The oldest Scout troop in Warwick, Boy Scout Troop 1 of Conimicut, is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.

According to a detailed history from Alan Whittaker, Scoutmaster and self-proclaimed historian of Troop 1, the troop was founded at the Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church in Conimicut in 1921, where the troop is still sponsored today.

In the 1930s, the troop has a large enrollment and won second place in the Narragansett Council for its large number of members.

In 1951, Troop 1 built what is now the Warwick PAL Athletic Clubhouse on Bend Street. “That was originally the Boy Scouts house. It was a $10,000 clubhouse that they built. They got the land from the Audubon Society, and we had a 99 year lease that we could use the land for camping, cooking, stuff like that,” said Whittaker.

In 1952, the troop had its first Eagle Scout: Robert L. Richardson. The R.L. Richardson award is now given to the outstanding scout of the year. There have been 10 recipients of the award since.

Whittaker has been involved with the Boy Scouts since 1959. “There was a few years that I’ve lost, you know, been away and come back, but I’ve always been involved with the troop and always kept the troop active.”

In the 1970s, when Whittaker returned home from the Vietnam War, he became the first homegrown Scoutmaster of the troop, meaning he has gone through every rank from Tenderfoot to Scoutmaster. In honor of his service and dedication to the troop, the Alan J. Whittaker Award was created to recognize the most valuable scout. There have been seven recipients of the award since its inception.

Whittaker estimates “thousands” of scouts have been part of Troop 1 since 1921.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary, Whittaker has received signed certificates from state Representatives, Senators, Mayor Frank Picozzi, and other elected officials congratulating the troop on their achievement. Whittaker plans to frame each certificate and display them in the church.

Whittaker is currently advancement chairman of the troop, making sure the scouts are on the right track as they advance to the next rank, ultimately achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 2015, Whittaker was the recipient of a Silver Beaver Award, one of the highest awards in the council. He was the troop’s second recipient of the award.

In all his years of involvement, Whittaker appreciates the joy and fun of scouting the most. “It’s fun. Looking at the kids, and watching them grow, and that’s really an accomplishment of the troop and an accomplishment of the kid itself.”

While Troop 1 doesn’t have any girl scouts at this time, Whittaker acknowledges that the future of scouts is changing, and hopes that the troop will welcome in female scouts should they join.

Despite the dip in enrollment, Whittaker is confident that scout membership will once again be on the rise. “We have lost a lot of members to sports,” he explained, but emphasized that outdoor activities like hikes and camping, especially during the pandemic, is bringing membership back to the program. “Scouting thrives in our community.”

Troop 1 does plan on celebrating the 100th anniversary when COVID restrictions have lifted. When the weather has cooperated, the troop has met outdoors at Rocky Point and on hikes. Now, Troop 1 is back to meeting at the Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church.

To inquire about joining the Boy Scouts or Troop 1, email Whittaker at awhittaker3@cox.net.