The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-01-07

A Brief History and Report of the
Boy Scout Auxiliary for the Year
Ending January 2, 1926, by the
President, Mrs. G. Semmes Hamill,
Jr., Oakland.
The Oakland Troop of Boy Scouts
was organized at the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles A. Tower by the Rev.
Mr.. Torrey, October, 1924. Very
shortly after the troop was organized
the need of financial and other help
was felt. In other words, people were
needed to get behind the boys, to en-
list the interest of the community in
their behalf, to see that they had a
proper room to hold their meetings in,
said room to be kept clean and COM
Portable, and last but not least, to see
that sums of money be raised from
time to time to finance the troop in
their various activities. With these
ends in view, Rev. Torrey, the Scout
Master, decided to organize a Boy
Scouts Auxiliary which should be
composed of the mothers of the boys
and all other public spirited women
of the community who were interested
in the Boy Scout movement
The officers of the Auxiliary were
elected January 2, 1925, as follows:
President, Mrs. G.. Semmes Hamill,
Jr.; vice-president, Mrs. Ernest Town
shend; secretary and treasurer, Mrs.
Frank Rathbun. The president at
once named four committees, as fol-
lows:
Finance, Mrs. J. C. Renninger,
chairman; house committee, Mrs. C.
A. Tower; ways and means commit
tee, Mrs. James Wilson; advisory
committee, Mrs. Hamill and Rev. Tor
rey.
1t was decided to hold meeting the
last Friday of each month at $3.50 p.
M at the Boy Scout headquarters.
The first act of the auxiliary was to
advise the troop to give up their room
in the Martin building thereby saving
S12 month rent With the aid of
the Scoutmaster they gained permits
sion from the town to use a room in
the city hall. This room the auxiliary
thoroughly cleaned, hung curtains at
the windows and installed stoves and
the troop soon fitted it up with their
belongings.
On January 10, the auxiliary gave a
most successful card party in Fraley's
Hall, through courtesy of Mr.. Law
renee Fraley, who donated the hall
for the urpose, at which 500 was
cleared.
The next month the auxiliary fur
nished Refreshments for the banquet
the troop gave their fathers.
As spring came on plans began to
be made to send the boys camping for
two weeks, at Sang Run where there
was swimming and fishing. A special
meeting was held early in May to get
down to business. The chairman of
the finance committee suggested that
each boy be taxed SO week to help
defray expenses. A motion to this eff
feet was made and carried Another
card party to raise funds for the camp
was given May 10Th, at which over
$50 was cleared. This same month
the auxiliary furnished refreshments
for the party given to the Friends
vile Scouts by the Oakland Scouts.
From May until the troop left for
camp on July 3, the auxiliary worked
increasingly soliciting donations, or
dering camp and food supplies. Oak
land responded magnifcently to their
appeals The Knights of Pythias do
mated $50; individuals donated money
and food Meat and canned goods
were secured at cost and a special
price was given on bread. A tent large
enough to house the entire troop and
the Scoutmaster was rented and thir-
ty boys were well housed and well
fed and given the time of their lives
for three weeks.
In October banquet was given to
the Scoutmaster, the troop and the
newly formed Court of Honor at the
William-James Hotel whose proprie-
tor, Mr.. fowler, was most kind in
helping make the affair success. A
superb cake was donated by Mr.. Henry
Lauer. The auxiliary paid all costs
of the banquet.
Though the treasury was not yet
empty, need again began to be felt to
replenish it, so card party was Civ
en- November 10, at which nearly $40
was realized.
Following the card party the meet
ing on the last Friday in November
was held at the home of the president
instead of at the Scout headquarters,
with special invitation given to the
wives of the men forming the Court
of Honor. Plans were made to have
a moving picture for the benefit of the
Scouts between Christmas and New
Years. The president was appointed
committee of one to make all ar
rangements about the picture. Mrs.