boy scout troop #1
All Boy Scouts have heard the story of how Scouting came to America through the good deed of an unknown English Boy Scout. In 1890, three years after the founding of Scouting by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, a Chicago publisher, William D. Boyce, lost in a London fog, asked directions of a boy he had chanced to meet on the street. The lad guided Mr. Boyce to his destination but refused to accept a tip from the publisher, with the explanation that he was a Boy Scout and the scouts do not accept tips for good deeds. Mr. Boyce was so impressed by the lad that he inquired into the Scouting movement and brought it back to the United States where the movement was formally organized upon American soil on February 8, 1910.
Most local scouts have not heard that Scouting came to the Lehigh Valley in a similar way. Msgr. Leo Fink tells the story thus; "General Harry Clay Trexler, the Lehigh Valley industrialist and philanthropist, had spent a busy day in the commercial and financial districts of New York City and with his usual spirit he never realized his exhaustion from the day's strenuous excitement and labor. When he entered a subway car he was obliged to stand in the midst of the jostling crowd, when suddenly a boy who occupied a seat arose and offered the same to General Trexler. The words of greeting from the strange boy were, 'You look tired. Have my seat.' The General was truly surprised, for seldom does one find such urbanity in the crowded subway cars; however, after questioning the boy, it was ascertained that he was a Boy Scout and this was his endeavor to do his 'good turn' with no thought of recompense or praise. The General was much impressed by the manliness of the youth and accepted the boy's offer for a restful ride in the car. The episode was never forgotten and then and there the resolution was made to foster the Boy Scouts of America movement in the Lehigh Valley for the sole purpose of building character in youth. The first troop organized in Allentown was that of the Church of the Mediator (Episcopal) under the gallant leadership of The Rev. Robert Nott Merriman, Rector..."
It is said that General Trexler arranged to have Father Merriman go to New York to find out about the new youth movement and provided the funds for uniforms and camping equipment for the entire troop which Father Merriman organized. Father Merriman received his appointment as the first Scoutmaster in Allentown on January 13, 1914 and organized Troop 1 as the first troop in Allentown, if not in the Lehigh Valley.
Troop #1 functioned continuously, except for the year after the United States became involved in the First World War in April of 1917, and for several years thereafter because of lack of leadership for the troop. Records of the early years are unavailable until in 1926 when the Allentown Boy Scout Council was organized and registration applications began to be retained locally.
A 65th Anniversary Celebration of Boy Scout Troop #1 was held in the Skyway Room of the Americus Hotel on Friday, February 23, 1979 at 7:00 p.m. while Paul H. Reimer, Jr. was the Chairman of the Troop Committee and Leighton W. Gouck was the Scoutmaster. Presentations of Advancements were made as follows: Tenderfoot; Gary Knipe and John Iacocca, Second Class; Dan Arkey, First Class; Glifford Gouck, Star Scout; James C. Reimer, Life Scout; Paul H. Reimer, III and Stewart Gouck, and Eagle Scout; Michael Smits. At that time Reminiscences were offered for Donald P. Miller, Publisher, The Call Chronicle Newspapers, Charter Member of Troop #1 and the First Eagle Scout in Allentown. Jack Ray, Assistant Chief Scout (Retired), Boy Scouts of America was the guest speaker.
A full list of members of the Troop since 1926, Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Friends of Troop #1 is held on file at the Church of the Mediator and at the Minsi Trails Council office.
As changes in our neighborhood at the Church of the Mediator increased over the years it was no longer possible to attract leadership and boys to Troop #1 and it was disbanded on February 29, 2004, a sad day for many in our parish who are still interested in the Boy Scout movement in America.