The Borough of Mendham is proud to celebrate its Boys Scouts of America heritage. It is the home to one of the first Boy ScoutTroops in the USA-- Troop 1. The troop is still active today. Over the years the community has been the beneficiary of many Troop 1 Eagle Scout projects and its community service work. The troop is sponsored by the local Pastime Club.
Pictured is Troop 1 founding Scoutmaster William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt and Lord Baden-Powell the founder of the worldwide Scouting movement taken in 1936 at the former Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, now the Schiff Nature Preserve. The grave of "Green Bar Bill" lies within the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation.
Today over 310 acres of the original reservation are part of the Schiff Nature Preserve. William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt, participated on the BSA Handbook Editorial Board and contributed to writing the 6th, 7th, and 8th editions of the BSA Handbook. He later in 1979 was the author of 9th edition of the BSA Handbook.
6th Edition 7th Edition 8th Edition
9th Edition By Bill Hillcourt
The original Schiff Scout Reservation was a 500 acre camp ground in operationfrom 1932 to 1979. The land was purchased for the BSA by Mrs. Jacob Schiff in memory of her son, Mortimer, who died and untimely death while President of the BSA in 1931. Mortimer L. Schiff was the father of John M. Schiff; both of whom were World Scout Committee members and notable early Boy Scouts of America (BSA) leaders. The Scout Reservation was formallly dedicated on October 18, 1933.
The Boy Scouts of America's National Training Center was located at the Schiff Reservation from 1933 to 1979 as well as the Ellsworth H Augustus International Scout House. Notably, the first Wood Badge advanced leadership training courses for adult Scout Leaders in the in the United States was held under the leadership of "Green Bill Bar" at the Schiff Reservation in 1936. Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, introduced the program to the USA in 1936.
Ellsworth H Augustus International Scout House
The Wood Badge was offically adopted by BSA in 1948, with William Hillcourt playing a key role. The first officia l BSA Wood Badge course in 1948 was held at Schiff Reservation, with Bill Hillcourt as the Scoutmaster. The Wood Badge Lodge, built in the 1960 still remains on the Schiff Nature Preserve today as well as the Marge Davidson Administration Building (now the Schiff Nature Center) and the Dan Beard Cabin.
Marge Davidson Administration Building
Dan Beard Cabin
After the National Council moved to Irving, Texas, the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico became the new home of the National Training Center. The BSA National Headquarters was also relocated from North Brunswick, New Jersery to Irving,Texas in1979. The Scout Reservation was later saved and aquired as the Schiff Nature Preserve.
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