The founding principles of the Boy Scouts of America are as as alive today as they were in 1910. The following present day mission provides the reader with a perspective of the organization and its aims.

"It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and in other ways prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Scout Oath and Law. The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated February 8, 1910.

One of the unique characteristics of Scouting is the role of the chartering organization. All Scout units are chartered for one year, renewable annually to a chartered partner. This group selects its own volunteer leadership, provides a meeting place and gives overall supervision to plans, programs and policies through its unit committee. Churches, PTA's and Service Clubs are major partners. In addition, there are units sponsored by businesses, industries, professional associations, fraternal groups, veterans' organizations and many others. All units are owned and operated by a partner organization and led by volunteer leaders."

This book is a review of the activities and people connected with the Chester County Council, BSA from the early beginnings of the Boy Scout Movement in Chester County to the present day. It is a celebration of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the official Charter being granted to the Council by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America on January 9, 1919. One will find a great deal of information written about the Council's camps. These camps, especially the Horseshoe Scout Reservation, were and continue to be one of the chief catalysts in making Scouting successful in the Council. For this reason, the reader will find much of the Council's history revolving around Horseshoe and the Order of the Arrow organization who plays a major role in maintaining and promoting the camps.

Since all events cannot be reported in such a presentation as this, a sincere attempt has been made to provide readers with an insight into the rich heritage the Council enjoys today through the commentary of people who were in the Scouting Program in their youth or who have provided leadership at different levels of Scouting at one time or another in their life. I have relied upon newspaper articles, Council Board Minutes, articles in a number of different publications produced by the Council and, upon first-hand experiences of Scout leaders, Camp Directors and other interested parties. This record is also based upon my first-hand experiences as a Boy Scout and as an adult leader in the Chester County Council. There may be passages that exude a degree of enthusiasm on the part of the author. This is only a reflection of a deep-seeded feeling about the experiences that one has in a program that plays a major role in one's personal development. An honest attempt has been made for accuracy. However, should the reader find information inconsistent with his experience or knowledge, he may wish to bring this matter to the author's attention for consideration to appear in an addendum to this record.

Many people have been helpful at different stages in the development of this history and in securing the funding for the project. Our loyal patrons and acknowledgments will be found on the final page of the book. However, I want to especially thank my wife for her patience and understanding during the past six months as well as for her helpfulness in typing portions of the book. Thanks Ellie for all your support!

The Chester County Council, BSA in 1994 enjoys a excellent reputation among the some 350 Boy Scout Councils in the United States. It is among the top councils in the percentage of Scouts taking part in long-term camping; at the top with Scouts attending the Philmont Scout Ranch and other High Adventure bases; and, has been singled out for the number of its Boy Scout Troops that have a high retention of older Scouts and Troops having more than 32 Scouts on the average. It's Scout leaders' training is highly rated and its camping facilities attract not only its own Scouts but those of many neighboring states. Scouting is on the move in Chester County and this is its story.

- John B. Rettew, III