History of Troop 20

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST YEAR WITH TROOP 20:
    “By referring to the original applications and records filed with the central Boy Scout Office in Salem, we are able to review some of the early highlights. On March 29, 1939, as a meeting of the “Hayesville Parents’ Club” held at the Hayesville Schoolhouse, the new troop was formed. It was duly registered with a charter dated March 31, 1939, and was given number “20” which it has proudly held over the years.
    The charter members of this new troop were:
Scoutmaster: Harrison Hartzell   * Robert Clark 12         * Carl J. Komyate 13
Asst. S.M.: Vernon Greig            * George Dunsmoor 13 * Jack B. Mennis 14
Cmttee. Chm.: Vernon M. Clark * Marion Fernau 13      * Jim Mennis 12
Cmitteemen: T. Albert Lewis       * Henry Henderson 13 * James Stettler 13
                             Ernest Fernau * Keith Henderson 12   * Alan Smith 19
                           George Strozut *    (transfer)
(Meetings held in the school-          These boys joined shortly afterwards:
house, Tuesdays, at 7:30 p.m.)        Fred Fisher 12      Frank Mowry 12
                                                       Wayne Kuzne 13 Steve Zurlinden 12
The troop progressed through its work faster that first year, and we quote:
    General Activities: During the school months the troop had an average of 4 meetings per month, with an average of 10 attending. The summer (often the slack months in Scouting) still had the same average.
    Advancement: During the past charter year 7 boys were advanced to Second Class.
    Hikes Taken: 3 all day hikes and 4 hikes that lasted ½ day. 2 overnight hikes and 2 hikes that lasted 2 days and 1 night.
    Service to Community: Painted swings and playground equipment. Cleaned school grounds.
    Other Service: Distributed election notices to every house in district. Distributed candy at Christmas. Served as committees at Community Club several times.
    Plans for Future: More members on troop committee to help. A troop advancement plan.
    Equipment: For a 1-year troop we own a lot of equipment. It is in good condition because the boys haven’t had it long enough to break it up!
    In this same renewal application it shows that Mr. T. A. Lewis was treasurer and that the dues were 5¢. Total funds during past year $63.73, of which $25 was spent for troop equipment, supplies, etc. Three Scouts received Boys Life. Additional expenditures $15.”

HISTORY OF THE SCOUT CABIN:
    “There’s quite a long story about this building. It’s not finished yet, but even so, we’re mighty proud of it today. Here’s why: When the troop was first organized, the boys met at the Hayesville Schoolhouse. But when only classrooms are available for troop activities, there are bound to be some problems. So in 1943, the troop meetings were changed from the schoolhouse to a little 14 X 16-foot cabin behind the George Strozut home – and George’s house itself was often used.
    “All during these early years of the troop, the Scoutmasters and Committeemen changed, but the boys continued to come to meetings and the membership continued to increase. Finally after returning to the schoolhouse for a short time, the leaders suggested that the boys meet at the boys’ own homes, in rotation. The complete rounds were not made before mothers had twisted fathers’ arms to do something about that “herd of kids” who were invading their clean parlors.
    “A movement immediately gained strength to erect a “Boy Scout Cabin” which the boys would call their own. Under the leadership of Scoutmaster George F. Christofferson (“Monte”), Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Hartzell, and Committeemen Arnold Stryffeler, Manard Cothren, and George Strozut, money was raised and construction begun in 1948 on a rustic log cabin at 4170 Fisher Road, N.E. This log cabin, measuring 20 X 30 feet, was built on property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Cooley and used with their permission virtually rent-free.
    “The “Scout Cabin” cost $686.81, not counting much donated labor. Money was raised for the cabin by a door-to-door solicitation drive headed by Arnold Stryffeler, with $690 being collected. John Henning took charge of the actual construction, and the building was completed by fall, 1948, with the help of many men on many Saturdays.
    “Youth groups in the community have greatly benefited through this building, as it is available to all groups with proper leadership or chaperonage. The Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 4-H Clubs, Teen-Age Club, and church young people’s groups have enjoyed its facilities, which we hope to expand in the near future to a finished structure that will include a kitchen, rest rooms, front porch, and who knows, maybe even a fireplace.
    “To show how this cabin has helped the troop, within one year after its completion Monte Christofferson was the proudest Scoutmaster in the country because the troop had the highest rating in the entire Cascade Area Council (which includes the Marion, Polk, and Linn Counties)! In the three years of 1948, 1949, and 1950, the troop gained 10 Eagle Scouts!
     “But during the years, the community’s population had increased with a corresponding large increase in troop membership. Thirty fun-loving, energy-packed boys, big and little, became crowded easily in only 20 X 30 feet of floor space. So in January 1954 an informal “Hayesville Men’s Club” began to build a 30 X 30 foot addition onto the cabin. Walter Nystrom was appointed building committee chairman, with Frank Hens and Wilhelm and Arvo Katka in charge of the carpenter work. Many men from the community spent many Saturdays to build a structure (auditorium) with a floor that the boys will never shake: a solid concrete foundation with six 12x12 timbers as stringers, crossed by 54 2x12’s. Vertical veneer slabs on the outside give the addition a rustic appearance to conform to the older log structure. Carl J. Komyate took over as Scoutmaster in March 1954, and he, too, was happy!
    “Mr. and Mrs. Victor Cooley graciously offered to give a deed to the property on which the Scout Cabin was built provided that evidence could be presented of some permanent organization that could hold title to this property and would be responsible for it. So, “The Men and Boy Scouts of Hayesville, Inc.” was granted a charter by the State of Oregon as a non-profit corporation on March 5, 1954, and on February 5, 1955, this corporation received a deed to the property from Mr. and Mrs. Cooley. We owe many thanks to Edward O. Stadter, Jr., the District Judge who handled all the legal work in these matters, and especially our deepest appreciation goes to the Cooley Family for their wonderful help with the youth of our community through the giving of this property for use by community youth groups.
    “The first elected officers of the newly organized “Men and Boy Scouts of Hayesville, Inc.” were Oscar Noren, President; Carl J. Komyate, Vice-President; George Strozut, Jr., Secretary; and Arnold Stryffeler, Treasurer. These men, together with David Cooley, Vernon Olsen, and John Versteeg, composed the Board of Directors.”