The ultimate camping and hiking experience is a trip to Philmont.  Steve Jackson organized a trek in 1984 with the assistance of Jim Doherty and Tony Wastog.  Eventually Steve was not able to go but six boys, Tony Alderisio, Eric Baur, Jeff Cantor, Ed Mabie, Dan Perez, and Mike Sirard went under the leadership of Jim Doherty and Tony Wastog.  A rigorous program of conditioning hikes was announced.  It was modified after a formal complaint from the Council that it was “excessive when compared to those recommended for a trek group going to Philmont.”  Whatever controversy the preparation plans caused, the trip was an outstanding success.  These are among the many other scouts who think of their trip to Philmont as the high point of their time in scouting.  A tentative plan for a Troop trek in 1988 fell through.  Instead, Sean O’Connor and Josh Taylor went to Philmont in 1988 as part of a Council trek.  

 

Summer camp had been a  part of the Troop’s program since five scouts went to a New York Council camp in 1921.  During the eighties Troop 50 went to the Bergen Council’s High Adventure Camp, Floodwood Mountain Reservation, every July for two weeks.  Besides the traditional waterfront activities, hiking, overnight camping and work on merit badges and advancement, the program featured rock climbing, water skiing and canoe trips.  The scouts slept in tents and prepared their own food in patrols.  For the boys who went, the experience of going to Floodwood was an important part of their scouting lives.  For most, both rock climbing and water skiing were new experiences, even if they did not always understand what went into providing the facilities:  after descending the steep granite cliff where the rock-climbing instruction was given, one young scout remarked that it was nice of the Council to build that cliff so he would enjoy it.  Many skill awards, merit badges and rank advancements were earned at Floodwood.  Twenty-six merit badges were earned in 1980 and again in 1981, along with several partials.  The high point in camp advancement was fifty-six merit badges in 1982.  The Troop was fortunate in its summer camp leadership during the decade.  During the early years Assistant Scoutmaster, and Bergen Council Executive, David Baur was the leader.  Later former and future Scoutmaster Steve Jackson and Scoutmaster Edward Saiff filled that role.  Many fathers accompanied the boys, some for several years in a row.  An average of twenty scouts plus fathers attended early in the decade, except in 1984, when the older boys went to Philmont.  Later in the decade the numbers declined generally.  Only six Scouts and four fathers went to Floodwood in 1988, another Philmont year.  In fact camp enrollment from the entire Council declined very sharply in both Council camps.  The council announced plans to close either No-Be-Bo-Sco or Floodwood.  Perhaps the steady increases in the cost going to camp contributed to the declining attendance.  Two weeks at Floodwood cost $145 in 1980.  The cost was more than $300 in 1989.  Some thought was given to the fact that the younger boys might enjoy the simpler program at No-Be-Bo-Sco.  A few boys did attend No-Be in 1987.  In 1988 the Council announced that they would keep both camps open for two more years if enrollment improved.  Defenders of both camps rallied to their support.

 

Less exciting overnight camping trips remained very popular, especially during the middle years of the decade.  During 1983 to 1984 there were overnight camping trips to Wehrans in September, and to Camp Yaw Paw in November.  Six cars went on the winter camping trip to No-Be-Bo-Sco in March.  The winter camping expedition to Nob-Be became a Troop tradition.  At least one winter trip was made there every year during the decade except in 1988.  There were also trips to Blue Mine, the Weiss Ecology Center, the Heide property and several other destinations, not identified in the Troop records.  Of course, the annual Ramapo River canoe trip included an overnight camp on the Wehran property, except in 1985 when low water kept the trip to a single day.  Camping was also a feature of Council activities, such as the Orienteering competition, the Scout Show and the annual Camporee.  During the last scouting year of the decade the Troop’s fourteen scouts spent a total of seventy-one days in camp, not including summer camp.  New leaders Dan Cottone and Ted Williams re-emphasized camping as a major part of the Troop’s program. An interesting sign of the times was the complaint, first aired in 1983, that because cars were getting smaller more of them were needed to transport boys to camp and on trips.  

