Lakeview Service Unit

Troop 29 History

From Let’s Reminisce

Girl Scouting 12/29/1960

  Girl Scouting in Central Square was started in 1937 by Captain Esther Landers (now deceased) and Lieutenant Carol LaTourneau now married and living in Rome, New York.

  Ester, as we all know was a teacher and interested in all young people, especially girls.  She decided that the organization of “Girl Scouts” would help the girls to learn in a group how to do many useful things while there were also being taught high standards of conduct and living.

  Sometimes meetings were held in her home where the girls were shown how to sew a fine seam, to bake muffins and cook other simple concoctions.

  Tying various types of knots was one of the requirements and this accomplishment is not quite valuable to her daughter Norma Crim.

  The girls we remember belonging to this group were as follows: Betty Sears, Mary Boyke Smith, Francis Jollif Scheemaker, Mary Jollif Minor, Ruth Devendorf Hall, Norma Landers Crim, Jean Hoyt Woodcock, Colleen Derby, Vera O’Neal and Vera West Revoir.

  The girls had no uniforms but wore scarves and pins.

  We think these meetings lasted two or three years and then were discontinued for a time.

  Most of the meetings were carried on in the home economics room of the high school with different people assisting.

  Mrs. Geneiveve Devendorf was Chairman of the Girl Scout Committee. Joy Weatherup and Emily Hoyt were also on the committee.

  A special event that stands out in memory was a tea given by Mrs. Devendorf at her home to promote interest in the work.  There was a large attendance and among the out of town guests were Miss Vena Stevens, County Director and Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Sullivan of Fulton There were discussions, punch and cookies were served by the hostess and a social time enjoyed by all.

  There were camping trips of several days when the girls prepared meal and went swimming in Oneida Lake, the mothers taking turns as chaperones.  This group was Troop 29.

1959- 1960: Intermediate Troop

                    Leader: Mrs. Mrs. Martha Lastine & Mrs. Ella Wasielewski

1960-1961:

                    Leader: Mrs. Robert Faulters

1961-1962: Central Square Intermediate Troop 29, met at Methodist Church Annex (abt 17 girls)

                    Leaders: Mrs. Louis Porter, Mrs. Harvey Spink, Dr. Henrietta Dauerty & Mrs. Robert Switzer

1966-1967: Cadette Troop

                 Leaders: Mrs. Clara Zogg, Patti O'Mara & Anita Thayer  

1989-1990: Central Square Cadette Troop

                    Leaders: Kathleen Spies, Donald Spies & Debbie O'Mara

1990-1991:

1991-1992: Central Square Cadette Troop

                    Leaders: Debbie O'Mara & Jenny Sargent

1992-1993: not listed on roster

1993-2003: no longer used as a Lakeview Troop number