Boy Scouts Troop 2 EG Marks 90 Years

Founded in 1922, Troop 2 East Greenwich is celebrating 90 years of service and adventure. Looking back at its history, the troop owes its start to the Rev. Elmer West who proposed the formation of a Boy Scout troop to his new congregation, The First Baptist Church of East Greenwich in 1922. The Rev. West would be the first scoutmaster and seven men of the church formed the first scout committee.

In those early years, the scouts provided many typical services, from helping on town cleanup days to helping the town celebrate its 250th anniversary in 1927. The ‘30s and ‘40s, were active days for Troop 2. In addition to typical scout activities of hiking and camping, the troop placed a major emphasis on community service, distributing clothing, food baskets and toys repaired by the scouts at holiday time. During the 1938 hurricane, the troop assisted the Red Cross.  During World War II and the years following, the troop collected aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines and more for the war effort. It also helped with civil defense and again assisted the Red Cross.

In the ‘50s, the troop grew so large it had to meet on two evening with half the troop meeting each night. During this time of high enrollment, the troop continued to camp once a month through the winter and for a week in the summer as one large troop. In 1956, the troop started spending a week at Camp Yawgoog, a tradition that continues today. The following summer, the troop made its first big trip and journeyed to Toronto to camp at the Halliburton Scout Reservation where scouts made lasting friendships with the Canadian scouts. To finance this program, the troop started an annual holiday wreath sale which continues to this day as the Troop’s major fundraiser. In the ‘60s the troop hiked the 50 mile Long Trail in northern New England and started one of five annual trips to the Gatineau River in Quebec, Canada for a week long summer encampment.

The ‘60s brought about a new era for the troop. The present scoutmaster, Jim Essex, took on his role in 1965. Over the past 47 years of Essex’s tenure, the troop has continued its active camping program and currently has an annual canoe trip and an annual ski trip as yearly favorites. The troop has also made some special trips including one to Coventry, England in 1988 and one to Greenwich, England in 1999. In the US, troop members have adventured at many locations including Washington DC, Florida Seabase on the Florida Keys and Philmont High Adventure Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Scouts have attended many Jamborees including the 100th Celebration at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia in 2010 and will be represented at the next Jamboree at the new Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia in 2013.

Since 1922, Troop 2 East Greenwich has had 184 Eagle Scouts with several more scouts earning this rank soon. Eagle scouts have contributed in many ways, most recently working with a soup kitchen in Providence and with our local EG Free Library and organizing a very successful blood drive. Soon current Eagle Scout candidates will be leading a conservation project and refurbishment of an animal shelter. With its emphasis on service, the troop as a whole works by flagging the Veteran’s Cemetery each year, helping with the annual Scouting For Food Drive and assisting at the local soup kitchen. Troop 2 EG is also the Boy Scout troop that can be seen proudly marching in every Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day parade in East Greenwich.

Currently Troop 2 East Greenwich is 50 active scout members strong. The scouts continue the work of its 13 past scoutmasters and hundreds Boy Scout alumni. In order to celebrate its 90 years, the Troop will be having a dinner on Sunday, July 22nd from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fireman’s Hall. For ticket information or questions about this event contact Katrina Timperley at  [email protected]. For more information and current news on Troop 2 East Greenwich please to go to the website www.troop2eg.com .