Girl Scout Sunday, March 12, 1962

       In the collection of the Interlaken Historical Society are two boxes of memorabilia relating to the Interlaken Girl Scouts. These were donated by Kitty Ritter and Mary Willers, both longtime leaders.

March 12, 1964 Girl Scout Sunday bulletin insert

       For many years Girl Scout Week and Girl Scout Sunday were held in October. Interlaken Review October 28, 1949, “Sunday, October 30^th, marks the opening of Girl Scout Week. Girl Scout Week is celebrated every year during the week of Juliette Low’s birthday, October 31^st. Juliette Low, the Founder of the Girl Scouts in the United States, announced the beginning of the movement in March, 1912.”

       Later in the article it noted, “On Sunday, the Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Committee of Interlaken will begin their activities by attending the 10:30 service at the Baptist Church. Last year this service was held at the Interlaken Reformed Church.”

       Interlaken Review, October 27, 1950 “The week opens with Girl Scout Sunday, emphasizing that all Girl Scouts attend church in uniform.”

       At the Girl Scout national convention in the fall of 1953, “the dates of Girl Scout Week were changed to coincide with the annual celebration of the Girl Scout Anniversary on March 12.” Trumansburg Free Press, March 5, 1954.

       That article continued, announcing the dates for “Girl Scout Week, March 7-13. According to the president of the local Scout Executive Committee, this will be the first time that Girl Scout Week will be observed in March. Previously Girl Scout Week occurred in October.”

       Interlaken Review March 7, 1957, “Area Girl Scouts will join more than two million scouts across the country in observing Girl Scout Week, March 10 through 16…The week-long celebration commences with Girl Scout Sunday when Scouts will attend churches in uniform, with their leaders.”

       March 11, 1965, Under the Headline, “Girl Scouts Attend Rally, The Interlaken Girl Scouts and adult volunteers will observe Girl Scout Sunday, March 14. Go to the church of your choice.”

       Many of the articles announcing Girl Scout Week included lists of the girls and their rank along with the adult volunteers. One photograph in the March 12, 1964, Interlaken Review showed a group of Scouts serving refreshments at the P.T.A. meeting. Shown are Phyllis Boyes, Sue Bell, Midge Larsen, Carol Adams, Carol Barber, Doris Swartout, Sephanie Adams, Sharon Jackson, Roxie Waid, and Mrs. Barb [Paul] Adams.

       Several of the girls from the Interlaken troops also participated in larger national events. Margaret Willers attended the 1962 Girl Scout Senior Roundup at Button Bay, VT. The Historical Society has her “trading hat” from the event.

       Also in the collection is a copy of the letter written in December 1964 notifying Joan Leary and others that they had been selected to attend the 1965 Senior Roundup at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, representing the Tiotomca* Area Girl Scouts.

      After sharing a draft copy of this snippet with Joan Leary Young she shared a photo of herself in a 1935 uniform and Wendy Hanford in a 1929 uniform that they wore to school to help celebrate Girl Scout Week. Thank you, Joan.

       Included on the back of the 1964 church insert was the Scout Promise. It also noted that in the Tiotomca Area Council there were 3,300 girls.

       For all of those who were and still are involved in Girl Scouts, we have to say “thank you” to the adults who assisted along the way, many of them our mothers.

Dewitt’s Diary Wednesday, March 12, 1924: Edna ironed today. Cold northwest gale today. I trimmed trees this morning. Edna, Leland and myself went down to Mother’s tonight. Francis has been adding another “tube” to his Radio set. It sure makes it much better. All stations much louder.

Editor’s notes: *Tiotomca stood for the counties that made up the council, Tioga, Tompkins and Seneca.

In Dewitt’s Diary, Mother is Catherine Petterson Bassette wife of D.C. Bassette, and Francis is Dewitt’s youngest brother.