Troop 2 Celebrates 75th Anniversary Troop 2 Celebrates 75th AnniversaryLast Updated: April 3rd, 1997(click on the patch for a better view)
Boy Scout Troop 2 has been continuously chartered to the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, Oregon since 1920. Troop 2 is in the Benton District of the Oregon Trail Council.
Collecting information from the Oregon Trail Council Archives, which only went back to 1948 because of a fire.
A meeting of a number of old Scoutmasters generated more information and ideas.
A member of our Troop Committee had a relative in Texas who could go to Irving, Texas to research Eagle scouts. He planned to search by Troop number and by Oregon Trail Council. At that time the records were not on a computer data base.
We we had a complete list of Scoutmasters from 1920, our first year, but not of Assistant Scoutmasters or Committee members.
The boys worked on designing a commemorative patch for our neckerchiefs. The best design was to receive a free week at Camp Meriwether Summer Camp.
We gave the first small 75 Year patches to scouts who show up in full uniform at troop meetings. Of course, all members of the troop are entitled to wear the patches.
A dinner and program (to be planned) for September. A local market was expected to provide the food for free. We were expecting about 400 people. The market needed to know 6 months ahead. The commemorative patch would be given to old scouters who attend. We are on the track of some film footage of our troop in action from the 60’s.
Information on Scouts, Scoutmasters, and scouters is being loaded into a data base. Names, Parents, years, Eagle or SM or ASM, Telephone, Address, and Methodist if known. Several sorts are possible to help us find people. Local telephone books have helped, including a church telephone book. A sort by year, puts names together that may have known each other.
The announcement for the Anniversary was placed in the Scouting Magazine. Similar announcements will be placed in local newspapers, and the metro area papers.
Anecdotes and interesting information that we come across would be put into a journal of some kind. An information sheet requesting this kind of information is being sent out to all that we are able to locate.
As the project grew, more people became involved. However, it was mostly being done by adults. The Troop Historian is interested, but is mostly concerned with recording current events. He will be giving some leadership to creating displays for the celebration.
Scouters in other localities have been volunteering to search their own communities for names in our data base.
We were originally going to hold our celebration in February of 95. As plans developed we could see that more time would be necessary to do some of the things we wanted to do. Also, we decided that the weather would be better in September and folks might be more inclined to travel. Summer was ruled out because everyone is just too busy then and we could use the extra time.
Bill Veley, Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 2, BSA 1639 Bullevard, Philomath, OR 97370 Telephone 541-715-4641Back to the Index
What is your name, mailing address, and telephone number? What years were you in Troop 2?
Did you have any relatives in Troop 2? If so, please give us as much information as you can about them.
How did your family participate with Troop 2?
What were some of your accomplishments in Troop 2? This could include projects or activities associated with historical events or places.
What was your highest rank in scouting?
What do you do now? How has scouting helped you in your life?
Can you share any anecdotes or adventures from your time with Troop 2? Examples; favorite camps, hikes, people, or trouble with gear, weather, or any other challenging activities. Can you recall any good campfire stories?
Please send this information to: Bill Veley, ASM
Troop 2, BSA
1639 Bullevard
Philomath, OR 97370
Back to the Index
You are cordially invited to a dinner and celebration of 75 years of Scouting with Troop 2. The festivities will start promptly at 6:30pm on Saturday, September 30th, 1995 in Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church, on the corner of 11th and Monroe, in Corvallis, Oregon, where Troop 2 has been meeting since 1920. Please note that this is a new date from one you may have heard of earlier. If you are planning to be in Corvallis for the weekend, please be aware that OSU is playing the University of Washington in football on that weekend, so lodging may be a problem. We encourage you to bring memorabilia to the celebration. If you wish to donate it to the troop archives, we can provide you with a receipt for the donation. If you wish to keep the memorabilia please mark it for identification so it doesn’t get lost. There is no charge for the dinner and we expect to fill the hall, so plan to arrive a little early and get a good seat. I have heard from many of you already, but it would be very helpful to know how many will be attending as soon as possible. Please RSVP by telephone at (541) 715-4641, or send me a post card indicating your name and the number of guests who will be attending.
Bill Veley 1639 Bullevard Philomath, OR 97370I’ve had a great time reading your letters and talking with you on the telephone. I’m looking forward to meeting you in person on the 30th.
