Lodge History

History of P.W. Litchfield's Scout Lodges

Paul Litchfield’s first contact with the Boy Scout movement was in 1911 when he took a trip to witness the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. During the trip, his ship encountered dense fog for days while under iceberg watch at the mouth of the St. Lawrence.

The eerie experience was saved by the cheerful countenance of a Boy Scout troop from Alberta, also attending the coronation ceremony. Mr. Litchfield asked many questions of the boys since he had only just been introduced to the concept of scouting by fellow businessman W. D. Boyce the year before. Mr. Litchfield was so impressed by the Alberta boys that scouting became one of his primary interests from that point on.

After his return from the coronation, Mr. Litchfield started his first Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Boy Scout Troop and built the first Scout Lodge in Goodyear Heights, just outside of Akron, Ohio.

The Ohio Scout Lodge has been used as the Good Neighbors food pantry since the 1990s

The Goodyear Scout Lodge is now used as a Goodyear police station

The Goodyear Scout Lodge was built much later in 1945 in Goodyear, Arizona by the volunteer work of the employees of Goodyear Aircraft Corporation.

Then, in 1954, the Litchfield Park Scout Lodge was built five years before the death of Mr. Litchfield.

Mr. Litchfield believed that the twelve points of the scout law were, "a creed on which anyone might build his life." Having been an outdoorsman as a youth, he was especially fond of scouting's emphasis on outdoor activities and training in self-reliance.

Recently, the City of Litchfield Park acquired the Litchfield Park Scout Lodge, where it remains the home of scouting today. Over 300 youths use the Lodge weekly as their meeting site and Mr. Litchfield's dream of facilitating the leadership provided by scouting continues because of the initial site created in 1954.

"The brotherhood of man starts with the brotherhood of boys."

- P.W. Litchfield (1954)

Since 2007, Litchfield Park Scout Lodge Preservation, Inc. (LPSLP), which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been committed to the upkeep and maintenance of the historic Litchfield Park Scout Lodge building. This non-profit organization has raised and provided over $70,000 in funds to upgrade the facility with new windows, new paint, termite treatment, roof repair, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and gas updates.

The future goals of LPSLP include building a fund reserve for future maintenance of the Lodge to include improving the energy efficiency of the building.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to LPSLP today in order to preserve the history of Scouting in our community.

"The future of America is not dependent on its wealth and resources, but on the character of its people."

- P.W. Litchfield (1954)

"Long a believer in the Scout movement and its value in building a better America, Mr. Litchfield expressed the hope that the new quarters will be used by the Troop to its fullest extent and that the opportunities they provide will help strengthen Scouting activities in the community."

- The Wingfoot Clan (1954)