Boy Scouts of America. Troop 16 (Bala-Cynwyd, Pa.).

"Troop Bala One has a long and glorious tradition in both the Boy Scout movement and the Lower Merion community. In 1907, General Robert Baden-Powell, an English Army officer, took a group of lads to Brownsea Island, England. This was the first Boy Scout Camp. In 1908, he wrote a book called Scouting for Boys which had an international, instantaneous impact. Troops and patrols sprung up in England and, shortly thereafter, in Europe.

"The Boy Scout movement was slower to transition to the United States, except in the tiny town of Bala, Pennsylvania. Here, in 1908, a group of community leaders, headed by insurance executive Frank Sykes, organized America's first group of boys under the principles of scouting as set forth in Baden-Powell's book. Troop Bala One thus became the first unofficial Boy Scout troop in the U.S.

"The national umbrella organization, The Boy Scouts of America, was officially organized in February 1910. The following year, Troop Bala One was officially inducted with the alternate name of Troop 16. At that time, President William H. Taft was Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America and former President Theodore Roosevelt was Honorary VP."

As of 2011, the troop was still active.

Bibliography:

The Lower Merion Historical Society. The First 300: The Amazing and Rich History of Lower Merion . Ardmore, Pa.: The Lower Merion Historical Society, 2000. Accessed October 28, 2011. http://www.lowermerionhistory.org/texts/first300/part24.html

From the guide to the LMHS.13: Boy Scout Troop Bala One photographs, 1941-1998, (Lower Merion Historical Society)