. Paddle and life jacket (lower
left) made in Rosene's basement.
The group
from Troop 4 that took an extended canoe trip into Canada
in August 1953. Back row (left to right), G. B. Hutchins, Keith
Johnson, Ron Hutchins; front row (left to right), Morey Schock,
Jere Mitchell, Richard Spencer, Wayne Johnson. G. B. Hutchins
was the adult who accompanied the scouts.
"I was 15 at the time
and the youngest of the group I remember that I was the
youngest to ever go on the extended trip. There was some discussion
if I should go. I had canoed several times on the Platte so in
the end I was included." -Richard Spencer, 2009
"Thirsty?
Just dip your paddle in the lake and drink the water as it ran
down the paddle. We all used this method. The lake water was
clean enough to drink in the 1950s. Pictured is Jere Mitchell." -Richard Spencer, 2009
(Left to right): Morey Schock,
Jere Mitchell, and Wayne Johnson during a rainy
day in camp in Canada.
(Left to right): Richard Spencer,
Morey Schock, and Jere Mitchell ready
to embark after a portage.
"Keith Johnson (left) and Richard Spencer canoeing
in smooth water. Pictured is my Rosene canoe, which was blue.
It was a square stern canoe. I planned to put a motor on the
canoe, but never did. It was harder to paddle because of the
back-draft of the square stern. Very few Rosene canoes were square
stern." -Richard Spencer,
2009
