My name is Warren Smyth, Longwood, Fl 32750 407 767-6633
I was a Troop 1 scout when we had the 25th anniversary. I have a picture of the troop at that time. My brother Russell was an Eagle scout at the age of thirteen. He also was the Scout Master during the WW2 period. He lived in Sag Harbor after the war. One of the cabins was dismantled and stored on his property, but never used again.
The cabin near Northport was built when I was in the troop, and had a plaque that showed I worked more days building it than any other scout.
I also worked on Mart Freemans yacht as crew and chief cook and bottle washer for two summers. The first summer I worked with Jim Rippin killed in WW2.
When I was in the troop we had 60 scouts and 10 assistant Scout Masters along with Mart. We had our own station wagon. Every scout had a uniform, if you couldn't afford one, Mart had an attic full of scout clothes and could outfit anyone. I even had a Stetson hat!.I wasn't a gong ho scout and only got as far as Star. Mart was always on my case since my brother was an Eagle. I was however the best fire by friction scout in the area. I spent many hours in our basement practicing and stinking up the house with smoke.
We imported Yucca wood from Arizona or some place out West, and we stripped bark off cedar trees locally for fire by friction. We used a knuckle bone from the local butcher for the top of the spindle, and made our bows to suit our selves. I once put on a show in a NY hotel along with some other scouts. I think they were trying to make some people make some donations to help out the Boy Scouts.
One of the father and son dinners we had Dan Beard as a guest. We were always volunteering for something. I once was a ball boy at the US Tennis Chamionship in Forest Hills. They must of been hard up for help.
Well, that's a little of what I remember. There was a lot more that we did, but I've run on enough for now.
Best regards,
Warren