05/21/2026
Aug. 11, 1931 - Boy Scout Troop 2 of Clearfield with President Herbert Hoover
Scoutmaster BT Owens and the 33 members of Troop 2 who recently returned from their annual educational tour were accorded an honor while in Washington of which few citizens of Clearfield can boast.
While the boys were spending a couple of days of their outing in the national capital, they were honored with a brief interview with President Hoover who managed to spend 10 minutes of his busy time with the Troop on the White House lawn.
It was through the influence of Congressman J. Mitchell Chase that an arrangement was made for the boys to meet the Chief Executive. Thursday afternoon President Hoover posed with the entire troop for a group picture, after which the President took the opportunity to congratulate Scoutmaster Owens on the fine appearance of the boys.
Included in the picture is the President, Scoutmaster Owens, Evan Jones, secretary to Congressman Chase, Clair Lippert, local boy who was in Chase’s office, and the members of the troop who made the trip to Washington.
Early Friday morning the party started back for Clearfield, travelling via Baltimore and Philadelphia. While in the city of brotherly love they visited Independence Hall, Public Ledger building and the Navy Yard. That night they camped at historic Valley Forge.
Saturday the route home included a visit to Harrisburg where the state capital was given the once over. Amid the quite riotous and thundering noise to acclaim their coming, the boys pulled into Clearfield on Saturday night, having completed a journey of over 700 miles.
When in Washington the troop was visited by two former Clearfielders when James Kerr and his mother dropped in to the camp. The visitors evidenced delight in seeing so many boys from Clearfield and before leaving Mr. Kerr provided Scoutmaster Owens with the means of purchasing an extra meal for the entire troop!
Standing, left to right:
James Walters (Bus Driver), Clifford Hawkins, Lawrence Stevens, Orvis Undercoffer, Wallace Austin, Emerson Shaw, Don Jalton, John Sykes, Kenneth Rowles, B.T. Owens (Scoutmaster), Evan Jones (Secretary to Congressman Chase), President Herbert Hoover, Clark Lippert, Lynn Goodman, Eugene Barnie, Harry Beaver, James Bickford, Louis Pearce, Jack Arnold, Bob Decker, Donovan Black, and Ted (James) Black.
Kneeling, left to right:
Dan Arnold, Dick Woolridge, Bob Lillinthal, Floyd Jay, Bill Reading, John “Jack” Shaw, Wright Bigler, Ashley Woolridge, Bob Davis, Bob Hunter, Russell Williams, James Mitchell III, Walter Schaefer, Blair Owens, Gerry Wilson, and Grant Kendrick.
Stop by the Kerr House Museum's Elk Room to view this photo more closely! We are open today from 1:30-4:30PM
