ONTERORAUS LODGE 402 ONEONTA, NY OTSCHODELA COUNCIL #393

LODGE FLAPS AND OTHER MEMORABILIA

Edited by Donald L. Tuttle, Lodge 402 Historian-Advisor

Last Update: Septembert 12, 2007

Site Navigation and Offramps

Please note: Listed below are ALL known lodge flaps, lodge and conclave neckerchiefs and other memorabilia issued since this lodge's formation in 1948 until the present day. This is a large file to scroll through in one sitting, so there are several 'Top of Page' offramps along to way to get you back to the beginning.

10.28.06 New conclave, NOAC and other memorabilia associated with Onteroraus Lodge added to this website.

Many of the items include personal recollections provided by present or past lodge members, or information from other OA collectors' resources. While we can't guarentee 100% accuracy in the face of creeping "oldtimers disease," we can ask that any glaring errors be brought to our attention so we can fix them promptly.

Recent Internet Auction Sales of this Lodge's Memorabilia

10.29.05 A noticeable increase in the number of flaps from this lodge being offered for bid on EBay during the latter half of 2005 seems to be driving values sharply upward, especially for the early R1s and the S1-S6 black-and-white mountains series. Flaps in never sewed, mint condition are now realizing $10-15 higher prices than they were a year ago.

A comprehensive history of this Order of the Arrow lodge can be found at [history link]

Donald L. Tuttle, Editor and Lodge member since 1960.

R1 Onteroraus 402 Rd. R1 detail

Discussion: This round patch was available soon after the first induction ceremony held in October 1948. Of the first 40 members who completed their Ordeal Ceremony then, one, a Kenneth Baily, is still active with the lodge today and serves on Henderson Scout Reservation's camp staff as Archery Field Sports Director each summer. The R1 Round, and it's successor, the R2 Round below, continued to be used throughout the 1950s until replaced by the first pocket flap in 1960.

Onteroraus ceramic mug, featuring R1 motif, 1971.

Ref: Order of the Arrow Lodge Listings, compiled by E. Forrest Reynolds, 1958; personal conversations with Kenneth Bailey, 2003; conversations with Bill Bauer, lodge member inducted in 1949, revealed a cashe of nearly two dozen mint examples of this patch originally purchased for trading material at the 1950 National Jamboree.

Estimated value: $250-350.(2002); eBay (2004): mint $102; eBay #3959779780 ( 02.27.05): $122.49; mint (09.06.05): $71.00; eBay #7718825426 (10-20-05) mint:$86.50. A mint R1 (item number: 320065920717) was offered on eBay on 12/28/06 for a Buy-It-Now price of $119.99: 0 bids, no takers.

R1 DYL C WHT RED - 75 mm; TLS; arrowhead points into gap in the diagonal lines; thick ltrs; lighter GRN

N1 Onteroraus WWW Neckerchief, c. 1948-1950

Discussion: This is a unusually large Order of the Arrow neckerchief, 35x35x51in., red screened WWWs pierced by a red right-facing arrow, red bands on white cotton sheeting. According to charter lodge member Ken Bailey, this neckerchief was made available to all of the 40 new brothers inducted in 1948. The neckerchief carries no specific Onteroraus Lodge designation and may have been locally handmade.

N1 WHT RED 50x101 SSC RED WWWs w/red right-facing arrow through letters, red bands; est. value $100+; eBay auction # 9767705 Feb-25-05: $100.98; a second example in the author's collectons is screened with badly misaligned red bands.

R2a Onteroraus 402 Rd. R2 detail

Discussion: The R2a Round, a slightly larger version of the R1 with minor twill, floss color and design differences, is distinguished by the "four-oh-two" arrow touching a 6 mm diagonal line, thinner letters, and darker green mountains. The white twill right-handed backing is of a courser warp than that used in the R1.