 

The beginnings of another winter tradition were the ski trips undertaken during those years.  Dan Perez led day trips to Vernon Valley in 1981 and to Sterling Forest in 1982.  There was also a trip to Mt. Peter in 1983.  Nine Scouts and three leaders attended the 1987 trip.  The committee decided to divide the groups into three ability levels for more effective instruction in any future trips.  Weekend ski trips had to wait until the 1990s.

 

Trips became an increasingly popular part of the program during those years.  The Troop toured the Nabisco plant in 1985.  The scouts attended the annual Boy Scout football game at West Point in 1982, 1985 and 1988.  They attended hockey games in 1986 and 1987 and an NBA basketball game, the Nets against the Celtics in 1987.  Particularly under the leadership of committee member Dan Tramontozzi, longer trips were organized later in the decade.  Gettysburg was the destination in 1987, and Washington the next year.  On the trip to Boston in 1989, the scouts camped at a local scout camp and visited the historic sites in Boston and Plymouth on successive days.

 

Council activities remained popular, especially among the younger scouts.  The Troop attended the Klondike Derby every year during the decade.  Troop 50’s Assistant Scoutmaster Willie Fisher acted as starter for the event for many years.  In 1982 the junior sled, manned by Jeff Cantor, Eric Baur, Aaron Donahue and Dale Bartenwerfer, won first place.  Good results were also earned in 1981, when 26 scouts participated and in 1985, the only year in which there was snow for this February event.  Danilo Tramontozzi was the organizer for those scouts who participated in the annual Bowl-a-thon.  Attendance was low most years and, after only two scouts in 1988, the Troop decided not to participate.  There had been some feeling that it was simply a fund-raising project for the Council, since so little of the money raised went to the Troops.  The Troop was a regular participant in the annual Camporees.  Frequently the Weblos were invited to at3end the Camporees with the scouts.  Twenty-one scouts attended in 1985 at Camp Yaw-Paw, but later in the decade attendance was low, partly because of poor parent participation, and in 1988 because of wet weather.  Probably a new activity - orienteering - generated the most enthusiasm.  The boys, under the leadership of Assistant Scoutmaster Dick Cantor, attended every year, except in 1987.  Erik Baur won first place in 1984, as did Josh Taylor in 1988 and an unnamed scout in 1989.  The junior team took second in 1984.  There was some feeling that another site was needed for the meets, since the boys had become too familiar with the No-Be-Bo-Sco course.  In 1981 the Troop participated in the invitational orienteering meet in Harriman Park.  Troops from as far away as Rhode Island competed. A second place overall was won by the Troop 50 senior team of David Bristow, Peter Meyer and Tim and Tom Whittle.  

 

Although there was some interest in participation in the 1984 National Scout Jamboree, no one attended.  Matt Cottone, however, did attend the 1989 Jamboree, the first Troop Fifty scout to do so since Sibley Reed in 1935.

 

The weekly meetings of the Troop were a constant focus of attention throughout the decade.  The Troop had met Friday evenings at Betsy Ross school for many years.  Although most of the scouts had come from the Cragmere area early in the Troops history, there began to be greater numbers from Fardale as the years went on. Increasingly other activities competed with the meetings for the boys’ attention . Many were involved in sports activities and what on weekend trips with their families. Attendance was so low during the 1984-1985 season that the decision was made to shift the meetings to Joyce Kilmer School in the fall of 1985. Starting on September 10th, 1986 meetings were held on Wednesdays. At first the gym at Joyce Kilmer was used and later the meetings were held in the all-purpose room. Many attempts were made to improve the quality of meeting planning through the years. The Leadership Patrol was involved in selecting topics for meetings at various times; outside speakers and activities during each meeting before the game. “Active doing” programs were emphasized in 1987 With a merit badge counselor invited to several meetings to introduce the boys to new topics. Of course, much time is spent on Scout skills such as first aid, knot tying, how to pack your gear for a trip, and planning for trips and events. In 1984, in preparation for the Philmont trip, Committee Chairman John Bristow conducted a special series of first-aid lessons that those who wish to go could earn their first class badge before going. Special meetings were devoted to talks by outside experts. In 1981 a Paramus troop demonstrated Native American dances. There was a martial arts demonstration in 1982, a talk on snakes and reptiles in 1986, and a fingerprinting demonstration by the police in 1988. Police were always ready to help with special topics, perhaps in recognition of the fact that the troop was sponsored by the Mahwah Police Benevolent Association. The K-9 Corps gave demonstrations in 1982 and 1986 and an officer came to talk about the new drunk driving laws in 1984. On a more immediate problem, after two petty theft during troop meetings Detective Lavin came to talk about the gravity of stealing. 

