Did you know that Dr. Seuss was a Boy Scout?  He was known as Theodor Geisel back in 1919, when he was a scout in Troop 13 of Springfield, Massachusetts.   That means that he could have been a Boy Scout when our own troop was formed. 

Back before he published his well-known childrens' books, he was an accomplished (& published) photographer.  You can see two photos of his that were published in Boy's Life magazine in the February, 1919 issue.  Check out photos 7 & 8, authored by T.S. Geisel  (it even gives his address). 

Now that you know that Dr. Seuss was a Scout, doesn't "Green Eggs and Ham" make a bit more sense? I'm betting he was his patrol's grubmaster when he came up with that one.

Troop 17 is actually 10 years older than Annawon Council.  

Troop 17 (then known as Troop 1) was chartered on Jun 1, 1923. 

In 1930 Annawon council was organized, but it was not until January 9, 1931, that it was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts, and legally established as of April 20, 1933.

Did you know that Troop 17 wasn't always Troop 17?   Our troop, in fact, started out as Troop 1 when it was charted on June 1, 1923..  It was changed to Troop 17 after Annawon Council decided that the number 1 was too elitist.  Troop 17 was formed when we drew the number 17 out of a hat.   

Of course, in our hearts, we always knew that Troop 17 is #1!

Read more at Mansfield News' "This Old Town" by Harry Chase.