Scouting

NORTHVILLIANS,

This week, we continue our “Patriotic Series” with a closer look at the scouting activities and their impact on the local community.  Notably, many of the Scout Troops were established by the American Legion.  Before the start of the pandemic, we had the Scouts open all our City Council meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. They also got to ask questions and learn about City government in the 30 minutes leading up to the meeting. We will get back to this format starting in September.

Let’s take a look at Scouting in Northville through the years …

• BSA Scouting in the U.S. started in 1910, followed by Girls Scouts in 1912. In 1914, according to the Northville Record, an exhibition drill activity was conducted by the Boy Scouts as part of a Carnival event in town.
• The first Northville Boy Scout Troop was established in the late 1920’s under the sponsorship of the Methodist Church (today, the Methodist Men’s Club still sponsors a troop). In the early 1930’s more troops were formed and supported by the American Legion. The first Girl Scout troop in Northville was formed in 1932.  Scouting was first centered in a building on Dunlap & Hutton where the drive-in bank is today (across from Ford Field). In 1961, a new Scout Building was erected on Cady Street … it is known as the Art House today.
• Since the inception of scouting in America, more than 130 million young men & women have participated in BSA programs, and more than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out the BSA Mission.
• In Northville, we have many scout troops that meet in schools, churches & even homes.
  • The Boys Scouts program is made up of co-ed Packs from OLV, Moraine, Ridgewood, Amerman, Silver Springs, Thornton Creek and Winchester. More information on these units can be found at: beascout.scouting.org.
  • The Girl Scouts in Northville are made up of troops from Amerman, Hillside, Meads Mill, Moraine, Northville Christian, NHS, OLV, Ridgewood, Silver Springs, St. Paul, Thornton Creek & Winchester, among other locations.
     
• FYI – About BSA
  • The Scout Law is founded on 12 principles that guide our youth:  “A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean & Reverent”.
  • The Scout Oath – On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country & to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
  • The Scout Mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the value of the Scout Oath & Law.
• Locally, thousands have participated, and hundreds have achieved the top award of Eagle Scout or the Gold Award for Girl Scouts.  Northville has one of the highest percentages in the country for these top honors.
• Scouts help the community in many ways: Working with seniors, youth and those in need, improving our parks (Ford Field, Fish Hatchery Park, Mill Race Village, Maybury & others) and supporting additional area initiatives.  Also, they have supported Civic Concern and visited those in hospitals & senior residential communities.
• The Northville Record remarked in 1949 that the Scouts sponsored Saturday afternoon football parties where TV’s were set up at the Scout Building for the public to enjoy (TVs were brand new then).  I’m proud to say that the event was made possible through the cooperation of Turnbull’s Northville Electric Shop (TVs provided).
• Another unique example of community support happened in 1954, when the various Scouts in Northville assisted in stocking the Rouge & Johnson Creeks with trout from the Northville Fish Hatchery (4,000 trout in total).
• Transitioning to recent activities – In 2015, over 400 Scouts held a weekend encampment at Ford Field that included a day of service across the City, totaling 1,300 service hours. The event is planned again in 2021.
• For years, local Scout Troops placed flags on the graves of our fallen veterans to honor them for Memorial Day.
• The Boy Scouts of America’s mission is also achieved when our youth experience exciting outdoor high-adventure beyond our backyards … Northville Scouts can be seen all over our country and internationally.
• Since the early 2000’s, Northville Boy Scouts have made up the State’s largest contingent of attendees at the National Jamboree, held every four years.
• You can see our Northville Scouts have been an integral part of the fabric of this community, now going on 100 years.  When possible, take time out and thank a Scout for all they do.

Next week, our last article in the series on patriotism will be dedicated to 4^th of July activities through time.  REMINDER: Don’t miss the parade in Northville on July 5^th at 10:00 AM (Griswold to Cady to Rogers to Main St).  It will start at the Downs and end at OLV.

Again, I thank you for assisting our town in getting through this pandemic as we battled COVID-19, and I thank you for sharing your Time & Talents and for keeping all connected in The Ville. I appreciate all you have done in reaching out to those in need in the community, just like the Scouts have done through time.

Keep that Northville Faith & Let’s keep moving forward…together!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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