The Troop 64 History
Part II

I conversed with Robert Shadick about the early years of the troop. Robert recollects the troop membership being about twenty Scouts divided into two patrols. The Scouts trained in 1st aid and water safety by the Red Cross at meetings conducted at the firehouse. The majority of advancement in Scouting came when the Scouts attended Camp Pomperaug each summer. The camp was located a few miles from Trumbull on Lake Zoar. Robert later became Water Front Director at Camp Pomperaug.

Robert Shadick recalls the troop taking part in paper drives and aluminum drives before the war. They regulated a booth each year at the firemans carnival. He told me that the Scouts assisted "Air Alert" drills through an air raid telephone system at the North End Police Department in Bridgeport. Thomas Shadick encouraaged a co-worker at the telephone company to become involved with the leadership of the troop. Cy Keating became the 6th Scoutmaster in Troop 64 history in 1943.

During the Second World War, the Trumbull Vol. Fire Co. had close to half their members in the Armed Forces. Troop 64 also had several members in the Armed Forces. Clayton McClinch, James McClinch, R.W. Kascak and Eagle Scout Robert Shadick all enlisted with the Navy. Eben R. Joy, Robert Strobel and Francis Aiken joined the Army while Dave Halapin and Arthur McClinch were off with the Marines.

Fifteen year old 1st Class Scout Leroy Rendflash was senior patrol leader of the troop as the war was ending. In 1945 the troop had 8 adult leaders, 36 Scouts and sadly, two fallen heros. Two troop members in the service lost their lives. Robert Strobel, son of the 5th Scoutmaster Herman Strobel, died when his troopship was sunk off the coast of Europe. The 3rd Scoutmaster and first Eagle Scout lost a son and brother respectively. Norman Shadick met a tragic and untimely death. Being stationed in Kansas he was responding to a fire while on the back of a speeding fire truck. Suddenly he fell from the rear, only to be run over by a second fire truck enroute to the same fire.

E. Merrill Beach and his wife presented a 160 acre tract of land to the Town of Trumbull on November 11th, 1946. This was to become a park named after their son PFC Robert G. Beach (1925-1944) who died in an air raid on London. The park was in commemoration of the 758 servicemen and women from the town who served the country in World War II.

Within this woodland was a geological granite chasm forming a natural amphitheater. Indian ceremonial rituals once took place within these testimonial walls. These mereticious assemblages were to be rekindled by a new group who would hold the age old tradidtions of respect for the promontory estate of the land. Twelve acres surrounding this site, was deeded to the Boy Scouts of America. The property became known as "ScoutLand". The area was cleared, a 2,000 foot gravel road was constructed from Hedgehog Circle to a newly built cabin. Officially opened by the Pomperaug Council in May 1949. Troop 64 will use this site for campfires, campouts and hikes for the next quarter of a century.

In the winter of 1948 the Camp Pomperaug dining hall roof caved in. Ouch! From 1949 to 1952, Promperaug Council conducded Camp Pomperaug at Camp Mauwehu. Troop 64 spent a few seasons of camping at Camp Mauwehu each summer. The 5th Edition Scout Handbook was introduced in 1949 as the troop was in it's 20th year. The Senior Scouting Program manifested itself into the establishment of an Explorer program. Scouts fourteen and over were encouraged to the title of "Explorer". The Explorers worked to supply additional leadership within the troop. This program continued until Explorer Posts were established as separte units by the national office in 1959.

Over 500 people attended the memorial dedication for Robert G. Beach Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28th, 1950 at 2:30 PM. Roberta Hawkins whose father was killed in the war, unveiled the plaque. The tablet with two troop members, Norman Shadick and Robert Strobel were immortalized upon a metalic bronze plate touched by the rays of the sun for the first time.

In 1952 four major changes took place in troop history. First, Lawrence Keller became the 7th Scoutmaster of Troop 64. Second the Trumbull Lions Club became the new sponsor for the troop. Third, a new meeting location. The meetings were changed to Center School, White Plains Road on Wednesday nights at 7:15 PM. Forth, Camp Pomperaug is moved to a new location on Wells Pond near Union Connecticut.

The Silver (25 years) Anniversary was celebrated in 1954. Harvard Kinnie became the 8th Scoutmaster in Troop 64 history. The membership was 28 Scouts and Russell Hayden became the second Eagle Scout of the troop.