GIRL SCOUTS

From the Dispatch, 1961:

Girl Scouts Had Merry Times Here in Earlier Days;
Number 1400 Today

Middy blouses and voluminous black gym bloomers (remember those monstrosities?) was the accepted costume of active gals when Girl Scouting was introduced in the Park in 1919.

That was only seven years after Juliette Low called a dozen young ladies together as the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia.

Minneapolis had its first troop in 1915.

The following are notes from a story written in 1958 by Mrs. A. Louis Champlin, an active figure in Park Scouting.

“Since there are no records in the Girl Scout office of the activities in the St. Louis Park area prior to 1943, this history is based on memories. The story may be inaccurate in spots, and certainly not complete, but here are a few highlights.

“The first Girl Scout troop in St. Louis Park was formed in about 1919 or 1920, under the leadership of Margaret Fletcher. They met at the Fletcher home, which at that time sat in the middle of a prairie near what is now Miracle Mile. Girls joining were from the high school and junior high (then the old part of the building of the present Central) and from Lincoln School.

“One of the main events of that time was Margaret’s brother – still in his World War I uniform – leading the girls each week in a series of exercises.

“Probably Troop 60 was the next in the Park. This was under the leadership of Margaret Thomas in 1925 or 1926. Mrs. Neil Hobart and Mrs. Joe Justad were also active at this time.

“Homes were scattered over the village, so the girls met after dinner at the high school. At about that time too, Margaret Thomas was waterfront director at Camp Greenwood, where Park girls attended established camp.

“The first actual Brookside troop of 11 girls was active in about 1930 with Helen Crocker as assistant leader. They had overnights at Lockeslea, which was new then. Older scouts were meeting at the YWCA in Minneapolis as a city-wide group.

“The first troop in the Fern Hill area, No. 169, consisted of 26 girls, and was formed by Ruth Hirschfied in 1938. There were so few houses in the France Ave. area that she formed a troop so that her daughter would have something to do.

“The girls were frequent visitors in the Jones Harrison Home. They made layettes for mothers at General Hospital and earned their swimming badges. These girls stayed together until college days and, as teenagers, formed the first Mariner’s unit in the Park.

“At about this time, Jean Behonek’s troop of 22 fifth graders was formed. They were known as the ‘singing group,’ and entertained at various functions in the Park.

“Blanche Kendall and Jean Epstein were two very busy Scout leaders starting in the early 1940’s, following their troops through the entire scouting program.

“These women also have served Girl Scouting in other adult volunteer jobs. Jean Epstein has been continuously active in scouting since 1943 when she took over Ruth Clark’s Troop No. 30. She became the Park’s first District Chairman in 1950 and later, was district publicity and neighborhood chairman. She now is a troop consultant.

“Today [1958] St. Louis Park has 125 Girl Scout Troops, including Brownies, Intermediates, and seniors. This includes 1400 Girl Scouts, along with 625 registered adults working with them. They are part of 3.5 million Girl Scouts of the U.S.”

OTHER NOTES

The 1930 Echowan tells us that Girl Scout Troop 11 was in its second year. The troop's "Captain" was Miss Margaret Thomas.

In 1946, the Village Council authorized the Girl Scouts to use Oak Hill Park for their day camp.

In 1949 there were 26 troops of Girl Scouts listed in the year’s directory.

In 1952, the directory listed:

4 Senior Troops
6 Cadet Troops
16 Intermediates
12 Brownie Troops

In 1958, Day Camps were set up for Girl Scouts in the Lenox (Lockslea), Brookside (Theodore Wirth), and Eliot-Park Knoll neighborhoods (Theodore Wirth). At the Brookside site there were no tents, but there were tarps, and two buses were on hand in the case of heavy rain. The 150 girls would convene at Wooddale Lutheran in case of rain. Daycare for small children of counselors was provided by neighbor ladies. There were 28 staff members and counselors.

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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.