History of Boy Scouts of Geneseo
The History of Boy Scouts in Geneseo
Scouting has been part of Geneseo’s history since the early 1900’s. An article by Kennith Smith which appeared in the seventy-fifth anniversary edition of the Geneseo Republic in 1930, explains that Rev. Roy W. Merrifield, former pastor of the Congregational Church of Geneseo, was the first scoutmaster and who initiated the movement in Geneseo. He built a troop of a18-20 scouts who met regularly in the basement of the church in a1917. When United States entered the World War, Rev Mr Merrifield left his position here and became the chaplain in the 123rd field artillery.
James H. White was the first president of the local council, and instrumental in the initial organization. He stepped in to fill the vacancy of the first scoutmaster. With the assistance of Wendell Johnson. Mr White built the troop up to 32 members and a list of prospective scouts. This troop was of great service in the selling of liberty bonds during the war.
After 2 years, Wendell Johnson left Geneseo. Mr White found that with Wendell gone it conflicted with too much of his duties so the troop disbanded for 1 year.
Emil Bennett, agricultural instructor in Geneseo High School, took charge of the troop and its revival in 1923 for a short period. He was a veteran of the World War and was popular with the boys. During his leadership meetings were held in the high school gymnasium.
Mr Bennett left to take another position and the troop was again without a leader. Short time later Rev. H.K. Fox, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was made scoutmaster. During his leadership, interest in scouting movement advanced to high peak. Scout rooms were leased in the upper floor of a building on S. State St. Major Stowe of Wyanet was engaged to give weekly lessons to the boys in fife and drum work, and an efficient corps was soon functioning. The scouts attended a summer camp of the Kewanee area council maintained at Shady Beach on Rock River north of Geneseo. After 2 seasons Kewanee council purchased a permanent campsite five miles south of Kewanee. Geneseo scouts attended this camp during the remain 2 years which Geneseo was a member of the Kewanee area.
Rev. Mr Fox left Geneseo to become dean of a college in Aadrian, Michigan and two scoutmasters, Clarence Blue and Quentin Rife, led the troop. Each serving a short term before the scouting program was discontinued.
In 1926 Rev. Jeffery D. Hoy came to Geneseo and revived the scouting program under the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club. He led Troop No. 1 himself for some time before turning it over to R.M. White, a civil engineer, who conducted the group for a short while. Rev. Mr Hoy was organizing Sea Scouting in Geneseo which was completed in February 1928. Officials of the local organization were organizing the Elks Troop No. 3. Lewis McLaughlin was made scoutmaster of that organization that same year. During his leadership he made Troop No. 3 one of the leading units in the Moline area. For several years his troops have won honor awards in competition with more than 40 other troops in the Moline area.
In 1929 the local organization transferred its membership from the Kewanee to Moline Area Council. The executives of this area, R.L. Bracker and John Keim, replaced Rober Lunquist. They have rendered valuable assistance to the Geneseo organization ever since that time. The Geneseo Troops are now known as No. 30, 31, 32, and 33 of the Moline Area.
Kenneth Smith succeeded R.M. White as scoutmaster of Troop No. 31 and served faithfully for several years.
1930 the Geneseo scouts were unusually fortunate in being the recipients of a gift of a campsite and a cabin located on the bank of the Hennepin canal near the Geneseo Outing Club. This was made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Carrie Cold who donated $1,000 and the campsite, Mrs. J.P. Baum who gave $110, Mrs. Susan Harper who contributed $100, Geneseo business firms who furnished materials at cost, and Geneseo men who donated their services to construct the cabin. The cabin was dedicated in September 1930 and was named Wm. W. Cole Memorial Cabin in honor of the donor’s husband. The building is used by both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of this city.
In 1931 Rev. Fr. Francis E. Walsh came to Geneseo. He had been active in scout work previous to his residence here. He was soon made scoutmaster of Troop No. 33 to succeed Kenneth Smith. Father Walsh was well liked by the boys.
In the spring Mr. B.E. Sommers organized a Cub Pack for boys who were under 12 years old, the age limit for Boy Scout membership. This organization will be of service in training boys for membership in the older group. Both Mr. Sommers and Mr. Charles H. Atwood have been staunch supporters of scouting in this city and have been members of the local scout committee for many years.
Over the years councils needed to come together and continue to pool resources to create new opportunities to better serve the youth in our area. There have been 20 Boy Scout Councils covered the area currently being served by the Illowa Council.
The history of Councils when Geneseo joined the Moline Area Council in 1929.
#134 Moline Area Council 1927 – 1959
Headqarters: Moline, IL
Scout Camp: Mansure, Moline 1928-1959
Order of the Arrow Lodge: #170 Khu-Ku-Koo-Huu (Wise old birt in the forest) 1939-1959
Merged with #142 Fort Armstrong Area Council to form #134 Sac Fox Council
#134 Sac-Fox Council 1959-1967
Headquarters: Moline, IL
Scout Camps: Na-Se-Us-Kuk (Loud Thunder) – Illinois City, IL 1950’s- Present
Order of the Arrow Lodge: #170 Wisaka (White Buffalo) 1959-1967
Merged with #176 Buffalo Bill Council to form #133 Illowa Council
#133 Illowa Council 1967 – Present (2021)
Headquarters: Davenport, IA
Counties Served:
Iowa: Jackson, Clinton, Scott, Cedar, Muscatine
Illinois: Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Bureau, Stark, Knox, Warren, McDonough
Scout Camps: Loud Thunder Scout Reservation – Illinois City, IL 1950’s – present
Order of the Arrow Lodge: #38 Konepaka Ketiwa (Land of the Flying Eagle) 1994-Present (2021)
References:
By Geneseo Centennial Association. Historical Committee
By Herbert Bean - Published 1936
Illowa Council website www.illowabsa.org
For more information about Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts please visit the Illowa Council website: