Brief Troop History
Boy Scout Troop 114 was originally chartered on November, 1931 with the First Congregational Church of Southwick as its charter organization. Charles V. Tuttle, a 41 year old carpenter, was its first Scoutmaster; and nine boys, aged 12 to 17 years old, were the original scouts: Raymond Fletcher, Donald Gillette, Max Holcolm, Ellis Hollister, Elmer Johnson, James Lownds, George Phelps, Elliot Phillips, and Charles V. Tuttle, Jr.
The troop disbanded on March 31, 1937 when its then current Scoutmaster, Lawrence Nyberg, left town. At the same time, the First Congregational Church was without a pastor to assist the Troop with finding a new Scoutmaster. So, time would pass before the Troop would be restarted with a new Scoutmaster.
On April 28, 1938, with James Lownds, a 23 year old and one of the charter Boy scouts of the troop, as the new Scoutmaster, Troop 114 started again. The chartering organization of the newly reformed troop were: a Group of Citizens, The First Congregational Church of Southwick, the Methodist Church and the Grange. This time the Troop started with ten boys, aged 12-20 years old.
In 1939 the Troop was rechartered with only the Group of Citizens as its chartering organization. Again, in 1940 the Troop’s chartering organization changed to the Southwick Fireman’s Association, bringing the number of organizations that chartered the troop over its history to five. Unfortunately, in March of 1942, the troop disbanded again, probably due to the onset of World War 11 and the lack of men to serve as Scoutmaster.
With the closing of World War II, Troop 114 was again resurrected on May 23, 1945. Once again chartered by the Southwick Congregation church. The Troop had Elmer Johnson, a 28 year old and charter Boy Scout of the Troop, as its Scoutmaster. On his application as an adult leader, Elmer’s occupation was listed as experimental aviation engine tester. This time the troop would start with ten boys, aged 12 to 14 years old. Unfortunately, the troop disbanded again, this time in July of 1950. This was the third and fortunately the last time time the Troop would disband.
In March of 1954, Troop 114 rose again, chartered by the Southwick Congregational church. Since that time, the Troop has been continuously in operation, serving the community of Southwick for over fifty years. Troop 114’s first Eagle Scout would occur nine years later, in 1963, when Walter Morgan earned Scouting’s highest award. Since then the Troop has had many, many more boys earn this top honor.
Do you have the names or contact information of former scouts? Older pictures of the troop? More information about the troop's history? Please email us for our records!
Boy Scout Troop 114 was originally chartered on November, 1931 with the First Congregational Church of Southwick as its charter organization. Charles V. Tuttle, a 41 year old carpenter, was its first Scoutmaster; and nine boys, aged 12 to 17 years old, were the original scouts: Raymond Fletcher, Donald Gillette, Max Holcolm, Ellis Hollister, Elmer Johnson, James Lownds, George Phelps, Elliot Phillips, and Charles V. Tuttle, Jr.
The troop disbanded on March 31, 1937 when its then current Scoutmaster, Lawrence Nyberg, left town. At the same time, the First Congregational Church was without a pastor to assist the Troop with finding a new Scoutmaster. So, time would pass before the Troop would be restarted with a new Scoutmaster.
On April 28, 1938, with James Lownds, a 23 year old and one of the charter Boy scouts of the troop, as the new Scoutmaster, Troop 114 started again. The chartering organization of the newly reformed troop were: a Group of Citizens, The First Congregational Church of Southwick, the Methodist Church and the Grange. This time the Troop started with ten boys, aged 12-20 years old.
In 1939 the Troop was rechartered with only the Group of Citizens as its chartering organization. Again, in 1940 the Troop’s chartering organization changed to the Southwick Fireman’s Association, bringing the number of organizations that chartered the troop over its history to five. Unfortunately, in March of 1942, the troop disbanded again, probably due to the onset of World War 11 and the lack of men to serve as Scoutmaster.
With the closing of World War II, Troop 114 was again resurrected on May 23, 1945. Once again chartered by the Southwick Congregation church. The Troop had Elmer Johnson, a 28 year old and charter Boy Scout of the Troop, as its Scoutmaster. On his application as an adult leader, Elmer’s occupation was listed as experimental aviation engine tester. This time the troop would start with ten boys, aged 12 to 14 years old. Unfortunately, the troop disbanded again, this time in July of 1950. This was the third and fortunately the last time time the Troop would disband.
In March of 1954, Troop 114 rose again, chartered by the Southwick Congregational church. Since that time, the Troop has been continuously in operation, serving the community of Southwick for over fifty years. Troop 114’s first Eagle Scout would occur nine years later, in 1963, when Walter Morgan earned Scouting’s highest award. Since then the Troop has had many, many more boys earn this top honor.
Do you have the names or contact information of former scouts? Older pictures of the troop? More information about the troop's history? Please email us for our records!