The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-01-13
SCOUT TROOP COMMITTEE
URGES RECREATION HALL
Points Out To Town Council The
Lack Of Adequate Facilities
For Proper Care OF Youth
CITES RESPONSIBILITY

Pointing out the lack of proper ia
cilities for the recreational care and
character training of the youth of
Oakland, the Boy Scout Troop Com
mittees and Court of Honor, after a
meeting on Monday night, wrote a let
ter to the Town Council stressing the
responsibility of the Council, as a
representative body of it's citizens, to
it's young people, and urged its coop
GRAFTON in providing such care in the
future.
The committee especially recon-
mended the ultimate erection of COM
munity building here with an auditor
ium for basketball, roller skating, en-
tertainment program and public meet
ing; rooms for a library, the Civic
Club, American Legion, Girl and Boy
Scout troops, band and adequate quar-
tiers for recreation.
A member of Council had recently
reprimanded the Scouts for making
too much noise at their meeting, held
on the second floor Of the City Hall.
The letter to Council came as a result.
The letter follows:
conference.-the feel sure that you
are interested in the welfare of the
boys and girls of Oakland; that you
would cooperate in developing their
character and enjoy having part in
bringing them up to be better citizens
of the future.
We all know that boys make noise.
They are so full of energy, and this
energy must be directed in the proper
channels. Members of the Scout Troop
| Committees and Court Of Honor IN
| Oakland regret that the boys have
caused any trouble to the Councllmen
when they meet in the City Hall, but
we feel that both boys and girls of the
town should be looked after ade-
! quately.
We feel that the people Of the town,
represented by the Town Council, have
| a responsibility towards it's young cit
liens, and at present the scout and
J band organizations are the only means
of influencing their conduct, other
! than the churches. Directed groups are
better than gangs.
| At present there is nothing except
these organizations to keep our boys
and girls out of mischief. The Council
has just announced it forbids them to
coast on any streets or alleys in town.
! There are no parks or Fairgrounds, no
place to ice skate, no place fer them to
| 90 for recreation You have spent
! quite sum of money to provide golf
course, but this will give recreation
only to the mature citizens.
Therefore we earnestly request
your continued interest in the youth
of our town and ask that you think
seriously and use your influence to-
ward the ultimate erection of COM
munity building here, with an audi
forum for basketball, roller skating,
and meetings; rooms for a library,
Civic Club, American Legion, Girl and
! Boy Scout troops, band, and rooms for
recreation.
We feel that if managed properly
it would eventually pay for itself, At
least it would pay big dividends in the
character of it's future citizens.
Our young people present re-
sponsibility that cannot be overesti-
mated. It is up to the people of this
town and the Mayor and Council, as
their representatives, to do some
thing. go
Members of our committee will be
glad to meet at any time with the
Mayor and Council to discuss this
question further and assist in solv-
ing the problem.
The letter was signed by H. A. Lor-
aditch, chairman of the Court of Hon
or and chairman of the Catholic Scout
troop; DR.. w. w. Grant, Donald K.
Sincell, Rev. David c. Trimble, and
George H. Hanst, members of
the Court of Honor and troop commit
tee of Oakland Troop, No. l, and Rev.
George w. Packard, scoutmaster OF
Troop l.