Notable Dates

  • 1913 - Troop begins meeting at John Eaton School, Washington DC

  • 1919 - Troop 8 officially chartered - First Scoutmaster William B. Heroy

  • 1919 - Troop moves meeting place to All Souls Church, Washington DC

  • 1921 - First Eagle awarded to George P. Moody

  • 1927 - William Westlake becomes Scoutmaster

  • 1930 - Acquisition of land for Camp Livingstone begins

  • 1933 - Three Scouts represent Troop 8 at the World Jamboree in Washington DC

  • 1943 - Indian Head highway built across Camp Livingstone; Scouts participate in war effort

  • 1945 - Old-Timers Association organized

  • 1950 - Troop 8 leaves All Souls' Church; Uses various locations

  • 1953 - Troop moves to Taylor Street in Chevy Chase, MD

  • 1959 - Troop celebrates 40th anniversary

  • 1961 - Bill Westlake dies; Westlake Foundation established

  • 1964 - Troop meeting place moved to St. John's Church, Chevy Chase, MD

  • 1965 - Bob Hanson becomes Scoutmaster

  • 1967 - Campsite and Sun Dial at Camp Goshen dedicated to Bill Westlake's memory

  • 1968 - First Troop 8 Scouts go to Philmont Scout Ranch

  • 1969 - Troop celebrates 50th anniversary

  • 1997 - Troop moves meeting place to Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, MD

  • 1999 - Troop celebrates 80th anniversary

  • 2004 - Foundation completes sale of Camp Livingstone

  • 2010 - Foundation purchases property at Five Forks

  • 2012 - Troop moves meeting place to the Woman's Club of Chevy Chase, MD

  • 2019 - Troop celebrates 100th anniversary; Girls Troop 8 (GT8) founded

William Westlake

WestlakePhoto.jpeg

The Westlake-Troop 8 BSA Memorial Foundation is the Chartered Organization for Troop 8. The Westlake Foundation is named for William C. Westlake, who was the Scoutmaster of Troop 8 from 1927 to 1961. Bill joined Troop 8 as a 12-year old charter member when the Troop was organized in March of 1919. At 18 he became an Assistant Scoutmaster, and upon becoming 21 he was appointed Scoutmaster.

In 1929 Bill took a contingent of Scouts to the World Jamboree in London, and he returned to Europe in 1937 to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Holland, as a representative of the National Capital Area Council. Bill Westlake was awarded the Silver Beaver Medal by the National Capital Area Council, in recognition of his unselfish devotion to the cause of Scouting. Bill was born in Marion, Indiana.  He moved to Washington, DC as a youth and joined the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company where he worked throughout his 35 year career.  He died at the age of 54, on January 11, 1961.

Troop 8 ScrapbookS

From 1928 through 1972, the Troop kept scrapbooks about its events and people. These scrapbooks (archived into three books) are a unique record of American Boy Scouting in the 20th century.