At last, a home for Scout Troop 22

NORTH CANAAN — The neat little building, stained an earthy Boy Scout green, may not be anything fancy. But it suits Troop 22 just fine, and best of all, it’s all theirs.Scouts, leaders, parents and local businesses have been donating time, materials and labor for about a year now, and the 24-by-32-foot building is getting close. They have not rushed the project; they’re taking their time so they can do it well. For instance, the floors will have a coat of epoxy and tile (donated) at the entrances and in a kitchenette to ensure durability. After all, boys young and old will be using the building for years to come.Location is among the attractions of the building. Built on secluded, unused land that would have been part of the town landfill, it is surrounded by a nice flat lawn with woods behind. It is set behind the transfer station fence, which provides some security.What they need now is to raise more money, and the Scouts will be out and about over the summer with fundraisers — and are counting on a supportive community. Scoutmaster Bill Greenberg offered a brief history of Troop 22’s Scout house ups and downs. “The troop will be 75 next year, and our goal is to have a great new home by then.”During those years, Troop 22 met in many places, including a barn on West Main Street provided by Foss Webb, who later built them the rustic Scout house on Whiting Drive, adjacent to the town garage. Over the years, it was shared and then taken over by the Canaan Child Care Center. The Scouts met at the town pool building and, later, at the Laurel Grange building in East Canaan, given to the town when the Grange folded in the 1990s.“That worked well for many years,” Greenberg said. “But there’s no room for a septic or well, there’s no parking and the roof is leaking. It just needs a lot of work, and there’s nothing more we can do there to make it meet all of our needs.”Once finished, the new building will double as a great place to display 75 years’ worth of Troop 22 memorabilia, including its original charter, which was recently found.The project has been a learning experience for the Scouts, who are still enthusiastic about the ongoing work. While posing for a photo last week, they proudly pointed out their accomplishments, which include the exterior stain and installation of windows all around.