This picture of local Boy Scouts is believed to have been taken shortly after the organization's 35th anniversary celebration in 1945 in front of the old Sylva School, next to Mark Watson Park. Pictured are, from left, (front row) Chig Cagle, Frank Holden, T.C. Shephard, John Robinson, Louis Monteith, Thornton Cabe, Charles Cope, Frank Crawford, R.L. Madison, Jack Greene, (second row) Carroll Ashe, Ray Davis, Tommy Queen, Harold Morgan, Charles Stillwell, Boyd Sutton, Derel Monteith, William Holden, Jack Hennessee, Philip Jones, Bennie Reese, (third row) Joe Wilde, Jim Madison, John Gibson, Dan Allison, Randall Goldman, Walter Jones, (back row) W.C. Hennessee, Hugh Monteith, Herbert Gibson, O.E. Brookhyser, Alliney Bryson, Dennis Barkley and Claude Campbell. The old Sylva School was torn down in 1990.
On February 8, 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded. This week February 8th through 14th is the 35th anniversary of Scouting. Sylva Boy Scouts are celebrating the event in numerous ways. They will have a display of Scoutcraft and collections in the window of the Campbell Electric Co. Sunday evening, Feb. 11, a special Scout service will be held at the Sylva Methodist Church with Rev. C.M. Warren, Baptist minister, delivering the message. On Monday night, Feb. 12, the Scouts will hold their annual Scout-Parents banquet. Scouts will wear their Scout uniforms during Scout week. The first Scout Troop was organized in Sylva in 1924 and in the intervening years hundreds of men and boys have enjoyed and benefited by its program. In 1930 Hugh Monteith headed a full Troop of 32 Scouts on a two weeks outing and sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Of these 32 Scouts, 26 are now serving in the armed forces of the U.S. Troop 1 of Sylva is composed of 36 registered Scouts, 34 of which are active members. The local Troop is in the Smoky Mountain District, which includes Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, one of the eight districts of the Daniel Boone Council, which covers 14 Western North Carolina counties. A.W. Allen is Scout executive, assisted by F.V. Smith and W.C. Wall. The Troop is sponsored by the Sylva Lions Club and operates under the guidance of the local Troop committee composed of Herbert Gibson, chairman; W.C. Hennessee, O.E. Brookhyser, Paul Ellis, Rev. R.G. Tuttle, John Henson, J.F. Corbin, B.E. Harris and Hugh Monteith. The local advancement committee is composed of J.F. Corbin, chairman, Rev. C.M. Warren and Paul Ellis. This committee reviews and passes all Scouts for advancements. Merit badge counselors work with the Scouts on their merit badge requirements. The following are members of the Sylva Troop: Dennis Barkley, Scoutmaster; Claude Campbell, Assistant Scoutmaster; Philip Jones, Patrol Leader; Ray Davis, John Robinson, Clarence Dillard, Billy Barnes, Thornton Cabe, Jack Norris, C.J. Cowan and Tommy Nicholson. Walter A. Jones, Patrol Leader; Zollie Fincannon, Tommy Queen, Dan Allison Jr., Randall Goldman, Benny Reese, G.C. Bradley and Wesley Warren. Carroll Ashe, Patrol Leader; Charles Stillwell, Harold Morgan, Joe Wilde, William Holden, Frank Holden, R.L. Madison and Buddy Cunningham. Jack Hennessee, Patrol Leader; Boyd Sutton, Frank Crawford Jr., Rufus Dillard, Jack Green, R.L. Warren, Bobby Gunter, Neil Wilson and Ben Sumner. Francis Buchanan, Senior Patrol Leader, and James Cunningham. Sgt. James Cunningham, now serving with the Rangers combat division of the U.S. Army, retains his active membership in the Troop and keeps in contact and meets with the Troop whenever possible. James is a Life Scout, holding 29 merit badges. The Troop is especially proud of this Scout for qualifying as a member of the "Rangers," the best trained, toughest, fightingest division in the United States Army and at the same time living up to the highest tradition of Scouting. The character building program of the Boy Scouts is well known. It is the main job of the organization to keep up the regular program with the addition of wartime activities such as participation in war bond drives, information service and salvage collection. Boys from 12 to 15 years may become Scouts, and those older are offered an interesting senior program. It is hoped that a Cub Pack for boys 9 to 12 years will be organized in this community soon.
National organization 35 years old; Sylva Troop organized in 1924 has 34 members taking part in anniversary week activitiesThe Smoky Mountains Court of Honor of the Daniel Boone Council Boy Scouts of America held it February meeting at the Sylva Methodist Church Monday night, February 5, at 7:30 o'clock.Mr. John F. Corbin of Sylva, Advancement Chairman, was in charge. The pledge to the flag, led by Scout William Holden, was given. The invocation was by Rev. A.R. Morgan, Franklin. Scout Charles B. Stillwell was the court clerk. The Tenderfoot candlelight investiture ceremony was presided over by Francis V. Smith, Assistant Executive of Daniel Boone Council from Asheville. Tenderfoot awards were made to Frank Holden, James A. Cunningham, Robert Lee Madison, Billy Barnes, Bobby Gunter, R.L. Warren Jr., and Thornton Cabe Jr., Sylva Troop 1; Billy Joe Gibson, Donald B. Owenby, Paul Holden, Harold J. Bradley and Cecil Rickman, Troop 3, Wests Mill. The second class awards were presented by H.H. Plemmons of Franklin to Joe Wilde, John Robinson Jr., Ray Davis and Harold Morgan, Troop 1, Sylva. The first class pins were awarded by John D. Alsup, Franklin, to Tommy Queen and Frank Crawford Jr., Sylva Troop 1. Hugh L. Monteith gave the following Scouts recognition for the merit badges earned. Troop 1, Franklin: John Alsup, Beef Production; John Waldroop, Woodwork. Troop 10, Whittier: Cecil R. Childers, Forestry, Bird Study; Bobby Crawford, Personal Health, Pathfinding and Gardening. Troop 1, Sylva: Jack Hennessee, Reading; Jack Green, Carpentry; Charles B. Stillwell, First Aid. The rank of Star Scout was presented to Cecil R. Childers, Whittier, and Charles B. Stillwell, Sylva by Rev. A.R. Morgan of Franklin. Troop 1, Sylva was presented a banner in recognition of the Troop having paid their pledge of $50 toward the lake construction project at the Daniel Boone Camp. Other Scout officials present were: Herbert Gibson, Chairman, Sylva Troop Committee; Rev. R.G. Tuttle, Troop Committeeman; Bob Childers, Troop committeeman, Whittier; A.H. Gibbs, Scoutmaster, Whittier; Daniel Barkley and Claude Campbell, Sylva Scoutmasters. A number of parents were also present. Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001. |