R2a and R2b YEL C WHT RED - 76 mm; TRR; arrowhead touches a 6 mm diagonal line; thin ltrs; dark GRN mountains.R2b identical except for MINT GRN mountains.

Estimated value: $100-250 (2002)

R2a

(Left) R2a (darker green mountains than R1) and R2b (mint green mountains) comparison image courtesy of NYS Blue Book Editor Bill Mulrenin on his blogsite http://www.nyoatrader.blogspot.com. The R2b Round (see below) is distinguished from R2a by its distinctive mint green mountains.

(Right) Early R2a patch, felt ordeal sash, notched ordeal "arrow" of member James A. Henderson, a major donor to the council's camp, Henderson Scout Reservation.

R2b YEL C WHT RED - mint GREEN mountains

Discussion: It is noted here that the R1 and R2 design of three snow capped mountains bears a close resemblance to the three mountains featured in the mid-50s first flap of Yahnundasis Lodge 465, Utica, NY. (chartered in 1951 in the Upper Mohawk Council, merged in 1981 with Ko Nosh I Oni 34 to form Ona Yote 34) In fact, Onteroraus' first flap follows nearly the same color scheme as Yahnundasis--green mountains, red lettering, WWWs in the peaks, yellow borders on blue twill. Coincidence or no?

F1 Onteroraus F1 Yahnundasis

1952 FELLOWSHIP CONFERENCE 2-D WWW, CRUMHORN MT. CAMP, ONEONTA, NY.

Fellowship Conference 2-D WWW 1952, 85 mm x 95 mm.

Discussion: Red and white lettering on white twill, yellow border. Green area in center depicts shape of 2-D section of central New York of which Ontereoraus was a member at the time. Rare, not listed in most NYS OA memorabilia references.The patch represents the first OA conclave held at the council's new camp, Crumhorn Mt. Camp.

Discussion:A silk or silk-like rayon version of the cotton red and white N2 neckerchief listed above was an option available to lodge brothers in the late 50s. The silk version illustrated here with the lodge's R1 patch attached instead of the usual P1 shield patch, was recently sold on eBay.

N2 Onteroraus Lodge Bicolor Neckerchief silk w/ R1 patch; eBay item # 77204114883 sold on 10.29.05 for $51.10.

P1 P1 w/NC

ONTERORAUS SHIELD/NECKERCHIEF PATCH

Discussion: P1 ONTERORAUS SHIELD/NECKERCHIEF PATCH, 150 mm X 150 mm Triangle (shield)-shaped patch with curved sides; dark yellow headband in headdress on single-armed Chief; red ONTERORAUS above, red 402 with arrow piercing the "0" and black WWW in bottom point. This patch was intended to be used on a bicolor red and white neckerchief (see illustration above) but was often used alone as a back patch on a red wool Jacshirt.

DYL C WHT RED-150 mm x 150 mm TRI with curved sides; DYL headband; MVE; estimated value: $257-$300 (2001); TSPA $125 (2002); eBay $127.50 item number: 3945032577 patch w/neckerchief (2004), eBay $122.50 item #3959767529 neckerchief w/patch (Feb. 2005). Ebay item #320085848692, a "patch on neckerchief, has been worn," from the Morley-Topkis-Horne Collection was offered by TSPA (Feb. 2007) at a starting price of $279.99. The auction ran for seven days with no bidders.

Onteroraus bicolor neckerchief with P1 shield patch.

1957-1960 P2 ONTERORAUS SHIELD/NECKERCHIEF PATCH

P2 P2 detail

Discussion: P2 ONTERORAUS SHIELD/NECKERCHIEF PATCH, 150 mm X 150 mm Triangle (shield)-shaped patch with curved sides; white headband in headdress on single-armed Chief; red ONTERORAUS above, red 402 with arrow piercing the "0" and black WWW in bottom point. This patch was intended to be used on a bicolor red and white neckerchief (see P1 illustration above) but was often used alone as a back patch on a red wool Jacshirt. Please note that only one c. 1960 example known with this defect is catalogued by Blue Book--may be a one-of-a-kind thread-break.

