History of Girl Scouts of Geneseo
History of Girl Scouts in Geneseo
The first Girl Scout Troop in Geneseo was organized in the fall of 1925 under the leadership of Miss Janette Meredith who was at that time the physical education director of the Geneseo schools. The troop started when girls go to the library to find information about a girls’ club and the librarian suggests Girl Scouts. National Membership tops 100,000 as of 1925.
In 1927, Mrs. Jeffrey D. Hoy, whose husband has been active in the Boy Scout organization in Geneseo, became captain of the group. The Troop, now numbering 16 girls, spent a week camping under her leadership during the summer.
The next leaders of the troop were Miss Estelle Laswell and Miss Lillian Swanson. Under their guidance the troop grew to a membership of 32 girls who were active in camping, hiking and passing their tests.
After a period of inactivity, Miss Margaret Hynes re-organized the girls, and led them through the spring and summer of 1929. It was in this year that the Geneseo Columbian Club adopted a resolution to sponsor the Girl Scout program, and agreed that a member of that club should always be one of the members of the Girl Scout council.
Miss Lenance Fergus next became captain and organized two groups of older and younger girls. Miss Martha Morse followed Miss Fergus as leader of the troop, and the membership at this time was about 23 girls. About this time the Geneseo girls enjoyed several camping periods at the Kewanee Scout camp due to the generosity of the Girl Scout organization in that city. Since 1930 the girls have had several active camping periods at the scout cabin, Wm. W. Cole Memorial Cabin, on the Hennepin Canal.
Mrs Arvid Lundahl succeeded Miss Morse as leader of the troop. She was very active until the return of Miss Margaret Haynes took over for a second captaincy.
For the past five years Miss Doris Morrow has been captain of the Girl Scouts, and during that time has built up the troop to a membership of 50, with a waiting list of prospective members. The girls now are included in the drive for funds for scouting in this community each year. In addition to this income they sponsor movies, bake sales, and waste paper campaigns to provide funds for their many and varied activities. This summer they have completed a very successful camping period at the Wm. W. Cole Memorial Cabin.
Miss Minnie Priebe has been president of the Girl Scout council for the past several years. She has not confined herself to these duties alone but has been most active in leading the girls and participating with them in their activities. The other members of the council at this time were Mrs. Glenn Samuelson, Mrs. William Schuttler, Mrs. Ruth Holstrom, Mrs. Nellie Casey, and Mrs. Charles Hanford.
There have been many changes in Troops and Leaders over the years.
Service Unit 886 of Geneseo also includes the towns of Atkinson and Annawan and is still this way as of present day, 2021.
In the 1990’s a few leaders that were heavily involved with Troops were Pat Bolda, Eddie Lee Sheets Rayanne Burrack, and Cindy Clementz.
In the 2000’s Cindy Clementz and Rayanne Burrack are still involved with the Service Unit for several more years.
2008-present (2021) Jennifer Nelson and Taunya McGee have brought up the Girl Scout membership in Geneseo. 2009 Taunya McGee rejuvenated Day Camp at Cole Cabin with 100+ Girl Scouts attending for a week in June at Cole Cabin in Geneseo. For several years we had 18-19 Troops and over 300 girl memberships in Geneseo, Annawan and Atkinson.
Currently (2021) there are 16 Troops with over 270 registered girls of all ages from Daisy through Ambassadors. (K-12th grades) and close to 80 registered adult members in Geneseo, Atkinson and Annawan.
Council Historical Timeline
· 1930 Davenport council is formed, and soon acquires Camp Shirmanan, the first local Girl Scout camp.
· 1936 The first nationally franchised Girl Scout Cookie Sale occurs.
· 1940 Moline Resident Camp costs $8 a week; Davenport camp is $6 a week
· Dr. Mabel Otis and Mrs. W. Butterworth donate a 119 acre camp to the Moline council and is later named Camp Shabonee.
· 1944 National Membership is more than 1 million.
· 1945 Camp L-Kee-Ta is purchased with a gift from the Elks Club. The first parcel of land for Camp Conestoga is purchased with money from Kiwanis and cookie sales.
· 1949 the original 110 acres for Camp Little Cloud are purchased and donated by Harry Wahlert
· 1963 the national Girl Scout Program is redesigned for 4 age levels: Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors
· 1973 The River Bend and Shabonee Councils merge to form the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council
· 2001 Resident camp is closed at Camp Conestoga for building of reconstruction of facilities
· 2005 GSUSA announces that 312 councils will merge into 109 realigned councils over a period of time.
· 2007 Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is formed by the merger of the Mississippi Valley, Shining Trail, Conestoga, and Little Cloud Councils. Diane T. Nelson is announced as the new organization’s chief executive officer.
References:
By Geneseo Centennial Association. Historical Committee
By Herbert Bean - Published 1936
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Council website: www.girlscoutstoday.org