According to BSA National's records, Troop 1 is the oldest remaining continuously-registered BSA Troop in Connecticut and the nation, founded in East Hartford in 1910. Troop 1 is a part of the Hockanum River District in the Connecticut Rivers Council. We are deeply grateful to the First Congregational Church of East Hartford for its continuous sponsorship.
This web page displays historical photos of this Boy Scout Troop.
Photo 1 - The original Troop Charter, dated October 14, 1910, showing that in the first year of it's creation, BSA assigned First Congregational Church's East Hartford Troop the Unit number 2 designation.
Another troop had been assigned Troop Unit number 1 about a month earlier, and it was sponsored by the Hartford YMCA. Unfortunately, that troop disbanded after its first year, and so the East Hartford troop was offered the Troop Unit number 1 designation. Therefore in 1913, First Congregational Church's scout troop took the Troop number 1 designation at the time of its annual rechartering.
First Congregational Church's Boy Scout Troop has remained active every year since its founding in 1910. Since the 50th anniversary in 1950, BSA National has told us that First Congregational Church of East Hartford has the oldest continuously registered Boy Scout Troop in the United States. Imagine that! While many of the other thousands of troops are larger, better funded, better equipped, etc., its pretty cool to have the distinction of serving the needs of young boys in a community continuously for 95+ years and with no end in sight. Scouting has been an integral part of if community here in East Hartford. We today appreciate the vision of Reverend Prentiss back in 1910, as do may men in the community that benefited from participation in Scouting during their youth.
Photo 2 - Reverend William Prentiss of the First Congregational Church of East Hartford was the founding member and first Scoutmaster (SM) of East Hartford’s first Scout troop, created on October 14, 1910. SM Reverend Prentiss is shown here leading a Troop 2 hike in 1911 (that’s right, see photo 2 about the troop designation change in 1913).
Photo 3 – This 1911 photo shows the scouts at their hiking destination: the YMCA in Hartford, where the YMCA was the sponsor of the original Connecticut Troop 1 (also formed in 1910). In 1913, after YMCA’s troop had disbanded, the East Hartford troop (originally Troop 2) was offered the abandoned Troop 1 designation, and that’s when we became Troop 1.
Photo 4 - In 1911, Troop (East Hartford) scouts practicing First Aid are, left to right: Marden Prentiss, Stanley Brainard, Fred Rathburn, Harold Alton (lying down), and Don Smith.
Photo 5 – In 1911, Scouts line up for a troop hike. Patrol 3 is showing their flag in the foreground. Names of some of Troop East Hartford Scouts lined up for hike are as follows: 3rd in line is Jim Bardon, 4th is Tad Hayden, 8th is Harold Alton, 11th is Eastman Page, 12th is Kenneth Ripley, 15th is Donald Smith.
Photo 6 – In 1911, Scouts pose while cooking over a campfire after hiking to the Long Hill area of East Hartford. This area is approximately where the East Hartford Golf Course is now located.
Photo 7 – Scoutmaster Reverend William Prentiss in 1911 at the foot of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Hiking in the presidential range became an annual favorite for Troop 1 Scouts.