 

Service has always been one of my Scouts most important obligations. For most of the Troop’s existence the paper drive was the most important service project. During the early part of the decade the recycling program was greatly expanded, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Bill Doherty. As a member of the township environmental commission he was one of the first to realize how important recycling needed to become in the future. In October, 1981, he persuaded the Troop Committee to put newspaper recycling on a monthly, rather than quarterly, basis with collections at the township garage. By 1984 the Troop had collected almost as much newspaper from the monthly recycling as from the paper drives. Also that year the trooper assumed the glass and aluminum recycling which had previously been done by the Girl Scouts. Sheds for collection were obtained for the Fardale Firehouse and for the township garage site. After the paper shed was broken into repeatedly, the Township fenced in the recycling area. Eventually the recycling shed was kept open every Saturday and frequent trips were taken to dispose of the increasing volume of paper, glass, and cans. Naturally, providing volunteers for weekly collection was a major task. Each Patrol was asked to provide to Scouts a month for the project. The patrol most active and recycling was to get the metal sled for the Klondike Derby. The major work, however, was done by the adult leadership. A regular crew, including Dick Cantor, Willie Fisher, John Bristow, and most importantly, Bill Doherty attended every Saturday morning, whatever the weather. It became evident eventually that the volunteer efforts of a few would not be enough to sustain the project. Doherty worked to get more involvement from the Township, although he realized that if the township personnel became involved, the proceeds from recycling would probably be transferred to the Town. 

 

Meanwhile,  the paper drives continue to be major sources of paper for recycling, since many people were unwilling to bring their papers to the collection sites. For most of the period Troop 50 participated more in the drives, provided most of the leadership and collected a larger share of the profits then did Troop 258. At the October 1980 Court of Honor, special certificates were presented to Bill Cawthra and the Schultz brothers, of Troop 258, for their many years of service to the paper drive. Difficulties surfaced early in the decade, however. Drivers and scouts were difficult to muster. The price of newspapers fell from $30 a ton in January, 1981 to $8 a ton in September of that year, and expenses, particularly for refuse dumpsters, went up. The result was that the paper drive became less and less profitable. In the September drive in 1981, 54 workers from Troop 258 and 50 collected 75,810 lb of paper. At $8 per ton this only netted a little more than $300 for a full day's work. The November drive in 1986 collected 62,000 lb of paper and netted only $285 for the Troop. Clearly the Troop was only continuing its work as a service project not as the major source of its funding. Meanwhile, wider events were taking precedence. A new state law requiring towns to establish a recycling program made the future of scout participation unclear. Meetings with Township authorities made it certain that the scout participation would have to end. Letters were sent to the public informing them that the March drive in 1988 was to be the last run by the scouts. This ended 47 years of community service. 

 

Of course other service projects continued. Scouts annually helped the Women's Club in their Christmas Basket Campaign. In return for the use of the Wyckoff YMCA’s canoes for the 1984 canoe trip, the boys repaired the canoes and painted the canoe trailer. A series of annual cleanup campaigns along the Ramapo River became the Troop’s new major service project. Annual events such as the Troop dinner and Scout Sunday continued as before. The Troop participated in every Memorial Day parade and shared the duty of reading the names of the honored dead with Girl Scouts and members of Troop 258. The Troop participated in the dedication of Veterans Memorial Park in 1983. 

