Reflections on the Centennial of Scouting

By Donald C. Syracuse, MD

1926 – a century ago – was a pivotal year.  Quiet Calvin Coolidge was President, the Roaring Twenties was in full swing, Prohibition was in effect but more often ignored, and WW1 was a bad memory, but was supposed to be the war to end all wars.  “The Great Gatsby” of F. Scott Fitzgerald had just been published.  Sinclair Lewis was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, but refused to accept it on moral grounds.  The Cardinals beat the Yankees for their first World Series win.  It took seven games for St. Louis to win, with the final “out” being Babe Ruth caught stealing with Lou Gehrig at bat! The next year, 1927, Ruth would hit 60 home runs.  Bobby Jones won both the British and U.S. Opens and the Masters would not be played for another decade. In Connecticut, an eccentric scientist named Robert H. Goddard patented a liquid fuel rocket. This is the same propulsion system that powered the current Artemis II moon project. Closer to home, the Arch Bridge over Morris Turnpike had held up well since its reconstruction for a crack developing in the first version, and a restaurant was scheduled to open by the name of The Arch which would evolve into the present day Benihana. And most importantly, the Short Hills Boy Scout Troop 15 was chartered to Christ Church.

In fact, Christ Church was celebrating its 42^nd year with its fourth Rector the Rev. Chas. Malcolm Douglas.  Stewart Hartshorn, who had donated the property had envisioned “an ideal community to be named Short Hills” with the goal of “a harmonious community for people who appreciate Nature”. Undoubtedly, he would have been pleased with the founding of a Boy Scout Troop. He was destined to live another ten years while the Troop flourished eventually passing away at the grand old age of 97.  Of note, the acreage he acquired ultimately derived from land purchased from the Lenape Indians, later to be recognized in the Boy Scout Charter between Christ Church and The Lenape Trail Council.

The immediate success of the Troop 15 inspired the formation of a Girl Scout Troop in the following year. Additionally, the first Cub Scout Pack in the Nation was founded in 1932 with precedents set by Troop 15. Some current parishioners may remember Ann Wiss whose mother-in-law organized this inaugural Cub Scout Pack 1. 

Troop 15 has always been known for its robust Scout Sunday, plant sale (now 75yrs.) and marching on Memorial Day. Other traditions include outside activities such as hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing on the Delaware, and adventuring at Sea-Base Florida or at Philmont, New Mexico. The Troop has extended itself to local reserves such as Hartshorn Arboretum and the Reeves Reed gardens as well as hospitals, schools and religious institutions in our area. A recent Eagle Project codified the trees and plantings of Christ Church as a first step in designating the property as an official Arboretum in the State of New Jersey. There have been at least 50 Eagle Scouts generated through the Troop and even during COVID seven young men achieved this esteemed rank.

Troop 15 was featured in a book entitled “Not Exactly Rocket Scientists” by Schill, MacIlroy and Hamilton (2017).  John W. MacIlroy and “Bud” Schill were Troop Master and Assistant, respectively, and along with Hamilton (a Crucifer but not a Scout) were parishioners of Christ Church. A “tongue-in-cheek” recounting of knot-tying was found in the chapter entitled “Son of a Hitch” – pun intended!  The fun of scouting has never been better described than in this humorous retrospective of scouting in the fifties.

Scripture teaches: “A thousand years in your sight is like a day …” (Psalms 90:4) Time passes in the blink of a eye – trite but true… And so has Scouting for Troop 15. A consequential century has passed quickly and a new century looms ahead. Troop 15 looks confidently to the future and affirms the Scout Motto “Be Prepared-We are Prepared”!

Donald C. Syracuse, MD past Institutional Rep and Eagle Advisor, Troop 15 Christ Church in Short Hills NJ April 12, 2026 | Scout Sunday

With appreciation to Lynne Ranieri, Owen Lampe (d), Gilbert Schill, and John MacIlroy