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Troop 5 History:
World War II
The original Troop 5 Bronxville was founded sometime between 1938 and 1940. It was spun-off from an existing troop (Troop 1) that had already been established in Bronxville. Scouting was very popular at the time, due to the extreme feelings of patriotism, volunteerism, good citizenship, and wanting to help out that swept the United States during World War Two.
No records remain from the pre-war Troop 5. The records either were not maintained by the Scouts or disappeared when the keepers of these records passed away. The original Troop 5 existed for approximately seven years, becoming inactive around 1945, presumably when the initial group aged out of scouting.
1990-1993
Troop 5 was re-chartered on October 31, 1990, by Raymond “Ray” L. Pfeister and William “Biff” Folberth. The Troop activated during 1989, but the official charter was not received until August 31, 1991, a few years later. The council was Westchester-Putnam, the district Four Rivers. Troop 5 was the first Bronxville Boy Scout Troop to be founded by private citizens rather than by an existing organization, such as a church.
The Reformed Church of Bronxville was chosen to be the meeting place for Troop 5. This was arranged by Dr. P.C. “Buddy” Ennis, who was the Senior Minister at the Reformed Church at that time and a friend of Mr. Pfeister’s. Because Dr. Ennis’s father had been an Eagle Scout, Dr. Ennis was very enthusiastic about Scouting and eager to help the new Troop 5. The rooms in the back of the Reformed Church, including a gym for the nearby preschool, were conveniently empty and unused from six o’clock to eight o’clock., so that time was established as the Troop’s meeting time. Troop 5 has been meeting at the Reformed Church ever since then.
Fourteen scouts joined the Troop during 1989. During December of that year, the troop attendance list was as follows: Steve Bowen, Alex Chrisman, Andrew L. Coon, David S. Feuerstein, William M. Folberth, Gary Giangola, Matthew Hariss, Brian C. Herbert, Justin D. Leach, William P. Meade, Luke H. Patterson, Morgan Patterson, Joseph R. Pfeister, and David C. Rogers.
The Troop was divided into four patrols. The patrols didn’t have set names; the scouts in the patrols chose names for them each year.
During Mr. Pfeister’s tenure, the Troop was very active, particularly in high adventure camping. The entire Troop went to Philmont horseback camp many times, a tradition that continues today. The Troop also began going to Yawgoog Scout Camp in August each year. The troop began sending representatives to the Order of the Arrow a year after it was founded and won many Scouting awards under Mr. Pfesiter’s leadership, most notably including a first-place award at the National Scout Jamboree in 1991. Mr. Pfeister resigned in 1993, after having served as Scoutmaster for over five years.
1993-2002
John Sanderson (previously known as John Satenstein) succeeded Mr. Pfeister as Scoutmaster during 1993. During that time, the membership in Troop 5 remained strong.
Mr. Sanderson set about changing the Troop’s organization. The patrol system was changed during his tenure. Scouts were organized into four patrols with fixed names: Tiger, Badger, Wolverine, and a “New Kids” patrol (which was called the Eagle patrol early on but later was changed to the Cobra patrol). The jobs of Patrol Leader and Assistant patrol leader were set up to run the patrols.
The Troop “jobs” were also reformed at this time. Most of the Troop’s basic leadership positions had been established by Mr. Pfeister. Mr. Sanderson created additional jobs, which were needed to manage the growing number of Scouts. For example, Historians were required to take notes on the events of the camping trips; Scribes were asked to record troop attendance; and Patrol leaders had to set up camping trip schedules for their patrols. The Chaplain’s aide worked with scouts to help them earn their religious medals.
Mr. Sanderson introduced the “Senior Patrol.” The Senior Patrol was included as a special group for older scouts. It was instituted to reward older scouts for staying with the program and to encourage younger scouts to take charge of their own affairs, rather than relying on the older scouts to make all the decisions.
During Mr. Sanderson’s period of leadership, the Troop also began to keep more detailed records. A Troop Newspaper, The Troop 5 gazette, was founded. Mr. Sanderson set the style for writing records that continues today. In addition, Troop 5 began to hold its own Courts of Honor. Previously, the three Bronxville Troops had held one communal Court of Honor, but this was discontinued as there were too many scouts in the Troops to hold it in one place. The three Troops of Bronxville — Troops 1, 2, and 5 — began to hold separate Courts of Honor in separate places.
Mr. Sanderson resigned in 2002 after ten years of leading the troop.
2002-2008
Paul Raneiri became the scoutmaster in 2002, succeeding Mr. Sanderson. Richard Duke became his Assistant Scoutmaster.at that time. Troop attendance stayed at a constant level of around 20 Scouts between 2002 and 2008. The number of Scouts in Troop 5 never again reached the heights that it had during the early 1990s, which is consistent with National statistics on Scout membership.
In general, Mr. Ranieri continued to have the Troop operate as it had done previously. The Troop 5 Gazette was probably discontinued during this time. It is likely that it had ceased to become useful to the troop, as advanced technology such as email and the Troop’s newly created website offered faster and more efficient means of communicating within the Troop.
