Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts

Today is the 100^th anniversary of Girl Scouting. I was a Girl Scout in Troop 6 in Rockland from Brownie Scouts all the way through high school. Our troop only missed one year because we couldn’t find a leader.

Below are two pictures of Troop 6 that were published in The Courier Gazette. The 50^th anniversary of Girl Scouting occurred in 1962, three years after we all graduated. I would like to ask the girls in these pictures if they remember celebrating Juliet Gordon Lowe’s birthday every year. She was the founder of Girl Scouting.

“Girl Scouts Working On Project For Togus Patients”

Circa 1953

Our troop was making nut cups to be used by the veterans at Togus Hospital. We met at St. Peter’s Church every Monday. The girls in front, Deanna Allard on the left, and Verna Studley on the right, are holding a photo album presented to the troop by American Girl magazine as a reward for the whole troops’ subscription to the magazine.

Pictured left to right going around the table are: Deanna, Gail Ladd, Harriet Ladd, Carolyn Bird, Lynda Goodnow, Nancy O’Brien, Judy Harriman, Priscilla Newbert, Mary Jean Rowling, Louise West, Algie Mazzeo, me, Rose Ann Small and Verna.

Our leaders were Leona Whitehill and assistants, Kathleen Harriman and Jeannine Annis.

“Eighteen Girl Scouts Awarded Curved Bar”

Circa 1955

Ten Rockland troops, a total of 125 Girl Scouts, met in the Rockland High School auditorium for our annual “Court of Awards.” Awards earned by each scout during the year were given out. This year we of Troop 6 all earned our curved bar, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. Remarks were given by Council President, Mrs. Dorothy Bird.

I don’t think all those pictured here were from Troop 6, but we all received our curved bars that night.

Front L to R: Mary Lou Cole, Sandra Rogers, Judith Smith, Rose Ann Small, Barbara Beal, Judy Harriman.

Second Row L to R: Sandra Minott, Deanna Allard, Sylvia Doherty, Janice Phillips, Josephine Vasso, Verna Studley, Dorothy Childs.

Back Row L to R: Judy Davis, Anna Coughlin, Earlene Sayward, me hiding, Judy Carver.

Juliet Gordon Lowe

Juliet Gordon Lowe was from Savannah, Georgia, which is where she began Girl Scouting. Her house is a tourist attraction. I was there a couple years ago but didn’t get the opportunity to view it. I hope to at sometime in the future. This is the picture of her home in Savannah.

Happy Birthday Girl Scouts!