History

TROOP 42 in 1917

From the Omaha World-Herald, August 15, 1917

BOY SCOUTS GATHER POTATO HARVEST AND HUNT PATRONS
One hundred Boy Scouts of Omaha yesterday harvested their potato crop, grown on a Boy Scout field on the Center Street road past the Field club. The Boy Scouts have tended the potatoes all spring and summer.

Two tents have been erected on the field. Scoutmaster H. G. Montgomery of Troop 42, Scoutmaster Vincent Hascall of Troop 5, and Scoutmaster W. L. Hackett of Troop 3 are going to camp out with the potatoes in the tent until they are all sold to customers whom the scouts find. The proceeds of the potato sale go to war relief funds, probably the Red Cross. “Come early if you want a good scout potato,” is the word the scouts are passing out to their friends.

A Bit of Troop 42 History

From 75 Years of Troop 42 History booklet, July 11, 1992

During the years 1923 to 1929 while I was a member of Troop 42 we had a succession of Scoutmasters some fairly good and many really bad. In 1927 we were on the ball enough to apply for and receive a ten year Veteran Troop Certificate. After graduation from Omaha Central High School in June 1929 I left the Troop; spent that summer on camp staff of Camp Gifford. Then went to the University of Nebraska to become a Chemical Engineer. I spent three summers on the Camp Gifford Staff. In 1931 there were several Scouts from Troop 42 at camp. I can remember but three names, and all of them were boys who came into the Troop after I had left, although I did know them and their families because our family was in the church and so were those two families, but Troop 42 was not. These Scouts were Dean and Jean Clute (twins) and Keith Maxwell (Beefy). One afternoon during siesta two or three of the Troop 42 Scouts came to see Elbert Moisington and me. I do not remember the exact names of the Scouts, but the three Scouts mentioned were leaders so I am rather certain that some of them were in the party.

They had a question. The Troop registered in February and next February in 1932 they would be eligible for a 15 year Veteran Certificate. The Scoutmaster had left early in April and there had been to Troop meetings since that time. Have they forfeited their right to be a 15 year Veteran Troop next year because there were no meetings? We told them that whether they met or not the Troop was registered until February 1932. If they could go back to town and scrounge up a new Scoutmaster to keep things going when they reregistered next February they would be eligible to be a 15 year Veteran Troop.

I do not know what they did, but in January 1934 when I graduated from college and came back to Omaha looking for a job, Troop 42 was in existence and sponsored by and meeting in the Dundee Presbyterian Church. When I was in the Troop we had no sponsor and met at the Dundee School. I feel certain that Troop 42 would not now be in existence if these Scouts we talked to at camp in 1931 had not gone back to town and taken some action to get the troop going again.

They are among the reasons Troop 42 is able to celebrate their 75th Anniversary this year.

Since I was back in Omaha with little to do, Scout Executives Jack Wright and Lyman Burkholder said they had a project I could help with. I was a member of the Dundee Presbyterian Church and a former member of Troop 42 who were at that moment at each other’s throats. The Scoutmaster wanted to quit and the church was quite upset because at a recent Scout meeting one or more chars were broken. They suggested that I talk to both the minister and the Scoutmaster and get the low down on the squabble. I did this and came up this story which was probably correct. The Scoutmaster was an insurance agent with no scouting experience or training. He had joined the church in hopes of obtaining more clients for his insurance business. Sometime after that a new scoutmaster was needed so he was asked to take the job. Wanting to make a good impression on the church and increase the insurance business, he said yes. I do not know what kind of scoutmaster he was, but shortly before I came into the picture a church chair or chairs had been broken by the Scouts. So the Church was mad at the Scoutmaster and the Scoutmaster was mad at the church. I reported my findings to the Scout office. About that time a job East Chicago, Indiana for about $80.00 a month. At that time a job was a job regardless of the pay or the lack of pay. So I went to the Chicago area and have been here ever since. Apparently the trouble between the church and the Scoutmaster was settled, because now fifty-eight years later Troop 42 is celebrating 75 years existence mostly at the Dundee Presbyterian Church.

Congratulation to all the leaders who thru the years have been important to so many boys of this Troop.

Edward C. Elliott

Former Troop 42 member