The advantages of having a website were obvious. Scouts who missed a meeting and needed to get information about camping trips could print the memos from the website. Having a website does not waste paper, so there is no environmental harm caused by having one. And above all, it is easier to store information on a computer than in old-fashioned files.
Mr. Raneiri changed the name of the “New Kids” patrol from Eagle to the Cobra Patrol.
Mr. Raneiri resigned from the position of scoutmaster in June 2008, along with Mr. Duke. After Mr. Raneiri resigned, Alan Bowman served as interim scoutmaster for about five months, with Joseph (“Joe”) Landy serving as acting Scoutmaster for Yawgoog summer camp. Mr. Bowman continued to serve as a temporary scoutmaster until Mr. Carley was appointed as Scoutmaster in October 2008.
2008 – 2010
Troop 5 has been undergoing a period of tremendous growth since October 2008 under the leadership of Scoutmaster William “Brennan” Carley and Troop Committee Chairman Joe Landy. These leaders have emphasized many changes consistent with the Boy Scout philosophy of “scout-led” troops and leadership by the patrol method. The Troop Committee has taken an active role in separating the administration of the troop from the scouting leadership. In addition, Mr. Carley formalized certain processes including the institution of position descriptions, the active participation of adult volunteers and the introduction of some new camping activities to the whole range of outdoor adventures promoted under Mr. Ranieri.
Mr. Carley’s primary emphasis has been scout leadership. Experienced Scouts are responsible for teaching outdoor skills and signing off on advancement in the younger scouts’ handbooks. Job positions such as Chaplain’s Aide, Bugler, Historian, Webmaster, and Den Chiefs have robust job descriptions in which each successor to the position is expected to demonstrate leadership by always improving upon the position. In addition, scouts are expected to lead meetings, plan outdoor adventures and serve as role models for the younger scouts.
Outdoor activities continue to be the most visible and exciting part of Troop 5. In addition to old traditions such as backpacking and hiking at Tiorati and Mountain Man, new activities such as winter camping at Okpik in Maine, ski weekends, ice climbing, scuba diving, and snowshoeing have been added to the calendar. The troop also climbed Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, hiked throughout Gettysburg National Park and intends to climb Mt. Marcy, New York’s highest peak. The troop now visits Tamarack annually to learn the basics of shooting rifles, shotguns, and archery. And rock climbing has never been so popular with the world-famous “Gunks” virtually in Troop 5’s backyard. Summer Camp 2010 saw a return of Troop 5 into the Westchester-Putnam Council as we left Camp Yawgoog behind and attended Camp Read in the Adirondacks for the first time in years. Finally, in June 2010, Mr. Landy led a troop with 7 Troop 5 scouts down to the 100th-anniversary Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.
The Troop now has 43 registered Boy Scouts.
In November 2010, Joe Landy and Brennan Carley switched roles as Joe became Troop 5’s sixth new Scoutmaster and Brennan became the Committee Chairman.
2010-2012
Scoutmaster Joe Landy continued previous Scoutmaster Brennan Carly’s focus on Troop 5’s leadership. He has made many changes in the organization the trips, meetings, and rank advancement. Scoutmaster Landy restored many of the previously ignored or neglected responsibilities of the scout’s leadership positions. He also changed, added, and removed several of the leadership positions. Each position now has a “Leadership Binder” that contains all of the relevant information to that position. It includes troop contact information, leadership responsibilities, Patrol Leaders Council report forms, and many other useful documents. The troop meeting was divided into specific sections and planned at Patrol Leader Councils. Activities like merit badge work, inter-patrol competition, and newly revamped patrol meetings that are preplanned by the patrol leaders were added. For a time patrol meetings outside of the troop meetings were required, but due to the great lack of attendance, this was dropped. Patrol Leader Training and Patrol Leader Councils attendance has become mandatory.
New camping trips have had great popularity. Troop 5 now has added trips to a West Point Camporee involving around 6000 scouts from many different troops. Troop 5 won several awards at this Camporee in subjects.
Troop 5 Scouts at Philmont Cavalcade 1990s
Troop 5 Scouts at Philmont Cavalcade 1993
Troop 5 Scouts at Philmont Cavalcade 1990s
Troop 5 marches down Pondfield Road, Memorial Day Parade, 1991 Courtesy Bronxville Review Press
Troop 5Scouts prepare for a 10- day canoe trip by camping and canoeing on Deer Lake at Camp Tiorati – Courtesy Bronxville Review Press
Bronxville Boy Scout Troop 5 preparing for canoe trip during their trek in the Quetico wilderness of central Canada. From left, Cal Chrisman, Gary Giangoia, Gary Giangola Jr., Alex Chrisman, Ray Pfeister, Luke Patterson, Joe Pfeister, and John Pfeister,
Eagles
Troop 5 has produced many fine scouts, some of whom have achieved the highest rank in Scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout.
For a list of our Eagle Scouts please visit
https://troop5.net/eagle-scouts
If you would like to add anything to our Troop history please send an email to scoutmaster@troop5.net
Troop 5 - Bronxville, NY 