After several organizational meetings, Troop 85 received its first charter March 31, 1958. Thirteen boys were registered with Michael Ference as their Scoutmaster, Nick Botti, the institutional representative, and Arch Merritt, committee chairman. For a few years Troop 85 was limited to 30 boys, but as leadership increased, the quota was removed and the troop grew rapidly. The roster was never below 80 boys between 1965 and 1977, reaching its peak in 1969 with 95 scouts. A total of 665 boys have been registered over the past 50 years.
Camping has always been part of the troop program. Backyard camping was introduced early in the troop history as boys passed the second-class requirements at “Minnie HaHa” and later in the woods between Arlington and Green Valley. Among the troop’s first weekend camps were Linn Run, Rolling Hills, and Hoyt Lodge. Some scouts went to provisional camp at Camp Aliquippa. In 1964, the troop went as a unit to Camp Aliquippa for the first time and it became an annual event with groups of forty plus boys making the trip each year. In 1972 and 1974 the troop ran their own camp at Camp Ritchie in Ohio with senior scouts (those who were 14 years of age or older who had the rank of at least first class) planning, setting up, and running the camp under the guidance of the adult leaders. This was also the case when the scouts camped at camp Clendenon, Ohio in 1976 and at Camp Riamo, near Uniontown, PA. In 1977, the troop became proficient at using the patrol system, running their own kitchen, advancement classes, and waterfront. As membership decreased, the troop returned to council camp at Camp Twin echo. In 1984, 86, 87,88,89,90, and 92, the troop was again running its own camp (Camp Vicki Wicki) at Clarington on the Clarion River. In 1995, 2000, and 2004 the Troop enjoyed summer camp at Camp Conestoga and in 1996, 98, 99, 2002, 2003,and 2006 at Camp Liberty on the Heritage Reservation, We also camped in Virginia at Camp Powhattan 1997 and at Camp Otari in 2001 and 2007 of the Blue Ridge Mountain Reservation near Roanoke Virginia, 2005 and 2009 at the Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch in Colorado and Camp Ben Delatour in 2013. Since then, the Troop has had a steady rotation between The Blue Ridge Scout Reservation and Camp Liberty of Heritage Reservation.
Hiking has also been a large part of the 85 programs. Along with many five and ten mile hikes, the troop has hiked the Washington Trail in Waterford Pa, the Forbes Trail, the Braddock Trail, the Gettysburg Trail, the Antietam Trail, the Susquehanna Trail, and the Laurel Highlands Trail.
Through the years the troop has had weekends at Seven Springs, Butler, Emlenton, Slippery Rock, Morristown, Sharpsburg, St. Mary’s, Cambridge Springs, Sandy Lake, and Antiochian. From 1975 to 1990 took annual trips to Pymatuning for a weekend of water skills and safety at the Red Cross small craft base. This Red Cross facility has closed, but Troop 85 scouts still get plenty of water safety at a local indoor facility. Canoeing experience is gained on Yough River, Clarion River, and Allegheny River canoe trips.
The troop has many other traditions. John Bird added life to the troop when he wrote the lyrics for our troop song in 1963. Patti Edwards designed the Troop’s first neckerchief in 1964 and Mr. David Edwards designed the troop patch in 1965 with the help of the senior scouts. The Troop 85 Eagle slide was instituted by Herman Schiemer in 1966 and continues today through the efforts of Ron Virtes and Dave Bruck. The Eagle sponsor recognition was also introduced in 1966.
The troop has always believed that scouting is a family organization and has kept the family in scouting with an annual Christmas party, covered dish dinners, and summer picnic. Troop 85 membership has always believed that “ tripping” is fun. Whether it’s a tour to the fire department, the municipal building, Three Rivers, Pitt Stadium, PNC Park, the Museum, the Nationality Rooms, the Aviary, or longer trips to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Canton Football Hall of Fame, Gettysburg , Washington D.C., Wendell August Forge and the Heinz History Center, the theme is always scouting fellowship.
The troop has been to Virginia and Washington D.C. nine times. These informative, fun packed trips included visits to Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive, Monticello, Williamsburg, King’s Dominion, Bush Gardens, Jamestown, Yorktown, Fredericksburg, the Air Space museum, the Capital, all the Nation Monuments as well as Mount Vernon. The Troop has visited Gettysburg eight times, Harrisburg and Lancaster twice, Philadelphia, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Baltimore and Eastern Ohio.
In 1973 the Troop toured New England. The scouts saw Plymouth Rock, toured Boston, and the thousand islands, returning to East McKeesport by the way of Niagara Falls.
Of course the ultimate trip for a Scout Troop is the National Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Troop 85 has made this trip five times. Philmont trips take years of planning and fund raising to accomplish. For the first trip, The Mother’s Club held card parties and flea markets, the fathers held dances and “smokers, which include guest speakers and sports high light films, counted coupons and families also sold doughnuts once a month. During the more recent years scouts have sold hoagies, candy bars, popcorn, candles, spaghetti dinners, and an Irish Night Sing along with entertainer John McCann to raise funds for trips.
