Boy Scout Troop 518

Troop 518 is the oldest continually chartered Boy Scouts of America Troop in Maine. It has been registered through the Boy Scouts of America and active since April 1912. According to The Wilton Times dated October 5, 1962: “The first steps toward the organization of a Boy Scout Troop in Wilton were taken on February 19, 1912 at the office of G.H. Bass, Co. Twenty-four men were present at this meeting and so voted to organize a troop. Plans for scouting were rather ambitious, as those present looked forward to having several troops, as time passed, under leadership of a Commissioner.The first troop to be formed was in Wilton Village and Justin Luce was chosen as Scoutmaster. This proved to be the only troop ever organized in our town. Shortly after organization of the troop, Mr. Luce moved away and the responsibility of the troop fell on its Commissioner, Mr. Willard S. Bass, who registered as Scoutmaster the following year. Seventeen boys signed up as Scouts in April of 1912, and seven more registered before a year had passed. Troop meetings were held in a room upstairs in the old Bass shoe factory … The luxury of steam heat was not known by this group as they sawed their own wood, carried it upstairs and built their own fire.” “Mr. Allie Whittemore took over as Scoutmaster in 1919 and kept the leadership for two years. Mr. Bass once again became Scoutmaster and except for one year, when George Dow took over, continued as such, until 1927. It was after this period that Harold Collins took over. Haddie was in and out as Scoutmaster until 1948.” Willard Bass is credited for starting Scouting in Wilton and he continued to support it until his death in 1956. The Wilton Historical Society has a red scrapbook with old charters. The earliest charter in the scrapbook is dated February 1924 and reads: This is to certify that “A Group of Citizens” having made proper application through its duly authorized representative for Renewal of Charter is granted February 1924 to Veteran Troop No. 1 of Wilton Maine. The Scoutmaster was Willard S. Bass. The Troop Committee included G.E. Sands, R.E. Gould, and B.L. Trask. In its 22nd year in October 1934 Troop 1 became Troop 108. The Scoutmaster was Abner A. Toothaker and the Assistant Scoutmaster was Herbert L. Hobbs. The Committee included Willard S. Bass, Albert P. Watson, D.O. Gewall, Robert M. Edwards, and W.A. Bennett. In its 33rd year in October 1945 the Troop was re-chartered through the Wilton Churches ~ Congregational, Methodist, and Catholic ~ and remained Troop 108. The Scoutmaster was Harold Collins and the Assistant Scoutmasters were Harry A. Trask and Earl G. Melendy. The Committee included Willard S. Bass, Leland D. Sawyer, Charles C. Swett, B.F. Wentworth, and C. Francis Egan. In 1964 Troop 108 became Troop 518 and was re-chartered under the Congregational and Methodist Churches. The Scoutmaster was Leon Ogilvie. In 1967 Saint Mary’s Catholic Church joined the charter. The United Methodist Church of Wilton chartered next chartered our troop. In 1994, they were the first recipient of the Outstanding Charter Organization Award. This award was given to recognize the support that the United Methodist Church has given to Troop 518. As of 2012, St Luke’s Episcopal Church is the chartered organization for Troop 518.

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