by Sandra Hamer
Six members of Junior Girl Scout Troop #1174 learned about Stephen Van Rensselaer, the Good Patroon, and the farming, charcoal and milling industries that once thrived in Stephentown when they visited the Stephentown Heritage Center on November 14. The fifth grade students, all from Stephentown, were gathering information as part of their work toward earning a Girl Scout Badge in Local Lore.
Stephentown Historical Society members Bev McClave and Bill Zimmerman toured the girls around the Heritage Center, explained the dioramas and related stories about the Town’s past. Troop Leader Margaret Miller said that the scouts will use the information they gathered from their visit and other research to create a poster or story that will, in turn, further educate the public about Stephentown’s history. Miller added that troop members are also working on a Theater Badge, which involved attending a local theater production recently.
The six members of Stephentown Junior Girl Scout Troop #1174 are Hope Brown, daughter of Peter and Amy Brown, Maggie Gordon, daughter of Scott and Theresa Gordon, Theresa Mateer, daughter of Timothy and Gina Mateer, Lindsey Miller, daughter of Drake and Troop Leader Margaret Miller, Laura Ryder, daughter of Heather Ryder, and Emma Woolley, daughter of Mark Woolley and Laura Sicko.