 

Financing the troops activities had always been an important concern of the adult leadership. The major source of funding had been the proceeds of the newspaper drive. A portion of those proceeds were contributed to other organizations every year. Regular contributions were made to the Ambulance Corps. Occasional gifts went to the Women's Club Christmas Basket Campaign, the Senior Class Prom, and once, to Operation Crossroads, Africa. Can you show me donations to the troop from outside sources. The Women's Club Evening Membership gave $25 in 1980. The sponsoring organization, the Mahwah PBA donated $200 for new tents in 1982. Tent caterpillar traps were donated as a fundraising project in 1982. When Troop 197 in Fardale disbanded in 1983, $1011.72 were given over to Troop 50, along with 12 tents. As the Troop’s expenses averaged about $4,000 a year and the net proceeds from the paper drive fell to less than $2,000 a year, clearly something had to be done. The troop had either to find new sources of revenue or reduce programs. A subcommittee consisting of Peter Meyer, Ken Mayer, Dan Tramontozzi, and Edward SaifF was asked to prepare a budget for 1988. Committee reported that the troop had been running in the red for several years. Several suggestions were made and adopted. Individual scouts would now be required to pay for their annual registration fees to National and all costs for any outing they attended. The Troop would undertake a series of fundraising projects, and would make no further contributions to other nonprofit organizations. Annual dues, eventually settled at $100 per Scout per year, would make up the difference between income and outlay. Scouts that had not paid their dues could not attend summer camp. The financial results of this major change and how the troop was financed were not entirely clear at first. Nevertheless 1987 to 1988 marked a low point in Troop enrollment and participation during the decade. There was some evidence that by paying dues some fathers believed that their need to participate in troop activities had been fulfilled. Fundraising events were, however, successfully organized. About $500 was raised in a family portrait project in 1988, illuminating house numbers were sold in 1988, and first aid kits in 1989. The immediate financial crisis was also relieved when a special fund, left by Bill Doherty to “maintain scouting in Mahwah” was transferred to the Troop Treasury. The leadership underwent considerable change in the 1980s. Several leaders of long-standing retired or moved including Camp Chairman Karl Ludwig, Committee Secretary Judith Maybe, ASM Jerry Williamson, and one of the Troops most faithful leaders, ASM William Fisher. Willie had been a charter member and pack 50, and a Scout in Troop 50. He became an assistant scoutmaster in 1978 and remained so until he moved to Cape Cod in 1987. Outside the immediate troop he served in various capacities in the Ramapo District, including Roundtable Chairman. When Bergen Council Executive and Troop 50 Assistant Scoutmaster David Baur was transferred to Houston in 1985, the Committee adopted a resolution expressing the Troop’s appreciation “for his many years of service to Troop 50 ‘ round the calendar’  applying summer leadership at Floodwood  in contributing expertise in so many ways to the Scouts of Mahwah.”  an award honoring the “Scouter of the Year” was established in 1981 when Bill Cawthra was honored for his many years of service. Subsequent winners in the 1980s were Willie Fisher in 1981, Rev. Robert Bender of the Reformed Church, who was a merit badge counselor for many years, in 1984, former committee chairman John Bristow in 1986 and Scoutmaster Bill Doherty in 1985.

 

One of the strongest characteristics of Bill's leadership was his ability to surround himself with a strong cadre of Assistant Scoutmasters. Jerry Williamson served for several years as Advancement Chairman, keeping many a Scout on the path to higher ranks. Dick Cantor began his long service to the troop at the beginning of the decade.He served on the Troop Committee for two years and then moved over to be Assistant Scoutmaster succeeding Jerry Williamson as Advancement Chairman. He rarely missed a trooper committee meeting throughout the decade and was one of the troops indispensable men. When fardale troop 197 disbanded in 1983, its Scoutmaster, Thomas Whittle became an ASM of 50. He also continued as a merit badge counselor. Much good work was done by recent Eagle Scouts Jim Doherty and Tony Wastog. They led many camping trips including the 1984 trek to Philmont. Former Scoutmaster Steve Jackson continued as an ASM, particularly at summer camp, although his other activities were curtailed by his service on the Township Committee.

