Troop 51 History
Troop 51 was first established in 1929. It was chartered under the Men’s Club Congregational Church, with 25 boys, and the troop’s first Scoutmaster, Ralph Smith. One year later, Mr. E. Jenkinson took the role of Scoutmaster. In 1935, the troop was disbanded.
In 1938, Troop 51 was re-established, this time at Mount Carmel Parish in Methuen. Within five years, the troop had three different scoutmasters; Reverend Frances Frechette, Richard Vincent, and Armand LaFleur. In 1941, the troop was once again disbanded.
In 1972, Troop 51 was yet again re-established, at Mount Carmel Parish under the leadership of Robert Folley. During this time, one of the 18 scouts enrolled, Peter St. Louis, earned the rank of Eagle Scout. St. Louis was the first scout in 40 years of the troop’s history to earn the rank. This
represents the end of the “Eagle Scout draught” of the time, and the
opening of the flood gates, as the years that follow illustrate. During
the time the troop was at Mount Carmel Parish, Jack Tomey, Roger
Goulet, Greg Korzeb, and the current scoutmaster, Paul T. Hale II were
all scoutmasters. By the time the troop had its 10th Scoutmaster, the troop moved from Mount Carmel Parish to its current
home at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Arnold Greenwood Post 8349.
Troop 51’s more recent years have been more active than ever. Currently, the troop has over 55 Eagle Scouts, with many more to come.
“I love camping. It’s been in my blood
since I was…born. I would sleep in a crib in a tent with my parents. I
just love the outdoors and I want to pass on what I know so…[others]
can take care of themselves in the woods.” In 2005, the current Scoutmaster, Paul T. Hale, II celebrated his 25th year as Scoutmaster. Paul has been active in the program for years and has a
true connection to the Boy Scouts of America. Many consider him to be a
model of scouting and its ideals.