Regards,
Bill Veley, ASM
Decorations, photographs and displays, etc. - - Marian and Bill Veley
Must be quiet from 5pm to about 5:45pm on Saturday (wedding)
Registration and Name Tags - - - Stewart and Janet Wershow
Alpha list of those who responded to RSVP will be provided.
Will need to get name tag blanks and marker pens.
Will need to get forms for receipt of donations.
Presentation of the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance - - Zach Veley, SPL
Will have uniformed scouts rehearsed in advance for the ceremony.
Invocation - - Reverend Angus Crocker
Dinner Plan, acquisition of food - - - Mike Wyse
Kitchen Plan - - - - Leegh Wyse and Beulah Richards
Dinner served by the Scouts of Troop 2 - - Zach Veley, SPL
With clean hands and faces. Possible help from other church youth.
Welcome message - - - - - - Dale Berggren
Introductions of Guests - - - Stewart and Janet Wershow
Information gathered from reservation log.
Key Note Speaker - - - - Reverend Jim Wenger-Monroe
"The Way It Was," films from the early days - - - Brent Nyden
Possible Videos from Mike Wyse and Bill Veley, Slides?
Recognition of recent Troop accomplishments - - - Dale Berggren
Summer Camps, Philmont, Eagle Projects, etc.
Presentation of Anniversary Patches - - Dale and Scouts of Troop 2
Neckerchiefs at earlier Court of Honor?
Patches to old Scouts and Scouters, etc. (decided at last minute).
"The Scoutmasters of Troop 2," names to be read. - - Greg Filip
"The Eagle Scouts of Troop 2," names to be read. - - J. J. Jones
Retire the Colors - - - Zach Veley, SPL
Scout Vespers, sung by all - - - trumpet by Bill Veley
(SPL will say, "Be Prepared," with the response, "We Are Prepared.")
Cleanup by everyone, directed by the following coordinators;
Kitchen, - - - (Leegh Wyse)
Tables, Chairs, - - - (Angus Crocker)
Decorations, scouting memorabilia, patrol flags, etc. - - (Marian and Bill Veley)
Dear Joe, October 14, 1995I’m sorry I didn’t get the invitation to our dinner to you sooner. You were one of the last names that I was able to get an address for. There are still many names that I was not able to locate. It’s kind of like looking for lost relatives from the past. There are about 800 names that we are pretty sure were in the troop, and estimate another 100 to 200 from the 1920’s and 1930’s that we have no record of. Out of all those, I was only able to reach about 200 scouts, mostly from the last 40 years. Of those that could make it, and their friends and family. we served about 140 people for dinner.
The oldest scout from the troop now lives in Eugene. Don Robinson was a scout in the troop in 1921. He had recently suffered a stroke, but insisted on coming anyway. He was old, but what a glow in his eyes. His presence made my day.
Some names that attended that you might know;
Bob & Ina Fraser, parents of David Fraser early 60’s Bill Bradley & wife Joan early 60’s (his brother Theron Bradley sent a nice letter) Russ & Arlene Godard parents of Robert and Russell late 50’s Robert Godard & wife Margaret late 50’s Russell Godard & wife Cindy late 50’s Gary Jacob early 60’s Phillip & Trudy Jacob, parents of Gary early 60’s Dick & Jesse Lind, parents of early 60’s Phil, Dan, Doug, & Brian Lind Lyle & June Miller, parents of Dale & Dudley late 50’s John & Doris Myers, parents of Billy & Bob late 50’sYou may have been in the troop when Brent Nyden was the Scoutmaster. He provided an 8mm film of the troop going to summer camp in 1963. Unfortunately our projector went gunnysack so we didn’t get to see the film, but Brent gave us a few stories of what it was like in those days. Everyone enjoyed hearing him speak. I am having the film transferred to video tape, so it will be available for future viewing.
and early 60’s Brent & Jeananne Nyden, parents of Bruce & Gary early 60’s
We were able to bring out a lot of memorabilia which covered the walls, 3 bulletin boards, and 4 long tables. The dinner was ham, mashed potatoes, and string beans, with several special anniversary cakes afterwards. The tables were set with scouting placemats and flowers. Current Troop 2 scouts served the dinner. Each table had published lists of all the scouts that we knew of from 1920 to 1995. There was also at each table a history of Camp Cone and Schriebers Lodge, with tales from their past.
Regards,
Bill Veley, Assistant Scoutmaster
1639 Bullevard
Philomath, OR 97370