A Century of Scouting: Troop 666 History (1931–2031)

Troop 666 was officially chartered on March 18, 1931, by a dedicated group of citizens in the Wesley Heights area of Northwest Washington, D.C. Our first Scoutmaster, John C. Freeland, kicked off the troop's tradition of excellence with an initial group of just 5 Scouts.
 

What’s in a Number?

During the chartering process, most of the "desirable" low numbers in the National Capital Area Council were already taken. The troop originally met in a community hall located directly over the Wesley Heights Pharmacy and the organizers chose "666" as a nod to a highly popular patent medicine of the era, 666 Tonic.

The American University Ice House

In the early 1940s, the troop remodeled an old World War I ice house on the American University campus to use as a headquarters. Even when the university needed part of the space to train Nurse's Aides during World War II, the troop continued to meet in the back room, heating it with kerosene that cost just 10.8¢ per gallon!

Post-war boom & Relocation

Scouting experienced a massive boom and Troop 666 adapted by expanding its outdoor programs, introducing traditional summer camp weeks at Camp Goshen. In 1947, a fire unfortunately destroyed the ice house. After receiving a financial reimbursement from the university for the building's improvements, the troop temporarily held meetings in a McLean Gardens apartment basement.

Metropolitan Memorial UMC

In November 1950, the troop moved into its permanent home at the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, anchoring a deeply valued partnership that spans generations.

As transportation evolved, so did Troop 666’s ambition to explore the outdoors. This era marked the beginning of our high-adventure trips and the troop established a strict tradition of holding at least one overnight campout every single month of the camping season.

High Adventure Awaits

Over the decades, our Scouts have built leadership and teamwork by testing their limits across the country:  

• Local Wilderness: Shakedown camps and service projects at Sugarloaf Mountain.  

• High Adventure: Arduous 12-mile treks along the Appalachian Trail, cold-weather winter survival camping in deep snow, and multi-day Memorial Day canoe trips.  

• Historic Treks: Distant excursions to legendary scouting locations like Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Goshen, and Yawgoog, as well as educational trips to Jamestown and Williamsburg.

More than 600 Scouts had called Troop 666 home by this time. The troop had demonstrated incredible resilience, persevering through three major wars and a changing America. Membership fluctuated with the times—weathering lean years with as few as 5 or 6 registered members, and celebrating boom times with up to 85 strong. To mark its enduring spirit, the troop adopted the Eagle as its official symbol, embodying the core values of Pride, Honor, and Respect.

As part of our 50th anniversary, the troop put together a booklet to commemorate the moment. You can read through it on the right side of this page.

Modern Scouting

Entering the digital age, Troop 666 has continued to thrive, mentoring dozens of Eagle Scouts who have gone on to become community leaders, military officers, and successful professionals. Today, we carry forward the exact same scout-led values established in 1931.