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Girl Scouts Centennial

March 12, 2012 by · Comments Off on Girl Scouts Centennial 

Girl Scouts Centennial, Girls Scouts is a common thread that runs through the lives of many young girls and women.

Experiences in scouting can be shared with each other, no matter the age of the individual.

Scouting is where young girls can learn some of the most profound lessons that will help lay a foundation for a successful future.

On Monday, Girls Scouts will officially turn 100 years old.

For Mariette Smith of Knoxville, Girl Scouts has been a huge part of her life. She has been a leader in Knox County for 41 years and has amassed a collection of Girl Scout memorabilia that will go on display at the Knox County Historical Museum in Knoxville beginning Saturday.

“She’s done a wonderful job of chronicling things over the years,” said Peg Bivens, president of the Knox County Historical Sites.

The exhibit, which will open to area scouts prior to the public opening from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, consists of a scrapbook filled with history, photos and newspaper clippings; uniforms from throughout the years for Brownies and Girl Scouts; various patches and pins; organizational books and more.

Bivens herself remembers being a Brownie and going to one of the old department stores in Galesburg that displayed various scouting merchandise.

“I remember peering down and looking through the display case … I wanted so badly the Brownie Scout Knife,” she said, chuckling.

One of her earliest memories of being involved in scouts was making bed rolls and “sit upons” for an upcoming camping trip. The sit upons were mats made of woven newspaper.

She anticipates keeping the exhibit up for about three months for the museum’s official tourist season.

Putting the exhibit together with Smith has “evoked a lot of memories and we hope it does that for others. It’s a real opportunity to give appreciation to the leaders who are still carrying on the tradition of scouting.”

Smith also will be at the Saturday opening.

“Mariette is really the living exhibit,” Bivens said. “She’s a wonderful resource about the history of scouting and has so much experience.”

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