GREENCASTLE SCOUT HEADQUARTERS
(about 1980)
(following pictures are from
1998 Old Home Week)
The Scout headquarters occupies a building erected by the Cumberland Valley Railroad as a passenger station in the course of the construction of its double-track "highline" through Greencastle in the period of 1906-1908. Prior to that time, since railroad service to the town began in 1839, all freight and passenger traffic had followed a route along Carlisle Street through the Public Square.
The first passenger station was on the west side of the Square in the north part of what was known as the Western Auto Store, owned by Carl Carbaugh. Later it was moved to the site of what is now the Citizens National Bark building on the east side of North Carlisle Street, where it remained until 1900, when a new station was built on the site of what until recently was the Dr. G. A. Sowell home on the west side of North Carlisle Street.
On February 5, 1906, for a consideration of $10,000, Greencastle's borough council granted the Railroad permission to build the "highline" along a route just west of Jefferson Street, the new line to accommodate all except local freight traffic. The project involved construction of the overhead head bridge at the north end of town and overpasses on Franklin, Baltimore, and Madison Streets as well as construction of a new passenger station near the intersection of Baltimore and Jefferson Streets.
The new station, representing the latest in passenger station design went into service on Sunday, February 7, 1909, at 12:45 p.m.., when passenger train No. 6, with Jacob Talhelm as engineer and Jacob Stouffer as conductor pulled up at the station on the northbound track as nearly 500 people cheered.
Built of brick and stone, the new station had a flaring canopy over the
platform to the west, and a portico on the east side with steps descending
toward Jefferson Street. The main approach was by a winding walk which led up
the hill from Baltimore Street through the landscaped grounds. South of the
Building was an open area for horse-drawn vehicles, railed to prevent them. from
falling down the hill.
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The interior of the building was a cream colored brick tile set off by natural
chestnut woodwork. At the north end was the main waiting room, with a bay
window, looking to the north. To the south were the ticket and telegraph office,
the smoking room, and the express and baggage rooms. All were illuminated by
"tungsten lamps" and heated by steam. A gravel driveway led up past
the portico to the railroad area.
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At the time the station opened there were seven daily passenger trains each way between Hagerstown and Harrisburg. Up the winding walk each morning trudged scores of persons-commuters to nearby towns, business men enroute to Philadelphia or New York; people starting on visits or returning; travelers from points off the main line. Some of the trains had parlor cars and sleepers.
Few of the passengers, in those early days, noticed a new building on the northeast corner of the intersection of Franklin and Jefferson Streets which opened in 1910--George P. Linniger's "Garage", the first established in Greencastle. Locally, it marked the coming of a new industry which was a doom railroad passenger service and the lately established trolley service.
In February, 1936, the last local train passed along Carlisle Street, and this track was abandoned. The new station continued to provide passenger and freight depot service to the community for several decades. It was of considerable importance to the war effort in both World Wars I and II. Many local veterans remember with some emotion their departure from the station as they left to "join the ranks", and some families will recall that it was here that the coffin of a local man who "gave his all" was returned to home and community.
However, following World War II and the significant increase in automobile travel, the passenger trains were gradually removed from service, the stations and grounds allowed to deteriorate. Greencastle's passenger station, once the pride of the valley, became an eyesore.
By 1957, the building, neglected by human beings, had become a haven for pigeons, much to the consternation of the neighbors, particularly the members of the Presbyterian Church, located on the opposite side of Jefferson Street. As the result or an appeal from the church's board of trustees to "so something", the Pennsylvania. Railroad boarded up the widows of the station and tore down the portico, thus eliminating the principal refuges for the pigeons.
In 1960, Greencastle Boy Scout Troops 13 and 99 were in need of a regular meeting place. Members of the two troop committees became interested in the passenger station as a possible solution to their problem. Corning Glass Co., a new industry in town, was a frequent railroad customer, so their traffic manager was asked to investigate the possibility of the railroad making the station available to the scouts. It was soon evident that, if this was to happen, a non-profit organization would need to take title to the property. Neither the Rotary Club nor the VFW, sponsors of Troop 13 and 99 respectively, was interested. At this time, the late Bill Shuman became interested in the project, and he persuaded the Jerome R. King Playground Association .to take over the building, making it available to girl and boy scout activities. Melvin Newborn, Bob Carter, and John Kinney were authorized to meet with the railroad, to negotiate the acquisition of the building. The railroad's asking price was $2,200.00. However, G. Warner Harsh, Cashier of the Citizen's National Bank, advised the committee to make an offer of $1.00 and a pledge that the bank's attorney would perform the necessary legal work. The railroad's counter offer of $250 came a few days later. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Sellers donated the original purchase price, and the King Playground Association became owners of the building. The railroad retained ownership of the land in order to protect the railroad elevation grade.
Mrs. Lillian Pendry made a bequest of 200 shares of Sun Oil Company stock for the renovation effort. The sale of this stock provided approximately $4,000. E.G. "Murphy" Gipe, a local building contractor, did most of the carpenter work to restore the building. Leroy Crist, President of the Playground Association, donated a great deal of his time sanding and finishing floors and painting the woodwork. Another large contributor was the A.G. Crunkleton Electric Co. who furnished electrical fixtures and wired the building. An oil burner was provided by Bock Oil Co. and installed in the original boiler that somehow held together in spite of the warning that it was worn out. A few years later, the Lilian Besore Memorial Library was expanded and, requiring a larger heating plant, gave their original furnace to the scout headquarters.
Since the railroad station became the scout headquarters, much effort has been expended by both girl and boy scout troops in cleaning, making curtains, grooming lawn and shoveling snow. In 1974 five Troop 99 scouts working as a group on a combined Eagle project, cleaned out the basement and built a meeting and craft area. This project involved removing the coal bins, cementing the floor, rewiring the electrical system, painting and constructing work tables. These practical improvements were accomplished by Dave Wertime, Gregg Easton, Don Martin, Terry Cole, and Bill Potts, Jr. In 1977 Steve Cole was responsible for installing the front entrance steps as his Eagle project. Both of these Eagle projects provided considerable improvement to the building. In 1980 a group of Troop 99 scouts led by Scott Gingrich improved their quartermaster room by installing shelves and new light fixtures and painting the walls and woodwork.
From 1975 to 1980 the First Baptist Church met in the Scout Hall three times a week during the period their congregation was being organized and their new church was being constructed.
In the fall of 1980 the ownership of the building was transferred from the playground association to the newly formed Greencastle-Antrim Organized Youth Foundation. In February 1981, after competitive bidding, this group acquired the land from the Penn Central Corporation for $20,600. The Foundation has undertaken this obligation and is seeking community support.
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