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Home My WebLink AboutRenaming Boy Scout Troop 1 CabinREQUES FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION Date Augugr 1 7 , 1992 Submitted to: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Submitted by: Michael T. Uberuaga, City Administrat �A__ Prepared by: Ron Hagan, Director, Community Services *__� Subject: RENAMING OF SCOUT TROOP #1 CAB Consistent with Council Policy? [ ] Yes [ ] New Policy or Exc( APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL - F - % J 19_22 Statement of Issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternatives ctions, ttac ments: STATEMENT OF ISSUE The city has received a request from the Boy Scout Troop #1 75th Anniversary Committee to rename the Boy Scout Troop #1 Cabin. RECOMMENDATION Rename Boy Scout Troop #1 Cabin located in Lake Park to "Boy Scout Troop #1/William Russell Paxson Cabin." MWZT.VQTQ On July 8, 1992 the Community Services Commission Park Naming and Memorials Committee recommended to the commission that Boy Scout Troop #1 Cabin located in Lake Park be renamed to "Boy Scout Troop #1/William Russell Paxson Cabin." The commission concurred unanimously with the committee's report and recommended the name change to City Council. See Attachment 1. This request had been made by the Troop #1 75th Anniversary Committee because Mr. Paxson, who is 70 years old and a lifetime resident of Huntington Beach, has been a member of scouting since 1932 and has diligently served Huntington Beach's Troop #1. See Attachment 2 for additional information regarding Mr. Paxson. The commission felt that because of Mr. Paxson's significant, long-term contribution to scouting, and specifically to Boy Scout Troop #1, renaming the scout cabin was appropriate. The commission did feel that rather than eliminating the name Boy Scout Troop #1, William Russell Paxson should be added to the existing name. The commission felt that his contribution was significant and, therefore, warranted being included in the cabin name, but that for historical reasons, the original cabin name should remain. This was satisfactory to the representative from the Troop #1 75th Anniversary Committee who attended the commission meeting. _ No 5/85 REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION PAGE TWO FUNDING SOURCE Not applicable. ALTERNATIVE ACTION 1. Do not include William Russell Paxson.as part of the name for the Boy Scout Troop #1 Cabin. 2. Name the cabin after William Russell Paxson but do not continue to include Boy Scout Troop #1 in the name. ATTACHMENTS 1. Community Services Commission's July 8 action 2. Backup information regarding William Russell Paxson RH:JBE:am f ATTACHMENT 1 1 9 ;, CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 2000 MAIN STREET CALIFORNIA 92648 COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT (714) 536-5486 July 21, 1992 Mayor Jim Silva and Members of City Council 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear Mayor Silva and Council Members: SUBJECT: RENAMING OF SCOUT TROOP #1 CABIN The Community Services Commission conducted its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 1992. Following a discussion of the proposed renaming of the Scout Troop #1 Cabin, commission made the following motion: MOTION: MOVED BY BOZANIC, SECONDED BY CRAFT THAT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE LAKE PARR SCOUT CABIN BE "BOY SCOUT TROUP #1/ WILLIAM RUSSELL PAXSON CABIN." THE MOTION PASSED BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE. ' cerely, Margaret Hickey, Chairman Community Services Commission MH:JBE:am A Quality Life Through Education, Recreation and Culture IATTACHMENT 2 75th Reunion Committee Chairman Boy Scouts of America - Troop 1 Huntington Beach, CA Norman Conger 1118 Park Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 June 3,1992 Ron Hagan Director of Community Services City of Huntington Beach 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear Mr. Hagan, Boy Scout Troop 1 of Huntington Beach is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary. In honor of this event, the troop is planning a day of activities at the Boy Scout Cabin in Lake Park, followed by a dinner at First Christian Church, which is the troop's sponsor. At this event, we would like to especially honor a gentleman connected with the troop for 60 years by renaming the cabin in his honor. As a boy of ten in 1932, William Russell (Russ) Paxson joined the troop and has continued his membership and participation until the present time. Among his many notable accomplishments, he was Scoutmaster for 12 years, a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award (scouting council's highest honor for adult recognition), and has been a source of inspiration to generations:'of boys and their families. This letter is to formally ask the Community Services Commission to approve our request to rename the cabin in Mr. Paxson's honor. s An official proclamation from the City of Huntington Beach for the renaming of the cabin in Mr. Paxson's honor would be appreciated at an appropriate time. Mayor Jim Silva, our first contact on this matter, has personally expressed his full support for this action. Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely, 1; Norman Conger 75th Reunion Chair PH: 536-2195 Ty Brinker 75th Reunion Ass't Chair PH: 962-9783 Oldest trod in west, St -Juts' honor ► Old-time Boy Scouts share history of Huntington Beach's Troop No. 1;. which celebrates its 75th birthday with reunion party this July. By Tony Dodero Stan writer hree former Boy Scouts recently reflected on what life was like in the early days of Huntington Beach Troop 1, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this "When we were kids, scouting was the only activity," said Russ Paxson, 70, a former Scoutmaster who says Troop 1 may be the oldest scout troop west of the Mississippi. "Now there are so many things to compete with. And I don't knock any one of them. What I don't like to see is the kid that is not involved." Along with Paxson, scouts Ed and Marshall Tinsley noted that life was much different when they were romping through the The kids are bean and oil fields that surrounded the the same. They four -square -mile are making the beach town of 3,500. same stupid mis- "There was nothing takes that we did north of 11th Street but oil wells, said when we were Marshall Tinsley, 75,, klds.I whose father, Jack, —RUSS PAXSON was Huntington former Boy Scout Beach's first police chief. In fact, the Huntington Beach troop was formed before Orange or Los Angeles County had a formal Scout Council. The three, who are all retired oil workers, recalled taking scouting trips to the beach and to the Santa Ana River, where Ed Tinsley, 72, said crawdads were fished out of the river and eaten with abandon. Formed by the First Christian Church and originally called the Kit Carson Troop, the first scouts were led by the Rev. M.W. Coats. Since those humble beginnings, Troop 1 has remained strong, losing members only during the first and second World Wars.. In its 75 years of existence, the troop has yielded more than 80 Eagle Scouts — the first being Bob Mcguier, Marshall Tinsley, Russ Paxson and Ed Tins- ley are former Boy Scouts with Troop 1 in who lives in Whittier. While the Huntington Beach of 1917 would not even recognize the modern metropolis of 200,000, scouting has survived'decades relatively unscathed, said Paxson, who joined the troop in 193.3. "The kids are the same," Paxson said. ".They are making the same stupid mistakes that we did when we were kids." There is one big change, however. "It's becoming more difficult to go camping because there are just no places left," he said. Lee Payneflndepei Huntington Beach, which claims to be original troop west of the Mississippi Rive The cornerstone of Troop 1 is its meeting place :— the Log Cabin. One of the city's thr historical landmarks, the cabin sits at the eas end of Lake Park full of scouting memorabili ,,I slept in it before there was a roof," said Marshall Tinsley, who was once a track star ; Huntington Beach High School. During World War II, the cabin was taken over by the U.S. Army, which used it as a mt hall for troops camping in the park. The landmark narrowly missed condemna_ tj SCOUTS. troop is oldest & west From Al in 1967 after the City Counci 'voted to shut it down because thi ,structure was feared unsound: But the idea of tearing dowt -the old scout hangout touched of :a hornet's nest in the city and thi 'council backed away from the. pro .posal. Instead, the scouts refur bished the old cabin and the cit, .made it a historic site. The anniversary bash schedule( for July 25 will give the public ; chance to see all of the scouting memorabilia and. an open house a the cabin is also being planned. RCA - ROUTING SHEET/CHECKLIST INITIATING DEPARTMENT DATE_ SUBJECT AGENDA DATE AGENDA DEADLINE__/�'/ ,2- (TO MIN STRATION) YES NO PUBLIC HEARING [ ] [�] PUBLICATION DATE (Most FEES require a Public Hearing. .Seek the City Attorneys advice on fees.) DATE TO CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney (With Exhibits) (Initial when complete) INITIATING DEPARTMENT REVIEW/CHECKLIST REQUIRED BACKUP YES NO ordinance [ ] (V] Resolution [ ] Signed Contract/Agreement ( ] [ Negative Dec./EIR Insurance Bond/s [ ] Map / s CHECK BELOW IF ATTACHED [ [ ] [ l Financial Impact statement (Unbudgeted Items Over $10,000) RCA - City Council [L./[ ] [ RCA - Redevelopment Agency [ ] [p [ ] REVIEWED BY INITIATING DEPARTMENT AGENDA COORDINATOR: ADMINISTRATION REVIEW [ ] COMMENTS: i`