DYL C WHT RED-150 mm x 150 mm TRI with curved sides; WHT headband; MVE; estimated value:$100-125.

X2.5 Area 2H Conclave, Crumhorn Mt. 1961

Discussion: Rare hat-shaped conclave patch for Area 2H Conclave held at Crumhorn Mt. Camp, hosted by Onteroraus Lodge in 1961. Est. value: Recently offered on eBay at Buy It Now price of $45.

N 1.5 Wimachtendienk W.W. Onteroraus Brotherhood Neckerchief

Discussion: White cloth background, black turtle w/brotherhood sash, red arrow and red lettering. This neckerchief recently sold on eBay 10.28.05 #7720413493 for $103.00. The Onteroraus Totem, the lodge's mimeoed newsletter of September, 1962 noted, "The lodge has acquired Brotherhood neckerchiefs for active Brotherhood Lodge membership, unit membership and 35 hours of service are required for the neckerchief. It is a gift from the lodge free of charge."

N 2.5 Area 2H Conclave neckerchief

Discussion: In 1961, eight lodges comprised Area 2H, which covered an area of half of Central New York State. The eight lodges and their totems included: Onteroraus (three mountains), Otahnagon (pine tree), Ahwagee (Indian), Seneca (Indian head), Wakanda (bear's head), Chi Sigma (Fontenac Falls), Ganeodiyo (Turtle), and Tahgajute (Thunderbird).

The three-day conclave, which began on September 1, presented costumed Indian dance contests and the Tap Out Ceremony to the public. In a local newspaper article about the 1961 conclave, the Order of the Arrow was billed as "a nationwide society within Scouting dedicated to the preservation of Indian Customs."

N2.5 Area 2H Conclave neckerchief, design screened in dark red and white on medium blue neckerchief. (This neckerchief is badly stained with the sweat of dedicated service; the author would appreciate a scan of a cleaner example.)

N2.75 2H Elmira Conclave, 1962, light blue neckerchief w/white piping, screened fat brown Indian riding atop a yellow sailplane; red lettering, WWW on plane's rudder. Although not a conclave neckerchief issued by this lodge, Onteroraus was a member of the Area 2H lodges attending this conclave at that time. (The editor would appreciate a scan of any patches issued for this event,)

S1a Onteroraus Lodge 402 (BB5:S1b)

Discussion: The 1960s saw the introduction of a popular long-running series of Onteroraus lodge flaps, all fully sewn with black and white mountains (Adirondacks?), a white sky with blue clouds, a long diagonal red arrow and red Ws across the face of the flap. All patches in this series are bordered in black. The first two of these, the S1a issued in 1963, and the S1b issued the following year, are unusually large (S1a: 60 x 125 mm.; S1b: 60 x 120 mm.) and can easily be identified with the use of a metric ruler. Light blue clouds, cut-edge borders. (Despite BB editors' listing that puts the orange-backed version of this flap before the white-backed, the frequency that white-backed flaps appear in collections and on eBay indicates it is the more common flap, and more likely the first of the large series to appear.)

This S1 series of flaps exhibit the classic "Lion Brothers shape" made by the Lion Brothers Company of Owings Mills (Baltimore) MD. Today, Lion Brothers, known for its high-quality Swiss embroidery, is a major supplier of BSA insignia and badges.

S1a WHT BMT, VER. EMB sky, , MVE; BLU clouds; no FDL. S1b (sewn on yellow-orange background material) is near-identical to the S1a but far rarer.

S1a Est. value $22-30 (TSPA, HOT, BCTC) 2002;eBay #7712884589 09-20-05, $31.67.

