GIRL SCOUTING IN NUTLEY

MRS. THEODORE LESTER

WHEN Sir Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scout movement in England in 1908, it proved too attractive and too well adapted to youth to make it possible to limit its opportunities to boys alone. The “Girl Guide” organization was founded by the end of the next year and Sir Robert’s sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, became its first president. Girl Guiding soon spread to other parts of the British Commonwealth and to several European countries.

Juliette Gordon Low, born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1860, became interested and active in the newly organized Girl Guides while she was living in Scotland and England. Realizing the tremendous future of the movement, when she returned to the United States she started the first Girl Scout troop in the U.S.A. on March 12, 1912, at Savannah, Georgia. By the end of 1915 there were 5,000 Girl Scouts in various parts of the country, with a national council and Mrs. Low as the first president. The movement has grown through the years until in 1960 the membership was more than three million in the U.S.A.

In 1920-1921 four troops were organized in Nutley.

TROOP 1-Organized April 6, 1920 in Grace Episcopal Church;

Captain, Alice Bickers

Girls enrolled, 17

TROOP 2-Organized December 13, 1920 in Vincent Methodist Church;

Captain, Anna M. Probert

First Lieutenant, Helyne Hammond

Second Lieutenant, Nellie Eagleson

Girls enrolled, 13

TROOP 3-Organized April 25, 1921 in St. Mary’s Church;

Captain, Anne Swain

First Lieutenant, Henrietta Bargefreda

Second Lieutenant, Katherine Gardner

Girls enrolled, 24

TROOP 4-Organized June 21, 1921 in Lincoln School;

Captain, Elsie Ryan

First Lieutenant, Elsie Assmus

Girls enrolled, 24

At present time in Nutley there are 60 troops, 1,100 girls making up the Brownie, Intermediate and Senior Girl Scout troops.

148 adult volunteers work with the girls, 125 of whom are troop leaders.

In 1959 the Nutley Council joined with other communities to form the Essex County Council. This cooperation provides for expanded programs in leadership training and camping.

The district chairman for Nutley is Mrs. Theodore Lester; the Neighborhood Chairmen are Mrs. W. H. Hodgkiss, Mrs. James Hughes and Mrs. John Pope; the District Director is Mrs. Robert Underwood.

The Service Center is located at 393 Franklin Avenue.