 

Unfortunately Bill Doherty's health had been deteriorating for some time. The committee was officially informed in March of 1987 and took steps to try to take over some of the many things that he had been doing for the troop. Within a few months he succumbed to cancer. At the ceremony dedicating the William J. Doherty Recycling Center in his honor on May 17th, 1992, among the many tributes was one from a Troop Committee Member.

 

Bill became interested in scouting when his sons became Scouts. He joined the Troop Committee in 1973, was Committee Chairman between 1987 and 1980, and served as Scoutmaster from 1979 until his early death in 1987. During all these years he hardly missed a meeting. His wise leadership deeply impressed the many young men who passed through the troop. He rarely raised his voice but when he did the boys listened. He gathered around him a versatile group of adult leaders, involving them in the many activities organized for the Troop. Scouting prospered during Bill's tenure, and continues today with some of the same leaders still active... The William J Doherty Recycling Center will serve as a fitting memorial to a man who had the welfare of his community at heart, dedicated many of his evenings and weekend hours to public service and remained yet a warm friend, a faithful son, a devoted husband, and a loving father.

 

After Bill’s death the Troop struggled for a time. Ken Mayer became the Scoutmaster briefly until he was transferred to Connecticut. Eventually new leadership was found. Dr. Edward Saiff, a Ramapo College biology professor and Eagle Scout, became Scoutmaster in January 1989. The outdoor and some organizational aspects of Troop leadership were increasingly taken over by Dan Cottone, Roger Rodriguez, and Ted Williams, all of whom became more important to the Troop in the 1990’s. An increasing role was also played by Committee Chairman Peter Meyer. Like many leaders, he became involved when his two sons became scouts. He took part in many outdoor activities until, in 1985, he assumed the Committee Chairmanship, which he still holds today. He has attended countless meetings, taken hundreds of photos of Troop activities and runs every kind of affair including, Scout DInners, Eagle Scout ceremonies and committee meetings.

    Troop 50 has never thought that its main task was to turn out as many Eagle Scouts as possible. However, the decade of the 198-s saw thirteen boys reach that goal, more than any other in the Troop’s history. The service project associated with these awards profites the community in many ways. Included was the painting of all the Township’s fire hydrants, done by five boys together, the building of a log bridge at Silver Creek, the cleanup and survey of the Moffatt Road Cemetery and the creation of a nature trail at the Joyce Kilmer School. The tradition had been established that a formal ceremony and dinner would be held to mark the occasion in honor of each Eagle, but as ever more Eagles came along, the heavy expenses required for individual ceremonies at a time of diminishing income became a problem. Eventually, the decision was reached to have only one ceremony per year with as many boys being honored as had earned the rank in the previous twelve months. In one of the most exciting days in Troop 50’s history five Troop 50 boys were raised to the Eagle rank. At the Ramapo reformed Church, Anthony Alderisio, Jeff Cantor, Peter Mayer, Michael sirard and Jerry Williamson were honored.  It is perhaps significant that all but one of the fathers of the decade’s thirteen Eagle Scouts were uniformed leaders of members of the Troop Committee . There is no doubt that parental support and involvement are one of the surest keys to success in scouting.

Sponsoring Organization:

Mahwah P.B.A  - Sam Alderisio, Representative

 

Scoutmaster

William J Doherty

 

Assistant Scoutmasters

David Baur, James Doherty, William H. Fisher,

                John Handel, Stephen W. Jackson, Anthony Wastog, Thomas Wittle

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Troop Committee

Robert Miller, Chairman, John W. Bristow, Carol Deluca, Erika Dianger, Karl Ludwig, Al Urbano

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Scouts

Anthony Alderisio (F), Michael S. McGowen (F), Dale Bartenwerfer (N), Kevin P. McGowen (S), David Baur (N), Peter Meyer (F)

Erik Baur (N), Raymond A. Meyer (F), Kirk Baur (Life), Kevin A. Miller (S), Mark Baur (F), Bradley Palummeri (N), 

