1950s
Activities in 1950 again included participation in a District Halloween Party at Pennsburg Scout Cabin and the usual Christmas candy sales project to help Troop finances. A Troop assembly program was given in February at East Greenville High School and in summer (1950) Floyd Treffinger, Kenneth Mohr Jr., Donald Fiorito and Charles Bieler attended the National Jamboree at Valley Forge. This was the first held since 1937. The same August, Floyd Treffinger was given the Eagle Ring for attaining the Eagle Rank.
1951-1952
The 1951 activities included swimming at Pottstown YMCA, Troop camping at Camp Delmont, the Friendship Dinner and candy sales for Troop funds. The Valley Forge Pilgrimage was attended in February, 1952 and more camping at Delmont in summer. A Troop trip was made to the Firestone Plant in Pottstown and the Friendship meeting was held at the Scout cabin. Martin Reifinger and Wilfred Weber attended the National Jamboree at Irvine Ranch, California in 1953 and James Eiethorp attended Junior Leadership Training at Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey.
New Well (1954)
The present water well was dug at the Scout cabin in May, 1954 by Joseph Mayer to provide an adequate water supply since the old well had been not suitable for use since 1947. A new lighting system was also installed (July) and new tents were purchased. Warren Groff served as provisional leader for the Troop at Delmont in July and this was to be the only time in the history of the Troop camping at Delmont that a provisional leader was provided.
1955-58
John Hagenbuch assumed the Scoutmaster role in 1955 and was to serve faithfully in that capacity for six years. The Friendship Dinner was held in St. John’s Chapel in April and the new Troop 108 flag was presented at this time. Insurance on Leaders and Scouts was also instituted in June, 1955.
Scoutmaster Hagenbuch and Karl Winsch, assistant Scoutmaster, participated in a kickoff parade in Philadelphia for the Resica Falls Scout Reservation. East Greenville Troop had a Scout band at this time of 16 members (12 from East Greenville) under the direction of Robert Marshman, then band director at Upper Perkiomen High School. The band led the 23rd Division (General Nash) in the parade. Troop and Explorer Leaders in October attended an Explor-Ama at Resica Falls to help in cleaning out campsites and blaze trails for the new camp which was to open in July 1957. The first patch for Resica Falls was issued for taking part in the cleanup and East Greenville Troop members are known have a few of them.
Dennis Reiter received the Lutheran Church Award in February, 1957 and Karl Winsch, who was to become the Scoutmaster in 1961, received the Eagle Scout Award. In July the Troop camped for the first time at Resica Falls under the leadership of Ernest Marks, Richard Moyer and Karl Winsch. Also in July, Scoutmaster Hagenbuch, Michael Oppelt and James Hagenbuch attended the National Jamboree at Valley Forge.
In October the Troop had a booth at the Devon Scouting Fair. The Troop camped out in Revolutionary (Valley Forge) War style in Jan. 17-19, 1958 at French Creek State Park when snow blanketed the ground and it was very cold. All apparently recovered to attend the Friendship Dinner on Feb.15 in the high school cafeteria when Dennis Reiter received the Eagle Rank. In July, the Troop again attended camp at Resica Falls.
1959 Camping Report
During 1959 we were very fortunate to have participated in many camping outdoor activities. Our ranks include boys from all walks of life. We had 34 boys participating in our camping experiences, with a total of 415 days of camping, an average of 12.2 days per boy.
Scanning our 1959 Camping log, we note that we spent a week of fun and camping at Resica Falls in the Pocono Mountains. Other camping trips included hikes to Mill Hill, pre-camporee at our cabin in May, the District camporee at Camp Delmont in October and four weekends at out cabin – one each in March, April, June and November. In September a colorful camping trip to Potter County took us 600 miles from home base, making trips to the Ice Mine in Coudersport and visiting the Grand Canyon at Wellsboro. On overnight camping trips boys conducted themselves according to Scouting tradition…cooking out, trailing, doing wood lore, compass work, campcraft, etc. For our year-end camping experience, we had our annual Christmas dinner and party at our cabin. This has been our camping log for 1959, an exciting, interesting and enjoyable one. Four of our Explorers Scouts also had the pleasure of the scenic wonders of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, a true scouting trip in every sense. These boys were Bruce Heimbach, Gerald Schantz, Paul Shellaway and John Rosanski.
Submitted by: Paul Sames, Troop Camping Chairman
1959 Advancement Report
Our 1959 advancement enjoyed one of its best years in the troop history. We enhanced our ranks with 13 tenderfoot Scouts, 4 Second Class Scouts, 5 First Class Scouts, 5 Star Scouts, 1Life Scout, 1Eagle Scout and 1Gold Palm Scout. The boys earned 89 merit badges during the past year. It is our hope that in 1960 our advancement will exceed even that of this year.
There were seven Boards of review and seven Courts of Honor and four Tenderfoot Investiture Services held in 1959.
Submitted by: Karl Winsch, Advancement Chairman
1959 Activities Report
The troop and Post had a busy year with their activities on Local, District and Council levels. Local activities included monthly swims at the YMCA in Pottstown, Ice Hockey games and basketball game in Philadelphia, Football inter troop basketball games with Pennsburg, inter troop baseball games with Sassamanville and Pennsburg. Halloween and Christmas parties and memorial Day Parade. On the District level there was a rifle meet in Collegeville in which our Explorers participated. On the Council level we participated in the Actorama at temple Stadium in Philadelphia and in the Valley Forge Pilgrimage last February. Local Good Turns have been monthly paper collections in the borough, Good Turn to the merchants at Christmas time, Trapping of rabbits in the Borough and the annual Goodwill cheer to a needy family.
In 1959 the Friendship Dinner was held in the park pavilion at New Goshenhoppen Park and on May 23 the Troop participated in Act-o-rama at Temple University Stadium, Philadelphia. In July, the Troop was at Great Bend Camp at Resica Falls for the first and only time. The leaders were Ernest Marks and Floyd Treffinger. On Sept. 11-13, the first annual father-son camping trip was staged on a farm near Coudersport.
The Jubilee year of 1960 will bring even greater activities in which we are going to participate. It should be a grand and glorious Jubilee Anniversary for both the Troop and the Post.
Submitted by: John F. Hagenbuch, Activities Chairman
East Greenville Troop 108 