Historian

09/24/2010

On Friday, September 24, 2010, I visited the Cohasset Historical Society to see the 100 Years of Scouting in Cohasset exhibit. Mrs. Hillman and the Historical society set up the exhibit for the one hundredth anniversary of scouting. The exhibit shows the four types of scouting in Cohasset over the years. The four types of scouting are Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorer scouts and Sea Scouts. Around the exhibit were examples of uniforms for Cub Scouts, a couple of Boy Scout uniforms from different time periods and an explorer scout uniform. Displays show badges and ranks for cub scouts and boy scouts. One of the old troop tents was on display also.

The history of Troop 28 is a focus of the exhibit. There is information on Troop 28’s first scoutmaster, Reverend Fred Stanley who led the troop when it was Troop 1. The exhibit includes a list of Troop 28’s 77 eagle scouts, some of which came long before Mr. Arthur Lehr’s time. The exhibit includes photos and newspaper articles about Troop 28, including articles on the scrap metal drive Troop 28 did to help support the U.S in World War II and Mr. Arthur Lehr’s Eagle ceremony. The exhibit also holds merit badge books old and new on archery and other topics.

Another area of the exhibit was devoted to modern day Troop 28. This area had pictures of recent trips the Troop went on. These pictures were of trips to Mt. Monadnock and the White Mountains, the white water rafting trip and the canoe trip. In the center of the room is a table with scrapbooks on it, each with a short history of the troop. Another table displays a Camp Squanto shirt surrounded by Camp Squanto troop pictures from many years. When I visited with the Webelos II group recently, everyone enjoyed finding photos of their friends and siblings in years past. A section of the exhibit was devoted to the Klondike Derby and even had one of the troop’s sleds on display.

The exhibit is a great look at scouting in Cohasset. There is even a scavenger hunt to help visitors get to know the exhibit. It’s worth a trip to check it out.

Respectfully submitted,

Nick Rosen, Historian

09/11/2010 – 09/12/2010

On the weekend of September 11-12, 2010, Troop 28 biked the Cape Cod Rail Trail over the course of two days. Everybody met at the scout locker at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning completely packed and ready to go with bikes, helmets and gear. Robbie Hillman had organized the trip and had found drivers so we packed the cars up and set out to Nickerson State Park where we would be camping. Once there, we set up camp and parked the cars so we were ready to go. At around 9:00 a.m., we set off down the trail toward Marconi Beach. On the way, we made frequent stops so the troop could try and stay together. When we finally made it to the end of the trail, it was about 1:00 p.m., so we biked to Marconi Beach and had lunch. While we were at the beach, we played football and relaxed after hours of riding. Finally, we headed back to Nickerson State Park so we could make dinner. When we got back to the campsite, we started making dinner and unwound. Then after dinner, we did the dishes and went to bed after a long day of biking.

On Sunday morning, everybody had breakfast and packed up camp. We didn’t go anywhere until all the cars were packed up and ready to go. When camp was successfully packed up we headed toward the opposite end of the trail as we did Saturday and started biking. On the way, the troop saw a series of wipeouts including one serious accident in which a scout received a minor concussion, a broken cheekbone and a variety of cuts and bruises. Following this accident were many more wipeouts and when we finally made it to the convenience store we usually stopped at, so much time had been wasted with wipeouts we had to turn around and head back to camp. By the time we got back to camp it was time to pack up and leave.

Scout Participants were: Adam Koropey, Patrick Slater, Dylan Marat, Nick Rosen, Sam Greenip, Quentin Hill, Brodie Jackisch, Evan Ackley, Gavin Dunkelberger, George Bryan, Jack Thomae, Luke O’Brien, Robbie Hillman, David Hillman, Julien Geyer, Levente Haber, Ryan Conforti, John Clay, Kevin Mack, Joe Deyeso.

Adult Participants were: Joanne Hill, Roger Hill, Kirk Jackish, Marty Thomae, Carsten Haber, Kim Ackley, Rob Hillman, Pascal Marat.

Respectfully submitted,

Nick Rosen, Historian

06/19/2010 – 06/20/2010

June 19-20, 2010 was Father’s Day weekend and the scouts of Troop 28 travelled Caratunk, Maine for our annual whitewater rafting adventure.  The fathers who attended were Mr. Butler, Mr. Jackisch, Mr. Haber, Mr. Ackley and Mr. O’Brien.  We were excited to have Graham and Paul, our 2009 Eagle Scouts and Cohasset HS graduates as well as Tucker, our 2010 Eagle, help lead the scouts: Adam and Derek B., Reagan, Levente, John C., Dylan, Jack and Luke O, Sam G, Nick R, Morgan, Evan, and Brodie.

Our whitewater trip was put together by an organization named “Adventure Bound” way up in Caratunk, Maine, which is northwest of Skowhegan and not very far from the Canada border.  Our drivers left Cohasset around 6:30 am on Saturday and we arrived at Caratunk around 11:30am in time to check in, have lunch and get started with the planned activities.

As soon as we arrived, we started playing Frisbee, while the staff set out our lunch buffet.  After having lunch of sandwiches, potato chips and lemonade, we began an activity called “the ropes course” which is a challenging activity that ranges from high elements to low elements in terms of their difficulty and elevation.  (See pictures in the Photo Gallery).  You can’t believe how difficult it is to “walk the line” which is a skill you might need someday to cross a river or stream.

After the ropes course,  we were free to relax, so some us went swimming in a pool they have at the campsite and others went to the climbing wall.  We kept busy until we gathered for a pizza dinner.  The scouts all stayed in two tent bunk houses and the adults stayed in two other smaller house tents provided by Adventure Bound. We all brought our sleeping bags to put on the bunks.

Sunday morning, we rose early, put on our swimsuits, and ate breakfast so we could go rafting at 8:30 am.  Our whitewater rafting destination was the Kennebec River, which was about 45 minutes away. We then loaded onto the buses and drove to the dam which releases water before we go.  Each raft had a professional registered Maine guide who gave us a history of the river and helped with steering.

We started at Harris Station, where the Kennebec winds through 12 miles of remote, wilderness where logging took place many years ago.   Some of the rapids we went through were named: Rock Garden, Big Mama, Whitewasher, and Magic Falls.  Magic Falls was the most fun for me because of the 13 foot drop off.   But Big Mama and her three sisters, which is a series of four huge drops and waves that guarantee soaking everyone in the boat was pretty exciting as well.  Once we were on the lower river, we had water fights and some of us got out of the rafts (we all had lifejackets!) floated alongside the rafts down the river.  During the remainder of the trip down the river, we spotted a bald eagle which had a 6-foot wing span, and we played on duckies which are inflatable 2 person kayaks.

Because the weather was great, our lunch was a riverside cookout of teriyaki chicken, steak, salmon steak, or veggie burger that was served with homemade pasta salad and cookies, hot chocolate, and lemonade.  In past years we went back to the campsite to eat, but the riverside cookout is really the best!  After eating we got back into our rafts and went further down the river.  When we arrived at the end of our trip, we put all of the gear on a truck and we loaded ourselves back onto our bus to be brought back to the main campsite.

Back at the Main Lodge, we saw a slide show presentation of our adventure, relaxed, drank more lemonade, played chess, some of us even fell asleep! The rest of the trip was just a long car ride home with dinner along the way.  Most of us arrived home between 8 and 9 pm Sunday night.  Thanks to all of the fathers who shared their special day with Troop 28 scouts.

Respectfully submitted,

Adam Benson, Historian