Smyrna times., 1950-06-22
TO DEDICATE
YOUTH CENTER
DedicatOry Program To Be
Held Sunday at Building
on Frazier Street
SEN. FREAR TO SPEAK

zdllon OF a vision for service con-
ceived three years ago by the
Smyrna Lions Club, and the cul-
mination of many hours of labor
by the Lions themselves. A brief
dedicatory program will be pre-
sented Sunday at pm. at the
building on Frazier Street with u.
S. Senator ]. Allen Frear as the
speaker. The invocation will be
given by the Rev. o. c. Jones, pas
tor of the First Presbyterian
Church. The public is cordially in
vited and an inspection of the
building will follow. Refreshments
will be served.
Need For Building
Early in 1947, the Lions, recog-
nizing the lack of facilities for the
re-vitalized Boy Scout Troop, and
desiring to provide these boys and
their counterparts, the Girl Scouts,
and Cubs, with home in which to
meet, stow equipment, and enjoy
recreation, decided to secure site
and build such place. On Sun
day, October IL, 1947, baseball
game was held on the grounds of
the Smyrna school between Smyr-
ma and Kenton teams, which was
preceded by concert by the fire.
mems band. Since that time the
Lions have conducted many bene-
fits, including rummage sales, auc-
tion sale, turkey shoot, direct mail
campaign, perfume sale, donkey
baseball game, shot gun rattle, and
the successful revue, "Antics of
1885," At this time the debt
against the building is $4,000,
which is covered by signed notes
held by SO individual Lions. The
Lions gratefully acknowledge the
support of the public.
One-Story Building
The one-story building, 72 feet
by 32 feet, is set in lot 96 feet
wide, having a garden area so feet
by 96 feet, and playground space
at the rear of the building 85 feet
by 96 feet, in which recreational
facilities will set up in the future.
The center has a main lounge 48
feet by 21 feet, attractively panel
ed in pine, with hardwood floor, and
large open, brick fireplace. There
are two separate meeting rooms,
one for girls and one for boys, two
rest rooms, a store room, and a
kitchen with Dutch door, equipped
with an electric refrigerator, cleo
trio stove, modern sink and drain
board. The place is furnished with
gifts from various firms and indiv-
iduals who have had the interest
of the young people at heart. Gay
green f1owered draperies are at the
windows. The girls meeting room
is furnished with comfortable arm
chairs, a buffet, table, lamps, and
a magazine rack, filed with mag
azines. There is an upright piano
in the main room, and the boys
meeting room is furnished in an
austere way. The Lions did the
actual work of putting up the pan
eled walls, laying the hardwood
floor, laying cement cellar, paint
ing, and working on the exterior
of the building. In addition they
have Handicapped the garden area,
and planted grass seed.
Started in 1948
Actual construction on the build
ing began in January, 194S, and
by August of that year the founda-
ton was in, and carpentry work
started. Despite the fact that the
building was not entirely complet-
ed, the scouts began using it many
months ago, and meetings and pro-
grams have been held there since
last fall. The Boy Scout movement
founded here in 1918 by the late
Rev. Thomas Getz Hill, beloved
rector of st, Peters Church, was
the second troop in the state. Mr..
Hill was assisted in the work by
J. Wells FAIRIES. After suffering !
misfortunes the original troop lost
it's charter in 1912. Troop 1876 was
sponsored by the Smyrna Rotary
Club in 1916 with Ralph Peters as
scoutmaster and William Short,
assistant. The history of the re-
markable growth through the
years of the Smyrna Girl Scouts,
under the able leadership of Mrs.
Thomas Russell, is known not only
locally but throughout the state
and district, making it one of the
most outstanding troops in Della
ware.
Committee on Arrangements
The scout motto: BE Prepared"
CONTINUES on PAGE Four1