2005 Year in Review

Troop 96 Celebrates 50 Years

Over 50 years have passed since a group of men with a mission met in the basement of Abe and Madelyn Renkes’ home. Their plan was to establish a new Boy Scout Troop to be sponsored by the United Methodist Church. Among those men was the church pastor, Rev. James Hagerty, Frank Worcester, Abe Renkes, John Massey, and Stan Maxfield.

A Charter was applied for through the Blackhawk Area Council in Rockford and a new troop, Troop 96 was formed in 1955. Frank Worcester was the first Scoutmaster, and the other men formed the troop committee. Less than a dozen boys were the original members, but by 1957 the number had grown to 35. Today members total 35.

By 1958, John Massey became the Scoutmaster, and a group of older boys formed an Explorer Troop, and were led by Lucid Byrd and Marvin Renwick. The group grew and prospered and was able to acquire some canoes and fine tents and other camping gear.

Popcorn sales, pancake suppers, and candy sales helped to finance the purchase of camping gear and other necessities. In later years the United Way has been helpful with their support along with Friends of Scouting of Morrison.

The boys have done many service projects through the years, such as food drives, planting seedling trees, putting up and taking down the flags for holidays. In 1958 they distributed Civil Defense Booklets as a National Good Turn.

Many fine men have given unselfishly to serve as scoutmasters. After Messer’s Worcester, Massey, Byrd and Renwick, there were Elmer Entwhistle, Glenn VanEaton, Arlyn Hayen, Jerry Baker, Jeff Bramm, Bill Beswick, Steve Gatz and many other volunteers.

Each summer the opportunity is given for the youth to attend a week of camp at Camp Lowden near Oregon, IL. Many of the local scouts have served as staff members at the camp also. More ambitious adventures have taken the troop North to the Boundary Water, West of Philmont, the National Boy Scout Camp in Cimarron, New Mexico, and places in Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana and Canada.

The leaders are very proud of all the young men who have attained the rank of Eagle. This number totals 35. This year’s charter reads “Serving Youth for 50 Years.”

The twin objectives of the Boy Scout program is to assist in the development of good character in boys, and provide opportunity for boys to learn to become useful, participating citizens.

I am very pleased and proud to have been a registered scouter, a member of the troop committee for fifty years and the Institutional Representative for most of that time. I salute the dedicated men and youth who I have served with through all these years.

Sincerely,
Stanley Maxfield

To celebrate this anniversary, Troop 96 is planning an Open House at the United Methodist Church in Morrison on October 22, 2005 from 12-4 p.m. They would like to have as many of the former troop members present as possible.

Troop 96 is also asking for any memorabilia from 1955 to present that anyone would like to share. Please contact Arlyn Hayen at 815-772-4631 or it may be mailed to him at 303 West Morris Street, Morrison, IL 61270.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 19, 2005