Volunteer Spotlight

Eagle scouts restore Wilson Historical Society structures -Heidi Truschel-Light for the Union Sun & Journal, 10/14/25 History is alive and well at Wilson Historical Society thanks to the work two Eagle Scouts from Cambria’s Troop 8 completed recently. Carter Kopp and Ben Meyers, both of Wilson, opted for larger projects on the museum property, each spending a month working on their eagle projects. Kopp painted the 1903 train caboose next to the museum’s railroad station, positioned next to the former Hojack Line. “It was a big project that needed to be done,” said Kopp. Restoring the caboose was important because “the whole town was built by (access to) the railroad.” Kopp said the first house that he lived in on Wilcox Street in Wilson was a Sears kit home that arrived by train. Some of the wood on the railcar had dry rotted, Kopp said, and it took special attention to cover the wood filler. He said the caboose’s cupola and pipe rails were also a challenge to paint. “It definitely turned out a lot better than I thought it would,” he said. Meyers volunteered to build a replica outhouse behind the museum’s Randall Road schoolhouse. The original outhouse had deteriorated and was destroyed in a storm, he said. “I was excited to create something new.” To make the outhouse match the authenticity of the surrounding buildings, Meyers and his father Richard searched for reclaimed lumber. The Gurski family on Irish Road offered tongue and groove boards that had been salvaged from a family farmhouse. The project began with Meyers measuring the original boards, and then scrubbing and trimming the reclaimed boards and removing old nails. Meyers said he dug a footer for the building and mixed concrete. He said he did not replicate the pit latrine and toilet box in order to discourage anyone from using it. Meyers said the tiny structure was built on-site, with cedar shake shingles as the only new material. The door features a half-moon cut out. The outhouse was an important project, Meyers said, because it completed the historic experience of the schoolhouse and its time period. Meyers said he wasn’t too keen on the idea of attending classes that included young children in the lower grades. John Sinclair, president of the Wilson Historical Society, said assistance from the Eagle Scouts was an essential part of maintaining the historical society’s site. “It’s a huge help,” Sinclair said. “We are really grateful for the assistance of organizations like the scouts.” Robin Mignella, secretary of the Wilson Historical Society, said scouts were instrumental in managing the museum’s Memorial Day celebration. Mignella said scouts handled equipment setup, parking, and more during the busy weekend. - Heidi Truschel-Light for the Union Sun & Journal, October 14, 2025