Author: Mike Matzinger
Scouts BSA Troop 119 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, holds a unique place in Scouting history as the oldest continuously chartered troop in the state—and the only remaining troop in Lincoln County. Its roots date back to 1909, the same year the Boy Scouts of America was inspired by a single good turn from a young English Scout who helped a lost traveler, D.W. Boyce, find his way back to his hotel in London. That simple act of service sparked a movement that would change countless lives.
In Mississippi, Brookhaven’s C.H. Hamilton and an Episcopalian minister named Cran organized one of the earliest Scout groups in 1909. After the BSA was officially formed in 1910, their troop joined through the New Orleans Council and became Troop 19, later renamed Troop 119 when the Andrew Jackson Council was established.
The troop was originally sponsored by First Presbyterian Church until 1938-1939, when First United Methodist Church’s Men’s Bible Class took over sponsorship—a relationship that continues to this day.
Over the years, Troop 119 has helped shape generations of young men into leaders. As of 2023, more than 125 Scouts from the troop have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Troop members have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, and professionals across many fields, continuing the values they learned in Scouting.
https://dailyleader.com/2025/06/28/troop-119-oldest-scout-group-in-state-continues-in-brookhaven/