S1b Onteroraus Lodge 402 (BB5:S1a)

Discussion: The 1960s saw the introduction of a popular long-running series of Onteroraus lodge flaps, all fully sewn with black and white mountains (Adirondacks?), a white sky with blue clouds, a long diagonal red arrow and red Ws across the face of the flap. The first two patches in this series are cut-edge flaps bordered in black. Light blue clouds, cut-edge borders. (Despite BB editors' listings that puts the yellow-backed version of this flap before the white-backed, the frequency that white-backed flaps appear in collections and on eBay indicates it is the far more common flap, and more likely the first of the large series to appear.)

This S1 series of flaps exhibit the classic "Lion Brothers shape" made by the Lion Brothers Company of Owings Mills (Baltimore) MD. Today, Lion Brothers, known for its high-quality Swiss embroidery, is a major supplier of BSA insignia and badges.

S1b YEL BMT, VER. EMB sky, , MVE; BLU clouds; no FDL.

S1b Est. value $22-30 (TSPA, HOT, BCTC, eBay, etc.) 2002.

N2b WHT BLK BLU clouds; SSC; complete outlines on clouds. 4/20/07 eBay Item number: 270110288713, $44.77.

S1c Onteroraus Lodge 402

Discussion: Near identical in size to S1a (60 x 125 mm.), the S1c's right-hand blue cloud tapers to a point touching the margin of the black rolled edge border. No FDL. In July of 2006, a threadbreak variety of this patch missing the letters L-O-D-G in the word "lodge" was obtained from a eBay seller out of Chicago.(See below.) The sale included the original manufacturer's sewing pattern for this flap indicating the production date of 1966 and the thread colors used: white, black, red and dark copen blue.

S1c threadbreak variety. 60 x 125 mm.

S1c VER. EMB sky, BLU clouds, MVE;rolled edge; no FDL; est. value: $18-$45 (eBay auctions 2002, 2005;threadbreak variety, $27.49). Ebay auction 04/20/07 Item number: 110114796728 $14.50.

S1c Onteroraus Lodge 402 embroidery pattern (blueprint), 1966.

Paul Barnhart, Council Board Member, still wearing his S1c Onteroraus Lodge flap he acquired in 1966 (or 1967, the same year he attended the Yale Lyon District Klondike Derby). Though worn around the edges and transferred to several new shirts over the last 40 years, this early black and white mountains flap still holds a lot of memories for Paul. Photographed at Otschodela Council Annual Recognition Dinner, May 10, 2007.

N2c WHT BLK BBL clouds; SSC; Outlines incomplete on clouds

S2a

Discussion: Near-identical to S1c in size (60 x 125 mm), design and colors but features black rolled edge. No FDL.

S2a BLK R M/C BLK - WHT BMT; HOR EMB sky; BLU clouds; no FDL;eBay item # 7710103594, 09.07.05: $35.99

Discussion: Slightly narrower than S2a (50 x 125 mm) above, the right-hand blue cloud tapers to a point before the margin of the right border. Geer shaped flap. The Geer Company was a major patch manufacturer during the 1950's and 1960's. During that time, they made hundreds of flaps including many first flaps and cut edge F’s that were all of a distinctive shape exclusive to the Geer Co.

S2b BLK R M/C BLK - WHT BMT; HOR EMB sky; BLU clouds; no FDL; est. value $12-25 (TSPA, HOT, BCTC) 2002; eBay Item number: 190021591977 Geer 08/24/06: $11.50.

S3 Onteroraus Lodge 402

Discussion: In 1971, Onteroraus Lodge introduced a new smaller version of the black and white mountain design. S3s and S4s can be distinguished from earlier "big" flaps by their under 120 mm. length and by the lack a fluer-de-lis. Note small white vertical dash on mountain between Ws.

S3 BLK R M/C BLK, no FDL, 61x117 mm.;est. value $8-10 (TSPA,BCTC) 2002

eL 1971 Onteroraus 402 OA Banquet leather neckerchief slide. Souvenier of annual OA banquet issued as reward for attendance. Thanks to Bill Mulrenin for posting this item on his site, http://www.nyoatrader.com.

