This is a woefully incomplete list
of activities of the Boy Scouts in St. Louis Park.
Please contact us with
more information or corrections. Also see a
memoir about the Boy
Scouts of the 1940s and 50s by Ted Meland.
The national Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on
February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916.
In the fall of 1918, the St. Louis Park Commercial Club
discussed starting a Boy Scout troop.
The first Boy Scout Troop in St. Louis Park, Troop #47, started in about 1924. Jake Werner was one of the men who
organized the troop.
Troop 47, 1924
Still in the '20's the Village Council was informed that Scout Troop 296 needed
a project so they could earn merit.
In 1932, Brookside Troop No. 102 had 18 members, lead by
Scoutmaster A.D. Stevenson (Ray Merrill).
In 1933, the Northside Mothers Club “financed and sponsored
a boy scout movement” with the Ladies’ Aid.
This was probably Troop 234, based at Eliot School and lead
by F. Maylone.
Also in 1933, Troop No. 56, based at Fern Hill, was lead by
Mr. Lundy.
In
1939, Clarence Furber was scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop
256. Chuck Burnes was the assistant scoutmaster. The troop
originated at Fern Hill School, and then moved to the High
School on Walker Street. The picture at right shows
the troop in 1939.
A note in a January 1945 edition of the Dispatch
tells us that R.N. Ruedlinger was the scoutmaster of Troop
No. 266.
In 1946, Sea Scout Troop 202 received permission
to meet in
the Village Hall.
Troop 256 @1939
In 1948, the Lenox PTA sponsored many groups,
including the
Boy Scouts.
In November 1950, the American Legion
could no
longer sponsor Troop 202, which had 101 cubs in 12
dens. The leaders prevailed upon the Brookside PTA to
sponsor the troop, which would mean coming up with $43 in
registration fees.
In 1952, Troop 232 was
formed and lasted until 1975.
In 1953, an extension was built to the basement of
Evangelical Free Church to accommodate a scout program.
In April 1956, Cub Pack 383 was chartered, sponsored by the
Ethel Baston PTA.
In 1958-59, there were 41 boys in 6 dens,
plus 13 boys in 2 Webelos dens. That year the Viking Council
expanded its emergency services, including removing snow
from fire hydrants and practicing fire safety and
prevention.
On December 31, 1964, Cub Pack 385 was chartered, sponsored
by the Cedar Manor PTA.
In 1971, the Union Congregational Church sponsored Troop
296.
Scout Troop 370 was sponsored by the St. Louis Park Optimist
Club. Click here
for a listing of members of this troop, which existed from
1972 until the late 1980.
This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.