Magyar News, 1993. szeptember-1994. augusztus (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1994-04-01 / 8. szám
SCOUTING AT ITS BEST First Hungarian Reformed Church Troop 3 As I look back to 1934, I recall how disappointed I was because I was too young to join a new scout troop being formed by the First Hungarian Reformed Church on Pine Street in the West End Section of Bridgeport. It was a major happening for the entire Hungarian community to have a place where their sons would be safe to go on a Friday evening to learn the skills of scouting. Steve Gergely, a member of our church volunteered to be the first scout master of Troop #3. It was an exciting time for kids in this predominately Hungarian neighborhood. Reverend Ludman was our spiritual advisor followed by Reverend Emil Nagy for many, many years. Leaders and committee members of Troop #3 were dedicated church members willing to give of their time, making certain the children of the church and their families would be equipped to face the difficult life ahead and at the same time incorporate loads of fun and fellowship. Competition was at its height. St. Stephen’s Church had their Troop #52 also the Sea Scout Ship with its great marching band under the leadership of Steve Csordás and Skipper Steve Toth. The Hungarian Reformed Church on State Street had their Troop #36 who incidentally had an Eagle Scout, highest award attainable. This Eagle Scout later on in life became the pastor of the First United Church of Christ, he is Reverend Dr. Anthony Szilagyi. Small world! Frank Willy was their Scoutmaster. Scouting grew in leaps and bounds for the next several years. Troops competing against one another at Camporees at Camp Pomperaug, Seaside Park, Sherwood Island State Park, and of course our own Troop #3’s favorite campsite, Nagy’s farm in Easton with its acres of beautiful trees and running brooks. For over 40 years the wonderful Nagy family, members of our church, allowed Troop #3 to utilize their beaudful camp grounds. Troop leaders would set aside dates and make regular visitations to one another, a true ecumenical, brotherly love arrangement with God in the center of all its activities. We would sing songs, even Hungarian songs, play games and learned what discipline meant. It was the most important time of our lives. The threat of war in Europe and the bombing of Pearl Harbor took most of our boys into the military especially those who started in Troop #3 in 1934. They were the ones to go early on, but one thing for certain, these men, no longer boys, would be better equipped to face the hardships of war because of the training they had in scouting. With the war ending, it brought back well trained new scout leadership. Alexander Csaky took over the leadership of Troop #3 and remained its tireless and dedicated leader for the next 35 plus years. Scouting once again flourished, boys wanted and needed a place to go and be with their peers. They looked forward to the Friday night meetings. We had frequent winter and summer camping trips, sleeping out in the woods under the stars and the canopy of heaven, sitting around a large camp fire singing songs and telling eerie stories. Reverend Nagy, church members, parents would come out to visit their friends and children whenever we camped out. They would always come with great Hungarian surprises which we all looked forward to. Goulash, cakes and watermelon were on the hitparade. Visitors would then spend the afternoon picnicking with other church members. It was always a beautiful and special ending to our camping trips. Many years have come and gone but the memories of these boys, all grown up and now with their own families, will never be forgotten by those of us who helped nurture, mold and guide that wonderful generation of boys. Thanks to the many leaders and committee members who gave so much dedication and time to the scouting of our Hungarian community. Louis Babycos Though we couldn't make the proper effort to research everything, we wouldn’t like to miss out on some of the information that we have. In a conversation with John Link I found out that in 1918 he was a member of a Boys Scout troop in the Westend of Bridgeport, as he referred to it, in “Hunktown.” The troop was located at the Longfellow School, in the middle of the Hungarian community. Archy Szollosi and Mr. Maraszko were the scout masters. For me there was another significance too. John Link lived on Osborn Street, and that is where I was bom. Since a sizeable part of Bridgeport was inhabited by Hungarians, many organizations were made up by them. The Bullard Company also had a troop, it was Sea Scouts Ship 110. The leader of this troop was Stephen Ha very. You know him from his photographs thatappeared in the Magyar News. Steve attended the 1933 Boy Scouts International World’s Jamboree in Hungary. He also is the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America’s Silver Beaver Award, the highest in its category. Steve was also a neighborhood commissioner. Editor Camperee at a local park around 1950. Troop #3 with Rev. Ludman, Rev. Arpad Berecz, Steve Gergely scoutmaster and Zoltán Bachey. 1934. page 3
