Troop History

Scoutmasters

John Ward - service years unknown

Joseph Driscoll - service years unknown

Edward Galanty - service years unknown

Raymond Cholewka - 4 years

Mario Medina - 9 months

Roger Adams - 7 years

Kevin Brand - 3 years 3 months

Raymond Slagus - Sept. 99 thru today

Siwanoy (Wingdale N.Y)

Ten Mile River ( Monticello N.Y.)

Baiting Hollow (Long Island, N.Y.)

Boy Scout Troop 105 was formed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C. church in 1930. Although a lot of our early history is still very much unknown we do know that during the 40’s – the 70’s the troop also was the base for the explorer post 105.

In and around 1976 the troop roster held 44 scouts.

Troop had a marching band which disbanded before 1976. Ray Cholewka revived it for one year. Instruments used, drums, bugles and glockenspiels. The instruments were eventually given away or sold. The last remaining instrument, a bugle was sold to then assistant Scoutmaster Jose Jiminez. He used it a few times to awaken scouts on a weekend hike.

Troop and pack marched in many Memorial Day parades on Liberty Avenue. In one of these parades our band marched and played.

Troop took fall trips on Columbus day weekends, in a rented 48 passenger bus with every seat filled. Later we rented 15 passenger vans. The Troop went to Gettysburg twice, Washington D.C. twice, Williamsburg VA. and Battleship Cove Mass., and Boston at least 3 times. In the fall of 2000 the troop joined forces with Troop 237 and took a rented bus to Washington D.C. It was a very successful trip.

In the past with the help of our late congressman Joseph Addabbo, we were able to spend the nights for free at military basses and eat cheaply in their mess halls.

We visited the submarine base at Groton Connecticut at least 3 times. We stayed on base twice and at a girl scout camp once. We toured the first nuclear submarine, the nautilus, now a permanently berthed museum, and a sailing museum.

Jockey Hollow was a 17 mile hike years ago, it is now 11 miles. Around 1991 our troop became lost (as we do every year) in a pouring rainstorm. After hiking about 21 miles the local police drove the boys to a firehouse to wait out the storm. One year we stayed overnight in Ray Cholewka’s mother’s house, that was the year that Mrs. Martha Rios of our troop was the first woman to complete the hike. As a special Memento, Roger Adams spray painted Mrs. Rios’ jockey hollow medal gold instead of the usual silver color. The last few hikes we camped at camp Allamouchie. We make this hike every third year.

The troop has made an annual canoe trip down the Delaware since 1984. We originally camped at Bob Landers but switched after 5 years to our present campground, Kittatiny. Originally we canoed 15 miles, now the trip is shortened to about 7 miles. This trip was originally a father and son trip but is now open to families and friends.

We have been making annual ski trips since approximately 1986. Originally these were day trips, however since 1991 we have been staying at Donald Bailey’s family house, in pine bush N.Y.

We have been going to "chips folly" in New Gretna N.J. annually since 1972. Originally we usually went on the weekend before memorial day but about 1987 we switched to late September. On one annual trip we had over 80 guests. We rented the lodge and two additional cabins plus we tented in the back. There is a horseshoe tournament every year, but we only started giving out plaque trophies around 1990. This trip was originally limited to fathers and sons and Webelos but is now open to all.

One summer camp volunteers went spelunking (exploring caves for those that do not recognize that word). Unlike popular belief, all caves are not holes in the side of a mountain. These caves were holes in the ground. Everyone spelunking had to have a minimum of three flashlights with them. In some parts or the cave we had to walk in three feet deep ice cold water. Other parts of the cave were only 18 high and we had to slide along on our bellies. Every one was wet, cold and muddy.

During canoe trips at camp Siwanoy summer camp we visited Indian Head Rock. This was a 30 foot high cliff with the profile of an Indian chief. Many scouts jumped off the cliff into 10 feet of water. One of the Graue boys and Mr. Hank Oswald, dived 30 feet.

Mr. Oswald gave week night classes in public speaking to the troop. After about 8 classes, all parents were invited to hear all the boys (including their sons) give speeches.

Mrs. Madelyn Boos gave week night classes on social dancing. All older boys attended to learn the dances they would have to know for attending weddings in their futures.

Around 1977 our troop adults had a celebration party at Hank Oswald’s hall for the troops 50 anniversary.

Up until around 1998 our troop always had a mothers club. This included mothers of past and present scouts. The mothers club was very supportive of our troop, also very financially generous. Until around 1980 every spring the mothers club ran a flea market in the school hall selling all the discarded contents of attics and garages. Every Scout Sunday the mothers club ran a cake sale also in the school hall. Every scout family had to donate a cake and a dozen cupcakes. Every fall the mothers club ran a barn dance, a 1950's dance, or a dinner cruise.

From 1972 to around 1980 the troop committee consisted of about 40 men then it started to taper down. Presently the committee consists of 13 men and women.

Daniel Wisloh gave gun demonstrations once a year at a troop night. In later years, Gilbert Backer, Jose Jiminez and Bill Ross gave gun and bow and arrow demonstrations. We dropped this demonstration in the wake of all the misuse of weapons by people across our nation.