N3 Onteroraus Lodge neckerchief background color varieties: LBL, BLU, and LTQ.

(BB6) N4 WHT BRN M/C TRI SSC design LTQ Background

N3 Onteroraus Lodge Neckerchief, light sky blue and dark red arrow, bright sky blue and red arrow, turquois background and red arrow varieties.

N3 M/C TRI BRN SSC Onteroraus Lodge 402; 1971-1973; LBL background--"background sky blue" (to symbolize lodge's totem of "mountains in the sky") is noted on manufacturer's sample in lodge's records. A variety (N4) with a TRQ (turquois) background color is also noted by NYS Blue Book Editor Bill Mulrenin on his blogsite http://www.nyoatrader.blogspot.com. A bright blue background variety (illustrated above) was also reported by Bill Mulrenin on 10.29.06.

Ebay Item number: 170035524503 N3 Onteroraus Lodge 402 Neckerchief (mint in original bag) sold on 10/09/06 for $24.99.

N3 Onteroraus Lodge 402 neckerchief proof, 1978, Allantown, PA.

Discussion: This manuafacturer's proof, dated Nov. 30, 1978, from the Allison Manuafacturing Co., Allentown, PA indicates that at least one version of the above neckerchief design was screened with a bright blue background on white cloth. The factory attached label on the lower right indicates this was Allison's Factory Order No. 4243 (BSA Factory Order No. FO21224) for Otschodela Council #393, RD 3 Southside Box 507, Oneonta, NY 13820. Onteroraus Lodge Collections N3.

S4 Onteroraus Lodge 402

S4 BLK R M/C BLK - 54x118 mm; BLU clouds; CB, no FDL; est. value:$12-25 (TSPA, HOT, BCTC) 2002.

Discussion:The S4 is distinguished from S3 by the medium blue cloud nearly filling the space between the red arrow shaft and the mountaintop at the left border of the flap.

S5a Onteroraus Lodge 402 1973

.S5a BLK R M/C BLK RED- 53x109 mm; LBL clouds; CB

Discussion: Here the identification of flaps in the small black and white series becomes problematical. S5a flaps occur in two varieties, cloth backed and plastic backed. Both feature medium blue clouds, rolled borders, and thickly embroidered mountains. The genuine S5a cloth backed issue shown above dates from 1973; however, the plastic-backed copy below is a reproduction produced in 1979.

S5a plastic-backed repro 1979

S5b Onteroraus Lodge 402

S5b BLK R M/C BLK RED; CB; est. value: $10-12 (eBay 2003)

Service Award Pocket Flap, November 1974. The Onteroraus Totem of November 1974 makes mention of a special award available to those brothers who completed fifty-five hours of service to the lodge. The award was to be a lodge-authorized pocket flap "...in the present form except that it will depict the mountains at sunset and will include an arrow with two bars. Two patches wil be available for each brother and no replacements will be made unless a prior patch is turned in." In the January 1975 issue of the Onteroraus Lodge Totem, this flap is referred to as the Allogogan Award but it is never mentioned again. It is doubtful that this variety was ever ordered and does not exist.

In 2005, while examining a volume of lodge records for the years 1991-93, the author discovered the original sketch for the 1974 Service Award (Allogogan Award) in a batch of news clippings and brotherhood team photographs.

1974 Brotherhood Service Award sketch

S5c Onteroraus Lodge 402

S6a BLK R M/C BLK RED FDL;LBL clouds; CB

Discussion: In 1976 the National Council directed that all OA insignia must contain a fluer-de-lis, the letters BSA USA, or the words Scouting USA. Onteroraus chose to add a small red fluer-de-lis to their traditional black-and-white mountains design.

