CUMBERLAND — On Saturday, the Allegany Museum will unveil an exhibit that pays homage to the history of local Boy Scout troops.
This new exhibit, created by Andrew Sparber, will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in Cumberland and examine the mark these boys have made on the history of Cumberland. The exhibit will be open through Feb. 15.
Scout Troop One was started in 1912 by the YMCA. The ideals and values of BSA were widely lauded by the community, and troops were sponsored by many churches and service clubs. By 1924, the area boasted so many troops, the Potomac Council was created.
“The history of Scouting is well-known but there are some stories that have not yet been told. One of these stories is the role Troop One had in completing the first-ever sanitary survey during the typhoid fever epidemic,” Sparber explained.
Sparber said his research revealed that Troop One spent two weeks in 1913 assisting the U.S. Public Health Service conduct a health survey. Scouts visited nearly 4,500 homes gathering information. More than 2,000 residents attended a presentation of the results of the study, setting into motion a series of events that led to establishment of the county’s first health department.
Sparber’s interest in this particlar segment of BSA history was sparked by a small article recounting the project that he discovered from a 1913 Cumberland Evening Times edition. As he sought additional information, Sparber realized that the Scouts were pioneers who helped make some important changes during the Progressive Era, a time when science and public health were both rapidly changing and advancing.
Sparber’s exhibition will include a vast number of photographs, memorabilia and displays, including old uniforms, Scouting books, a trek cart used to carry supplies and campsite replicas.
On Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m., Allegany Museum will welcome U.S. Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Boris Lushniak. A former Scout, Lushniak will honor the work of the area boys and the role they played in improving the health of their generation and future generations. Later in the evening, a program will be presented featuring current and past Scouts.
Sparber, who is an Eagle Scout, said the values taught by the BSA cannot be underestimated.
“We want to recognize the role Scouts have played in the community and nationally. The values taught to these boys are carried throughout their childhood and into their adult lives,” he said.
For more information, contact the Allegany Museum at 301-777-7200.
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Related Photos
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Troop 26, whose members marched in the 1919 Labor Day Parade, will be among the local Boy Scout troops highlighted in a special exhibition at the Allegany Museum through Feb. 15. Photo courtesy of the Pat Yeager collection
Museum exhibit celebrates Scouts anniversary
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