Robert Beisler (N), Bert A. Palummeri (T), Ian Brackenbury (S), Greg G. Paterno (T), David Bristow (F), Craig S. Ramsey (F),

Jeff Cantor (N), Henry Reinhardt (F), William Cobbie, (N), Bill Samick (N), Robert Deluca (Star), Andy Shick (N),

Donald Denman (N), Kevin Schimidlin (Star), Steve Elich (Life), Will Spingate (N), Stewart Fisher (S),  Mike Stolzenberger (N),

Jack Galati (N), Steven J. Tardibuono (S), Mike Handel (N), Dixon Ulmer (F), John Kayal (N), Gregg Vreeland (N), 

Kenneth Kayal (N), Thomas Whittle (Life), Andreas M. Ludwig (Star), Timothy Whittle (Star), Michael J. Martino (T),  Jerry Williamson (S)

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Scoutmasters

William Doherty (1978-87)

Kenneth Mayer (1987-88)

Edward Saiff (1989-92)

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Assistant Scoutmasters

William H. Fisher (1978-79), Peter A. Meyer (1985), James Donahue (1985-95), Stephen W. Jackson (1979-82), Anthony Alderisio (1986),

Gerland WIlliamson (1980-88), Raymond Meyer (1986-87), Anthony Wastog, Jr. (1980-87), Jeffery Cantor (1987-88),

James Doherty (1980-88), Danial M. Perez (1987-89), David Baur (1980-82), James F. Donahue (1988-89), Thomas Whittle (1980-82), 

Roger Rodriguez (1989-93), H. John Handel (1981), Edward Saiff (1988), Richard Cantor (1982), Theodore Williams  (1988-93)

                 

Troop Committee

1980-1989

 

Committee Chairmen

Robert P. Miller (1980-91)

John W. Bristow (1981-84)

Peter Meyer (1985-95)

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Institutional Representatives

Samuel Alderisio (1980-81; 83-89)

Richard McIntosh (1982)

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Committee Members

John W. Bristow (1980-81; 1985-95), Richard Cantor (1981), Daniel Cottone (1988-95), Carol DeLuca (1980-82), David Denman (1981-82),

Erica Dinager (1981), William H.Fisher (1980), Steven W.Jackson (1985-87), Karl Ludwig (1978-1980), Robert P. Miller (1981),

Danilo Tramontozzi (1985-95), Maureen Tuccio (1989), Al Urbano (1979-80)

High Ranking Scouts 1980-1989

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Star

Mark Baur (1980), Jeffery Cantor (1982), Robert DeLuca (1980), Daniel M. Perez (1982), Peter A. Meye (1980),  Craig Ramsey (1982), 

Raymond Meyer (1980), Edward Mabie  (1983), Kevin Schmidlin (1980), Michael Martino (1983), Dixon Ulmer (1980),        

Erik Baur (1985), Timothy Whittle (1980), Jon Baker (1985), Anthony Alderisio (1980),  David Bristow (1981), Jerry Williamson (1981),      

 Christopher Howard (1989), Drew Black (1982), Joshua Saiff (1989)

 

Life 

Thomas Whittle (1980), Sean Black (1982)*, Robert Deluca (1981), David Bristow (1983), Peter A. Meyer (1981), Jeffery Cantor (1983),

Raymond Meyer (1981), Daniel Perez (1984), Mark Baur (1981), James F. Donahue (1985), Anthony Alderisio (1982),

Mark Tramontozzi (1988), Jerry Williamson (1982), Joshua Taylor (1989)

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Eagle

James T. Doherty (1980), Jeffrey L. Cantor (1985), Steven J. Elich (1981), Peter A. Meyer (1985), Kirk H. Baur (1982), Michael L Sirard (1985), 

Kevin B Schnidlin (1982), Jerry Williamson (1985), Raymond M. Meyer (1983), Daniel M. Perez (1987), 

David J. Bristow (1984), James F Donahue (1989), Anthony E. Alderisio (1985)

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Troop 50 In the News

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