In 1969, twenty-three scouts and four adults went to Philmont the trip took the scouts by bus past the St. Louis Arch, across the Mississippi River, and through seven states. They stopped at Fort Benjamin Harris; spent a night at the scout camp in Joplin, Missouri; visited Quartz Mountain while at the Clinton Air Force Base; saw a buffalo at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; crossed the Rio Grande from Fort Bliss, Texas to barter in Juarez Mexico, and explored Carlsbad Caverns. They had ten memorable days hiking through the scenic trails of Philmont.
The troop returned to Philmont in 1975 with thirty-two scouts and fifteen adults. A visit to Bush Stadium and the Cardinal Hall of Fame as well as the Missile base at Alma Gorda, New Mexico were the significant changes of this excursion.
In 1979, the troop sent its third expedition to Philmont. Thirty scouts and six adults made this adventure. This trip included stops at the Truman Library, the General Patton Museum, Opryland, and Fort Knox.
The troop has sent two more groups to Philmont. Eight boys and two adults flew to Denver and then took a bus to Philmont prior to ten great days in the mountains in 1992. The 1994 excursion of eight scouts and two leaders arrived at Philmont following a cross-country train trip. As with every excursion to this Mecca of Scouting, all of the scouts returned with stories and memories that will last a lifetime.
The troop has enjoyed other high adventures as well. In 1985, eleven members traveled to the Boy Scout high adventure post in Maine. They flew to Portland and took a van to their destination, Seboomook. They spent seven days in the wilderness back packing, canoeing, fishing, and camping.
In 1997 Troop 85 teamed up with Troop 184 of Monroeville on an excursion to the Blue Ridge Mountain Council Camps. While there adults and scouts spent six days camping and backpacking on the High Knoll Trail. This was followed by a trip to the national Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia and touring of Washington D.C. In 2001 and 2008, the troop repeated this trip teaming up with Troop 81 of Grove City Pa. While hiking the High Knoll Trail the scout earned their Fifty Miler award. This trip once again included at stop at the national jamboree and a day of fun at Kings Dominion Amusement Park.
The troop returned to the Rocky Mountains in 2005 with a trip to the Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch in Walsenburg, Colorado with 23 Scouts and 7 leaders. Seven Scouts enjoyed a week of hiking at elevations as high as 1300 ft. The remaining portion of the troop enjoyed a patrol cooking summer camp experience at the base camp. The trip was a cross country bus adventure for many of the scouts a first time west. During the trip the scouts explored Wright Patterson Air force base and the Truman Presidential Library and Camping at Camp Wildwood in Terre Huate Indiana and Camp Brown in Abilene, Kansas.
The troop has participated in many council events throughout the years. In 1964, the troop sent two scouts to the world’s fair and in 1967 and 1968 the troop had scouts participate in the Council Philmont trips. Over the years the troop has been to most of the Council and District Camporees. White Oak, Renziehausen, Cedar Creek, Mingo Creek, and Round Hill Parks were but a few of the Camporees attended. The troop members have earned many ribbons, and awards at these and other events such as District first aid meets.
Troop 85 has a strong tradition of serving God and country. In addition to individual service projects, over 60 scouts have earned their Ad Altare Dei award and many have also earned their God and Country award. Troop 85 spearheaded the formation of the East Allegheny Scout Sunday committee, which organizes a joint Boy Scout and Girl Scout nondenominational ecumenical service praising god and celebrating the birth of scouting. The troop assists the local V.F.W. in decorating graves at local cemeteries, they participates in Memorial Day and Sept 11th services, they collect food for the local food bank, and they even adopted a two mile section of Rt. 30 through East McKeesport.
The troop honored its first Eagle Scout in 1962 with a dinner that began the Troop 85 eagle tradition. In 2008 the troop celebrates the induction of its 112th Eagle Scout. Troop 85 is well above the 3% national average of scouts reaching the Eagle rank. Troop 85 has 17% of its scouts become Eagles. Having a large number of Eagle Scouts has given the troop a strong leadership base. We have provided our Troop with many Jr. Assistants Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters and Scoutmasters. Two Troop 85 Eagles have served the troop as Scoutmaster, Chris Hoke and the Scoutmaster for the past 33 years Doug Edwards until retiring in 2017. He still works with the troop as Committee Chairman.
Troop 85 has also provided many troops and councils throughout the country with competent scout leaders and executives.
The Troop is still active today. In 2024, with the close of St. Robert’s Bellarmine Church, the troop changed its sponsor to the Wilmerding Community Center. Continuing to help serve our community’s youth and preparing theme for their next stage in life.
Troop 85 is proud of all the young men it has served. Today you can find them in all walks of life. Wherever they go and whatever they do you can be sure they are living the scout oath and law.
“WHEREVER WE GO, YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW, WE’RE THE BOY SCOUTS OF TROOP 85”
