MULLEN NEIGHBORHOOD GIRL SCOUTS

by Mabell Cox

Entry T58 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

The Mullen Girl Scouts started in the late
1930's and several people remember some of
the meetings and activities that took place.
Unfortunately the records from the earliest
time have been lost but we do know that they
had Brownies, Intermediates, and Seniors
and that they did lots of fun activities. Some
members told that they took several trips to
Halsey and to Chadron State Park which no
doubt helped their camping skills a great
deal.

The girls met in the Commercial Club
Room in the basement of the courthouse. The
troops were run individually because at that
time there was no organized Girl Scout
council close.

The Mullen group joined the Guiding Star
Girl Scout Council in the early 1950's and
began coordinating their work with that of
the other troops in the council.

Some of the early leaders and workers
were: Mae Ridenour, Anna Yaryan, Lucille
Hoyt, Berniece Crews, Ruth Barnebey, Jean
Harding, Helen Walker, Vivian Miller, Mrs.
Elmer (Violet) Hawk, Altha Burnett Jackson,
Pauline (Evans) Bracken, Leona House,
Myrthle Riegle, Pearl Johnson, Helen Fitzg-
erald, Jo Humphrey, Mariola Mallory and
Berniece Wadlow. There were many more
but we have no records as to who they are -
sorry.

Camping and Outdoor Skills have always
been an important part of Girl Scouting and
in 1955, the first council sponsored Day
Camp was held out on the Middle Loup River
on the ranch run by Tilbert Wright. He was
most cooperative and helpful and the camps
are still held there.

Each day for five days the girls and their
leaders met at the grade school and drove out
to the camp. There they learned and practi-
ced their camping skills and learned to live
comfortably in the out-of-doors.

The first Day Camp staff was Director,
Mabell Ericksen (Cox) ; Business Manager,
Bessie Bradley; and Camp Nurse, Lucy Isom.
They all worked for many years on the camps.
Day Camps are still held almost every year.

The Girl Scout Program has changed from
time to time and Mullen now has four levels
of Scouting - Brownies (grades 2 and 3),
Juniors (grades 4,5, and 6), Cadettes (7,8,9),
and Seniors (10,11,12). Meetings are now
held in the school lunch room, co-op meeting
room and at the leaders homes. Most troops
meet on Monday evening right after school.

Camping is still an important part of Girl
Scouting and Troops go on overnight troop
camps, and sometimes longer ones as well as
taking part in many council camps and other
activities.

All of the Girl Scout jobs in Mullen are
volunteer, and it is through the work of many
dedicated women (and long suffering hus-
bands) that the Girl Scouting Program in
Mullen has grown and progressed through
the years.

Unfortunately we have few records to tell
us just who all has served this organization
but we know there have been many who
served, not only as leaders but also as
consultants, committee members, neighbor-
hood officers, cookie chairmen, and many
other jobs. To each and all we say Thank You.