Peoples UMC News: 100th Anniversary of BSA Charter

100^th Anniversary of BSA Charter

Earle Harvey serves as MC

On Sunday afternoon, May 6 at 2 PM Peoples UMC and members of Scout Troop 23 gathered together in Ellis Hall for a rather unique and meaningful celebration. It was on May 6, 1918 that the Charter linking Peoples Methodist Episcopal Church of Ferry Village and Scout Troop 3 of South Portland was granted. The Sunday school of the church was the actual grantee for the charter. A few years later the Troop number designation became 20 and by the end of the 1920’s, 23 became the number where it has remained ever since. There was a break from 1943 to 1948 due to men being called into military service and Peoples moving from the village to the location it presently holds on Broadway.

Scoutmaster Joe Picoraro and former Scoutmaster Earle

Harvey Woodbury became the Scoutmaster in 1948 and Troop 23 had a hardy rebirth. Camping experiences at Camp Hinds and elsewhere were looked forward to by members of the troop. Granville Nickerson was one of the leaders of the troop who later became a Commissioner for the Pine Tree Council. Stanley Nickerson and Ron Tripp were among the Scout leaders and Dick Miller and Art Tordoff were able to recollect some of those times. Among the memories was spending time at Bates Cabin during early springtime and camping at Camp Macmillan at Hinds. We also remember that getting camping equipment and uniforms was usually through the Scout Shop upstairs in Benoit’s clothing store.

Scouts of Troop 23 look over memorabilia

Senior Scout leader Ben Teague

Later when some of us had our own children those who were Scouts were now adult leaders of either or both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Some of the women present at this gathering had been Den Mothers for Pack 23. Wealthy Harvey and Marlene Tordoff were among those that served Pack 23 and Carol Bruneau had served in that capacity elsewhere. Art Tordoff served as Cub master and then as an adult leader of the Troop when Earle Harvey was the Scoutmaster. Another guest, Ray Mileson, was both a Cub and Scout in the 1970’s and today has served as Scoutmaster at Troop 37.

Rosemary Herd from Peoples was Scoutmaster of Troop 23 beginning in 1986. All told she dedicated 46 years of her life to Scouting in Germany, Texas and South Portland. She was one of the first women to have such a role in Scouting.

Camping in Ellis Hall

For the past 32 years Joe Picoraro has had an association with Scouting, first as a Scout in Massachusetts where he earned his Eagle badge. Joe has been associated with Troop 23 in 1992 when his children were at the age to become involved. He is the person who has served longest as a Scoutmaster of Troop 23.

Lynne Picoraro has served as the leader of Pack 22 which replaced Pack 23 when it left Peoples. She has also served admirably on the Troop Committee for as many as 23 years. She serves also as one of the Pine Tree Council Commissioners. It was Lynne who was responsible for creating and producing a fantastic program distributed to those in attendance.

Earle Harvey served as the MC for the occasion and before the program was over, all of the Scouts that were present came to the mike and told a campfire story about real experiences.

The program was closed with a campfire and Scout Vespers.

All adjourned to the tables to indulge in a special celebration cake that was adorned with Scout and church symbols that was provided by the Cookie Jar Bakery owned by the Piscopos whose own son, Nick earned his Eagle while a member of Troop 23.

We are blessed as church to sense the number of young men who have been members of Troop 23 and have used their talents gained through Scouting wherever they are today.