Boy Scout Troop 19

BSA Troop 19 meetings are being held by electronic communications (Zoom) because of COVID-19 until further notice.

BSA Troop 19 meets on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

BSA Troop 19 Chartered by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been in existence for 104 years.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 19 celebrated 104 years on April 8, 2022.

 

Troop 19 has the distinction of being the oldest Scout Troop in continuous existence today in the City of York.

The troop was started as a boys’ club in 1914 and applied for full status as a Boy Scout Troop in 1918. It has been in continuous operation since its affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America, http://www.scouting.org/, on April 8, 1918.

The Early Days of BSA Troop 19 – On April 8, 1918, a meeting was called to organize a troop of Boy Scouts at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Ben Truett was elected Scoutmaster and Edw. B. Frey, Sr., Carl S. Witmer, H.S. Hayes and Rev. Clinton E. Walter, DD., Pastor of St. Paul’s as Troop 19 Committeemen. The following boys signed up: E. H. Mann, James H. Truett, Palmer Diehl, W.M. Harry Rochow, Paul Diffenderfer, John Truett, and Carl Witmer.  W.M. Harry Rochow was elected Scribe and Palmer Diehl, Treasurer.
June 3, 1918 – Troop 19 won the Honor Flag for pulling the most tacks from poles used during the war for posters – 7,999 tacks.
March 21, 1919 – Out of 11 Troops; Troop 19 won the 1st Kiwanis Cup, based on appearance.
May 20, 1919 – For the Liberty Loan Drive & War Saving Stamps Campaign, the troop won every award and prize offered. Total sales: $53,950.00
July 14, 1919 – Camp Ganoga, the camp for York County Boy Scouts was dedicated with Troop 19 being the first to use the camp.
July 24, 1920 – Troop to Washington, they traveled by train and camped in tents.
February 22, 1921 – Hike to Camp Ganoga in snow, knee to waist deep and had a grand time.
September 5, 1920  – Held 1st electric light globe sale.
February 19, 1923 – Our first meeting was held in the new building. (The building was not significantly damaged in the Church fire of 1939, all Troop records and the original scout benches survive.)
In 1942 when the present St. Paul’s church was completed, the Fellowship Hall was dedicated as a tribute to James B. Truett for his faithful service and leadership of Troop 19. A bronze plaque was placed on the wall in the Fellowship Hall which is suitably inscribed.

BSA Troop 19 Today firmly believes in serving the community. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. We participate in numerous services projects throughout the year. We host an annual metal drive, collect can tabs, participate in Scouting for Food, help with the Church pantry and volunteer for our local council sponsored events. The scouts also have helped with the Christmas Cookie Walks which were held to earn money to send to our Sister Congregation in Mpuguso, Tanzania by helping to bake cookies and the day of the event.  The troop also collects old and torn U.S. Flags from the community and conducts periodic flag retirement ceremonies. We hope the philanthropic attitudes and values that we teach the boys now will carry over into their adult years.

Troop 19 also likes to incorporate FUN into our program…a boy will not stay in scouting if he is not having fun.  The boy scout program is designed to take place outdoors.  It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another.  A scout earns badges, enjoys camping, and provides services.

We enjoy exciting activities including backpacking/hiking, climbing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, cycling,  target shooting, archery, winter sports and many other activities.

We are happy to welcome new Scouts at any time, whether you’re bridging from Cub Scouts or have no previous Scouting experience.  Boys who are at least 11 years old or have completed the 5th grade are welcome to join our scouting program.  You need not start your scouting experience at age 11; you may start at any age between 11 and 18.

Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all times;
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

 For more information about Troop 19, please contact Scoutmaster Tom Gibson at: troop19@paihs.org or by contacting St. Paul’s Church Office – 717-843-8155.

Service and Fund Raising Opportunities

POPCORN SALE

Popcorn sales are held once a year.  Thanks to all of you who supported our popcorn sale with purchases or donations in previous years.  You helped to provide the over $2,600 the scouts earned so we can expand our outreach of Scouting to boys in York who want and need Scouting.

SCOUTING FOR FOOD

Troop 19 is part of the Boy Scout National Good Turn and collect food in the neighborhoods east of the church for St. Paul’s Food Pantry.  

SCRAP METAL DRIVE

When Boy Scout Troop 19 started in 1918 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church the country was at war and they collected scrap metal.  One of the more interesting projects was pulling tacks (used to post signs) out of telephone poles.  They pulled 2,788 tacks that were used to make steel for the war effort.

The Troop collects beverage cans and tabs.  You can help our scouts by saving your beverage cans and tabs.

The scouts hold scrap metal collections.  The collection is a great way to clean out scrap metal from your garage or basement and a great way for Troop 19 to raise money to help with their program.  Watch for future scrap metal collections!  Call the church office if you have scrap metal you would like to have collected.

Tech 4 TANZANIA

We continue to collect the old computers, computer parts and other small electronic devices that you have around the house and no longer using.  The operation in Mechanicsburg was toured and we learned what a great job they are doing.  All data on hard drives is removed and/or destroyed.  The other parts, too old to be used are removed and sold when they have collected enough to sell.  They have some of the very early PC’s on display.  The good parts and the money from donations and sales of older parts are used to provide top quality computers for schools in Tanzania.  Contact the church office if you have equipment you wish to dispose of.  We will be the collection point in York and reach out to other Lutheran Churches to join us in this project.  A donation of $20 with each computer collected to assist in the work is needed.

TV’S OR OTHER COMPUTER CRT MONITORS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED since t4t cannot recycle them.  The city of York accepts them at their public works equipment yard across the street from the ice rink the first Saturday of each month from city residents only – driver license or sewer bill ID required.  For others in York County they can be taken to the York County Incinerator on certain days of the week.

Thank you for helping Troop 19 expand scouting to more boys in York and tech4TANZANIA for providing computers for students in Tanzania including some from Mpuguso Lutheran Church.

We are part of the church outreach to our neighbors in York and plan to continue and expand that outreach by working with the after school packs to offer these Cub Scouts a place to continue their Scouting.  We also welcome boys from outside the city and boys in the church. We also welcome adults interested in working with a Scout Troop.  If you were a Scout this is a great chance to give back to Scouting.