3/18/2009 12:11:00 AM
Prescott Boy Scout has eye on Eagle badge
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| Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier
Prescott High School junior Arden Cobb placed 113 historic markers throughout the Prescott area marking historic lampposts for his Eagle Scout project.
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PRESCOTT - Boy Scout Arden Cobb, 17, is helping octogenarian Ed Parry continue a historical preservation project that Parry started when Arden was only 2 years old.
Arden, a member of Troop I and the only child of Ann and David Cobb of Prescott, used yellow numbers to identify 113 lampposts that date from the 1920s to 1940s. The lampposts are located in downtown Prescott and nearby historic neighborhoods.
His project, which he completed two weeks ago, will aid historical preservation efforts and make it easier for Prescott Public Works crews to identify lampposts for repairs or replacements.
Arden, a junior at Prescott High School, began the project this past July with his eye on earning an Eagle Scout badge. Only 2.5 percent of all Boy Scouts achieve that honor, according to Larry Abbott, scout executive and chief executive officer of the Grand Canyon Council of Boy Scouts of America. Contenders need to earn 21 merit badges first.
Arden deserves the badge for numbering lampposts that Parry previously painted green, according to his scoutmaster, Rick Brown.
Citing his advanced age, Parry said he does not know whether he can paint more lampposts.
"I was born in 1921," Parry said. "It all depends on what they have (to do). Perhaps the Scouts can take over."
Parry called city officials to ask whether anyone wanted to take over what he has been doing, Arden's mother said.
"It's an historic preservation issue," said Nancy Burgess, historic preservation specialist for the City of Prescott. She added many of the lampposts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"I have been wanting to get them mapped for a long time," Burgess said. "We knew how many there were because Mr. Parry gives us a report after he finishes his painting project each time."
She said each lamppost has a global positioning system, which will allow contractors to have a map that shows where each lamppost is located.
Referring to Arden, Burgess said, "He did a very good job. He planned it well. He coordinated with me."
Arden said he used a GPS device and relied on the help of 12 other Boy Scouts. He used metal tags and numbers that Arizona Public Service had donated, and he received a donation of $260 from the Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
"We just drilled a hole in" the lampposts, Arden said. The Scouts used as many as 40 drill bits to make two holes in each lamppost.
Arden said it took anywhere from five minutes to an hour and a half for each tag.
"The cast iron was so hard," Ann Cobb said. "It was difficult to get through."
Arden said he plans to appear before the Boy Scout board of review April 2 at the Mormon church on Sandretto Drive to make a case for the Eagle Scout badge.
Arden can sell himself to the board, Brown said.
"It was a good project as well as the fact that it was very community oriented and he has good leadership capabilities," Brown said.
Arden said, "I enjoyed the chance to organize events and get people out and moving."
He plans to study to become a minister after he graduates from high school.
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Rick & Marla
We have watched Arden grow up in Troop 1. He really is 17 folks! And, a really neat young man too!
Posted: Friday, March 20, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I know the family personally! He's an exceptional young man. He and his family are members at our church. We've known him for years! It's nice to have fine young men like Arden in our community. Ginny Plutte
Posted: Thursday, March 19, 2009
Article comment by:
man scoutt
Are you sure this guy is not 30. did any one do a background check. Something is just not right.
Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Holy cow! the guy looks like he's about 35 years old! He's not 17, someone needs to check his birth cirtificate right now!
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