History
Monmouth Courthouse Council, Girl Scouts
Camp Rus-Wen
The Girl Scout movement began in Freehold in 1928 under the leadership of Mrs. Stacy
Matthews. Approximately 40 young ladies were enrolled in the first troop which met at
the Broad Street School and was sponsored by the Freehold American Legion.
In 1930 the troop was taken over by Miss Ann Abbott, who acted as leader for six years.
Later the leadership was assumed by Mrs. Adelaide V. Perrine and Mrs. John Green. The
Freehold Chamber of Commerce assumed the sponsorship of Troop One in the year of
1946. Troop One now is registered in the Colts Neck Neighborhood. The year of 1946
the number of girls increased to 100 and today we have a total of 1,022. In November of
the same year the first Senior Girl Scout troop was formed under the leadership of Mrs.
John Green and was sponsored by the Freehold American Legion.
The first step toward forming a Council was made in November 1947 when a group of
interested local residents met at St. Peter’s parish house, under the direction of Miss
Carolyn Smith, (a representative from National Headquarters, located in New York City),
to form a Freehold Girl Scout Council. A general public meeting was arranged for
December 1947 in the Courthouse at which time a steering committee would be chosen to
choose eight functional chairmen: organization, training, leader, program, camping,
finance, public relations, and nominating, and also four officers: a president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer. In March of 1948, an election of officers was held.
The following were elected: President, Mr. Arthur Watherwax, Freehold; Vice President,
Mrs. C. Ensley Clayton, Adelphia; Secretary, Miss Ann Abbott, Freehold; Treasurer, Mr.
Harry Rushworth, Englishtown.
Chairman were: Organization, Mrs. Harold H. Freedman; Program, Mrs. David T. Buck;
Training, Mrs. Mary Walker; Public Relations, Mr. Melvin C. Krampf; Camping, Mr.
Sherwen Benton; Finance, Mr. William C. Riker; Membership and Nominating, Mr. John
Pretty.
The charter for the Monmouth Courthouse Council was granted in March 1948. Mr.
Arthur Watherwax served as Council’s first President from 1948 to 1951; then Mr. Edwin
Bachman served one term, 1951 to 1953. Mrs. Catherine Williams served one year, 1953
to 1954; Mr. Jerome Jensen served an unexpired term plus two terms, 1954 to 1958; Mrs.
Eugene Errickson, the presiding president at this time, served from 1958 to 1962 when
her term expired.
Plans for Freehold’s own camp were begun in March 1950. Mr. Sherwen Benton, Camp
Chairman, proceeded to survey the area surrounding Freehold to find the best suited
location for a camp site. The site for the camp was located at the rear in the woodland
belonging to Mr. Russell Jones, Sr., adjacent to Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Applegate’s
orchard as well as Mrs. Elizabeth Oakley’s and Mrs. Ann Lott Anderson’s woods.
Mr. Sidney W. Reid offered his services and those of his employees to voluntarily clear
the site and provide a road to the camp. This road was named in his honor.
The camp was named in honor of Mr. Russell Jones and Mr. Sherwen Benton. Twenty
five hundred dollars had to be raised for the project in providing tents, kitchen utensils,
cots, etc. Tents were named honoring persons or clubs donating the amount needed for
their purchase and equipment. Peanut Brittle was sold for the project. Various civic
organizations made generous contributions; the Lions Club sponsored the first building,
the Rotary Club the first tents, and the Freehold Township Lions Club the “swimming
hole.” The Boy Scouts contributed their share by helping to clear the site. Construction
work was done by Robert Hance, Robert Frank, Ronald Castronova, William Becker,
John Weighell. Members (25) of the Foreman’s Club of A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc.
created tent platforms and laid foundations for the platforms. Many individual
contributions were added.
By 1951, the “Ole Swimmin’ Hole” had been dug with government equipment through
the efforts of Neil Munch. The project, located on property donated by Russell Jones,
was sponsored by the Freehold Township Lions Club with the assistance of Bertram
Birch, who was voted into council membership. Mr. Birch paid $180 for the equipment
with his personal check. The county Board of Freeholders provided pipe for the pool,
and Daniel Boutote, Sr., did the grading work. Water tests were made by the State Board
of Health. The pool was equipped with deep-water rope and life saving equipment. The
pool was dedicated August 2, 1951.
Monmouth Courthouse Council was incorporated on April 22, 1953. The articles were
drawn up by Assemblyman Clifton T. Barkalow.
By 1953, Girl Scouting had grown so much that larger facilities were needed at the camp.
Plans for a Building Fund were approved, and Mr. Bertram Birch was appointed
chairman. A drive was conducted in order to obtain funds for a lodge. Through Birch’s
efforts, this building was erected, and it was named in his honor.
In 1954, four cabins were built to replace the tents. In 1955, mattresses, blankets, beds,
and lumber, plus four tables used in the pavilion and dishes (all Army surplus) were
given to the camp. In 1956, poles were donated by the Jersey Central Power and Light
Co. for the Pavilion, and the electrical work was done by Mr. Jerome Jensen.
The year of 1957, a small cabin was built for the camp counselor. It was named Starkey
cabin by the girls.
On September 1, 1958, a fund drive for the swimming pool was started. This pool was to
be built in place of the Ole Swimmin’ Hole. Many large contributions from Clubs,
business places, organizations, and others interested in Scouting made this a reality. On
September 19, 1959, this pool was dedicated.
In 1958, Mr. Russell and Lester Jones made a gift of land to the Monmouth Courthouse
Council of G.S., Inc. as a memorial to the Jones family.
Trails were formed in 1959 by many active troops and members of Scouting. The longest
trail is called The Jones Trail. The Benton and Watherwax Trails were named in honor
of the founders of the Council; also, two bridges were built and named in honor of Mrs.
Stacy Matthews and Mr. George Armstrong.
In 1960, the Juliette Low Cabin was built to give more space for the growing number of
girls and leaders registered with the Council. This same year, the Monmouth Courthouse
Council office and secretarial staff was located to Route 9, south of the Inspection
Station.
At the beginning of 1961, there were registered 65 troops; 229 Leaders, Assistant
Leaders, and Committee members; and a total of 1,022 Brownie, Intermediate, and
Senior Girl Scouts.
Over a period of 8 years as finance chairman, Bertram Birch raised a sum of $14,000
with the assistance of Captains in Farmingdale, Colts Neck, Marlboro, Englishtown, and
the Borough of Freehold and the most liberal contributions of factories and public service
companies. The camp now has 8 buildings, a pavilion, and a swimming pool, and at the
resignation of Mr. Birch in 1961 a balance in the treasury of $3,000.00. In the fall of
1961, Monmouth Courthouse Council joined with Northern Monmouth and Shore
Councils to form Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts.