CORNELIA, Ga. — The peeling paint, aging walls and outdated utilities were impossible to miss as leaders with Boy Scout Troop 24 walked Now Habersham through their historic Scout Hut at Cornelia City Park.
What might look like a small, weathered shed to passersby has served generations of Cornelia Scouts — and now, as the troop approaches its centennial year, leaders say it is in urgent need of restoration to remain safe and usable.
Jason Smith, scoutmaster for Troop 24, Adam Hartson, scoutmaster for Cub Scout Pack 24 and the girls Troop 524, along with Stewart Swanson and Ross McIntire of the Northeast Georgia Council, pointed out failing systems and worn spaces during the tour, explaining why the building can no longer meet the troop’s needs without significant help from the community.
A place where kids can feel safe
The original Scout Hut was built in 1953, with an addition added in the 1960s or 1970s, according to Swanson. Troop 24 itself dates back to 1926 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
As the group stood inside the aging structure, Smith said the goal of the renovation is not cosmetic upgrades, but basic safety.
“A safe place to bring your kids to have a meeting,” Smith said. “That it’s got comfort as far as heat and air, has working plumbing. Safety is our number one concern. You want a mama to be able to drop their kid off and not worry. It doesn’t have to be a Shangri-La. Scouting is a pretty Spartan organization, but we do need somewhere suitable from a safety standpoint.”
Support from the city
The City of Cornelia owns the land at the park, while Troop 24 owns the hut itself. The city
recently signed a new lease agreement with the Scouts and Kiwanis, the troop’s partner. Smith said the city has already assisted with landscaping and other work and will continue maintaining the surrounding grounds.
“They’ve been very supportive overall,” Smith said. “Going forward, they’re going to maintain it and keep everything cleaned.”
Troop 24 was close to disappearing
The tour also underscored how close Troop 24 came to disappearing. Membership had declined even before the COVID-19 pandemic as older Scouts aged out, and the disruption of COVID nearly ended the troop altogether.
“When my son Andrew crossed over from Cub Scout Pack 24 into Troop 24, there wasn’t anybody else here,” Smith said. “It was just me and Andrew. We loved working with Troop 5 in Clarkesville, but we didn’t want Troop 24 to die.”
Smith said the troop survived but rebuilt slowly, in part because Pack 24 — its feeder program — had also dwindled. With Pack 24 now growing again under Hartson’s leadership, Troop 24 is beginning to rebound.
Hartson said Troop 24’s long history is reflected throughout the hut, including a wall honoring Eagle Scouts.
“From the research we’ve been able to do, the troop was originally chartered around 1926,” Hartson said. “This year will be the 100-year anniversary of the original charter. A lot of local elders in the community have roots or ties, directly or indirectly, to somebody from Troop 24.”
Covid’s affect
Hartson said the troop was only inactive twice in its history — during World War II and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID also reshaped how children socialize, he said, making Scouting more important than ever.
“A lot of the younger kids didn’t get to socialize and develop those skills at school,” Hartson said. “With Pack 24 being a family pack, we’re able to bring full families in — brothers, sisters — where they build friendships, learn Scout skills and do it all in a safe and fun environment.”
Looking ahead, Smith said a restored Scout Hut could support regular attendance of 35 to 40 Scouts and strengthen the troop’s role as a community partner.
“I really want to see it be a good partner with the community and teach these young kids,” he said.
Scouts are Workforce Ready
Swanson said the hut tour also provided an opportunity to explain how modern Scouting
prepares youth for the workforce. He recently met with Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes of the Georgia Department of Labor to discuss Scouting’s role in workforce development.
Today’s Scouts earn more than 135 merit badges, including those focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, STEM fields and skilled trades such as welding and plumbing, Swanson said. The Northeast Georgia Council serves about 12,000 Scouts.
“You’re catching them at a very young age,” Swanson said. “I think Scouts are some of the most workforce-ready youth in the entire state.”
Now, Troop 24 is turning to the Cornelia community for help transforming the aging hut into a safe, functional space for the next generation. Leaders are asking for donations of money, building materials and skilled labor, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing and general construction assistance.
They say even small contributions of time or supplies can make a difference as the troop works to honor its past and secure its future.
Cub Scout Pack 24 meets Mondays at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Cornelia United Methodist Church, and any elementary school-age child is welcome to attend.
As the tour concluded, Smith said restoring the Scout Hut is about more than fixing an old building.
“This troop has been here almost 100 years,” he said. “With the community’s help, we want to make sure it’s here for the next 100.”
How the public can help
To discuss donations, providing materials, or volunteering your service to the project, the Scouts ask anyone interested to contact: Frank Wolf, President – Habersham Kiwanis Club by phone at (801) 493-5063.