Identification notes: Flaps in the S6 series are easily grouped by the red fluer-de-lis in the sky just above the right hand mountain. S6a and S6b are near-indistinguishable in size and design, however, the S6a features light blue clouds; in S6a, the red fluer-de-lis touches the mountain, in S6b and the S6c repro, the fluer-de-lis floats above the mountain. Please note all S6 flaps are Swiss loomed; the thickly sewn mountains appear to "float" in front of the sky background.

S6a BLK R M/C BLK RED FDL; LBL clouds; CB

N4 Section 2A Conclave, Crumhorn Mt. Camp

Onteroraus S6b

S6b BLK R M/C BLK RED BLU clouds, CB; 108 x 50 mm.

Identification note:The BB-listed S6c is virtually identical to S6b above except plastic backed. S6 flaps occur in three varieties, cloth backed with light blue (S6a) and medium blue clouds (S6b), and a plastic backed variety(S6c). They all feature blue clouds, rolled edges, and thickly embroidered mountains with a small red fluer-de-lis above the right hand mountain. The genuine S6b cloth backed issue shown above dates from 1976, however, the plastic-backed copy below is a reproduction produced in 1979.

S6c plastic backed reproduction 1979

S7 30th Anniversary (BB5 S8)

Discussion: Chronologically, this multicolored flap, issued in 1978 to celebrate the lodge's 30th anniversary preceeded the Multicolor Chief design (see S8 below) issued the following year. Both designs by then-Lodge Chief (now Lodge Advisor James Davidson) used the "one-armed chief" motif from the lodge's 1950s P1 ONTERORAUS SHIELD/NECKERCHIEF PATCH.

The December 1977 'Holiday' Totem included a treatise on the new Anniversary design: "The Lodge artist Jim Davidson has designed a flap with a great new look, a variety of colors picturing green mountains, an orange sun with an orange and yellow sunset on a blue sky. In the center is an Indian, an exact replica of the Indian on the old Onteroraus Back Patch" The plan was for the Executive Committee to approve the colorful new flap at its January meeting to have it available throughout the year at the Annual Lodge Banquet, Ordeal and Brotherhood Weekends, and the upcoming Conclave. However, a backlash of protest from adult lodge diehards, who feared the demise of their beloved black and white 'ice cream' mountains series, caused the lodge advisors to think twice about making the 'one-armed chief' the butt of an unpopular mistake.

The February 1978 newsletter mounted a vigerous campaign to presell the anniversary flap at $1.50 a pop. The proceeds would go to the lodge treasury to offset the money lost from the recently defunct dog census fundraiser. By the end of the month the Treasurer reported he had orders for 307 patches. By July the furor over the flap was beginning to die down and the remainder was sold out in the camp store. "They appear to have ten colors and are quite outstanding," the summer newletter opined as the edition was finally sold out in August.

Estimated value 2003: $9.49 (Ebay auction)

S8 LBL R M/C BLK YEL FDL; 30th ANN; Swiss-loomed.

Discussion: The multi-color chief revisited. The following year the promises to continue the black-and-white series rang false when another multicolor chief design appeared, this time without the anniversary lettering and with minor color changes. Again, the lodge newsletter assured the skeptics that, "Once this patch is sold out, that will be the end of it! This new patch will be optional, and a Brother can wear the Anniversary patch, this new patch, or the regular lodge patch. We hope this clears up any confusion in this matter."

S8 LBL R M/C BLK RED FDL; actually a pale LBL R/E, plastic backed;est. value $8-10 (eBay sale 02.24.05 $8.48, eBay sale 07.08.05 $37.66)

S8 Bolo slide, cast pewter-like metal, 1979

Discussion: 85 mm. hexagon patch w/five lodges in section around edge (Otahnagon, Gajuka, Wakanda, Seneca, Onteroraus (misspelled as "Onturous"), name in blue, lodges red on black, all on white twill with red 'MGM' Chief OA logo in center. Companion screened neckerchief has correctly spelled "Onteroraus." and the host camp Camp Gorton.