The Canoe
In the 30's, young Thomas Costello (Eagle-1926 from Troop 1 (now Troop 121) came to Troop 3 as an Assistant Scoutmaster. An avid canoeist, he made a deal with the college in Lakeland to use their 34' war canoes when they were not using them, in return the troop would re-canvas them and keep them in good shape. Thus started the troop use of the war canoes. The troop canoed various rivers and lakes in Florida, plus to islands in the Gulf and through the Thousand Island area. After WWII, Tommy found the canoes rotting behind a building at the college, so he made an offer for them and bought them. They sat in storage for years until in 1989 the canoe in "better" shape was sent to be totally reconditioned. Four years later it was returned and has been used ever since. In 1995, we sent the second canoe in for repair and we are still waiting for it. The two Troop 123 War Canoes were made by Old Town Canoe Company in 1926--they were wood and canvas canoes and (according to Old Town) there are only 11 left in existance--we have two.
Troop 123 has regular canoe outings, with regular trips canoeing the Peace River, Alifia River, Ichetucknee, Sante Fe and others. We have had salt water excursions to Mosquito Beach out on the Cape and elsewhere. We still have canoe trips traversing the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia.
1997 Okefenokee Swamp Trip
