By the year 1944, Hennepin County Scouts were
still contributing war service and in that year 4,200,000 pounds
of clothes had been collected. Over 10,800 Scouts were now
enrolled in the Minneapolis Area Council. The Scouts
unveiled plans in 1944 for a new camp property located on Many
Point Lake near Park Rapids, Minnesota, which offered a new
concept in Scout Camps - the "Family Camp" located nearby to
accommodate Scoutmasters' families.
Elected to membership in the
Council that year were: Howard G. Wiley, executive secretary
of the Minneapolis Church Federation; W.C. Coffey, President
of the University of Minnesota; and Mayor Marvin L. Kline.
During this period the Scout headquarters were located at 15
Eighth Street North.
In 1947, Whitney Eastman of Minneapolis was elected President
of the Minneapolis Area Council. Membership was now up to
16,000 in 470 different Scout Units throughout Hennepin County.
The Boy Scouts Headquarters moved to 225
Clifton Avenue, at the former home of Charles D. Velie, in 1950. They remained there
for many years until the land was condemned for Interstate 90 and
then were moved to 314 Clifton Avenue.
During 1950 a National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, and
the Minneapolis Council sent six Troops totaling 210 Scouts under
the leadership of Luther Ford, a member of the Council's Executive
Board.
The Boy Scout organization had grown to such an extent by 1952,
that it was felt the name should reflect coverage of a larger area
than just Hennepin County, so the name was officially changed to
"Viking Council - Boy Scouts of America," and the territory
extended from Hennepin County to the South Dakota border. By
1953, the Council purchased a truck equipped to provide emergency
service, and this program continued for many years with the Scouts
providing assistance at fires and other emergencies throughout the
city. Much of the equipment for this truck had been donated
by City merchants. Scouting had now grown to almost 20,000
in Hennepin County. The '60s were ushered in with a big Golden
Jubilee Celebration for Scouts throughout the country, and Viking
Council was no exception. Another Jamboree was held at
Colorado Springs and 250 Scouts from the Viking Council
participated. Scouts have been members of the United Way
organization since the earliest days of the War Chest, Red Feather
and United Fund. In 1964, 1,500 Boy Scouts and Girl
Scouts assembled into the shape of a huge |