Nostalgic Boy and Girl Scout items on the auction block

Assistant Scoutmaster Jerry Hampton has been collecting Scout memorabilia since 1977. He considers the collection in his basement a little museum. Hampton's treasures include a Boy Scout Monopoly game that comes with pewter pieces. "Only 10,000 were made," he said. It is not for sale.

But other treasures that are for sale can be found at the 11th annual Trade-O-Ree held Friday, March 3, from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. and beginning again at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at the VFW Hall, 1049 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. An auction will begin at 1 p.m. by Barks Auction Services, which has donated its services for the second consecutive year.

Close to a million individual items will be for sale. Scouts in uniform will be admitted free. All others will pay a $1 admission.

Historic items for sale include a wool blanket with the Boy Scout insignia, the precursor to the modern-day sleeping bag, said Hampton. "We expect to get about $75 for that."

Money raised from the event will go right back into Scouting toward a new camp office under construction at the local Boy Scout Camp Lewallen. Hampton said they raised $1,265 from the auction last year and that the money will be given in memory of Dr. James Kinder, father of Peter Kinder, who was killed in a car accident last year.

Traders are expected from 10 to 12 states, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois and Iowa. Hampton purchases Boy Scout memorabilia on ebay and belongs to a patch trading group as well. Further information can be found at www.barksauction.com (scroll down to the corresponding date).

"The event is open to the public," Hampton said. "Probably 90 percent or more [that attend] are either involved in Scouting or were involved and now they would like to find something they had when they were a kid."

Hampton's hobby began with collecting shoulder patches. He now has more than 10,000.

"It all started when I went to a Boy Scout jamboree in 1977 with over 60 Southeast Council patches and traded them all," he said. The Council has since changed to Greater St. Louis Council, adding to their value. "The most expensive patch I own is from Riverside County, Calif. It's worth about $2,500. I've got them all insured even if they're worth only $3 a piece," said Hampton.

Individuals wishing to donate Scout items for the auction may contact Jerry Hampton at 334-5392 or 450-6763. He will pick them up.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133