Troop 2 in Homestead was originally not a Jewish troop!
The first mention I saw of Troop 2 in Homestead was the newspaper on 10/30/1914. At this time the troop had a mix of Jewish and non-Jewish members. By mid-1918 the troop was disbanded, although scouting was at that time very popular due to the war. In February 1919 the troop was reorganized with new members, all of whom were Jewish! This is the Troop 2 so many Homesteaders remember so well. The group sprang into action with hikes, basketball games, and a vaudeville show.
(More to come soon!)
Boy Scout Troop c. 1920? (Source: Jacobson Family Photographs, Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center)
This picture of the troop was likely taken before 1920, as we believe it contains my grandfather’s youngest brother, Maurice Hepps, who died in January 1920. (source: Dennis Novak)
Dennis Novak also has this merit badge and certificate from Maurice. The year is difficult to read, unfortunately… clearly from sometime in the 19-teens.
Troop #2 Basketball team, June 1920.
Back row: V. Averbach, Morris Margolis, Harry Lasday, I. Sarons
Middle row: Bernard Grinberg, H. Fienstein, Allan Widom
Front row: Sam Hepps, H. Hepps
(source: Allen Grinberg via the Homestead Exhibit Photographs)
Jewish Scouts Camp Photo, June 1920 (source: Allen Grinberg via the Homestead Exhibit Photographs).
A May 30, 1939 picture of the troop. This poster is hanging on the door of Alan Smooke’s apartment. He is on the left in the middle row. Behind him is my cousin, Bernard Keisler. Others of the men in the picture are also still alive; I will update with all the names shortly.
This is an absolutely amazing recount of the scouting history in the area thank you very much for preserving this
If you know anyone who has more potential history I would be more than willing to talk to them about it as I am a scout leader in the area currently and we are planning a 100 anniversary for our local scout troop 4. We are looking for scouting history for the entire area not just our troop so that we can put together a pretty nice presentation of what scouting was like in this area over the last hundred years