August 1, 1907 – Lord Robert Baden-Powell, author of the book
Scouting For Boys, took a group of boys to Brownsea Island for a
camping event. Thus, the Scouting program was born. February 8,
1910 – William Boyce incorporated the BSA, and was later granted
a charter by the United States Congress. Thus, the Boy Scouts of
America was born. March 9, 1911 – Mr. Dale of St. Paul, the
northwest organizer of the Boy Scouts, arrived in town to talk
to community leaders. Thus, Scouting began in Melrose,
Minnesota. The Boy Scout program has come and gone many times
over the decades in Melrose. I was a Boy Scout during the early
to mid 1970′s, but after three and one half years the troop
folded due to lack of adult leadership. People have told me
there were also Melrose Boy Scout troops in the 1960′s, the
1950′s, and the 1940′s. Each troop lasted for a few, or several,
years and then died out. Recently, Herman Lensing, a reporter
for our local newspaper, the Melrose Beacon, was looking through
some early editions of the