Frank Fellows Gray
Encyclopedia
Frank Fellows Gray also known as Uncle, was a pioneer of Scouting in America, teacher and musician. He was a personal friend of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
founder of the Scout Movement
who on a visit to Montclair, New Jersey
on February 2, 1912 bestowed the singular honor of "The Baden-Powell Troop" on Frank's Boy Scout Troop 4 .
After having been educated at Syracuse University
, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta
Fraternity, Frank was a teacher at Military Academies in Long Island, New York. While visiting Scottish relatives in 1907 he visited B-P at the first Scout training camp at Brownsea Island Scout camp
and returned in 1908 as a participant. He is believed to have started the first Scout Troop in Glasgow, Scotland in 1908. Frank was the founder of one of the first Boy Scout Troops in the United States based on the Baden-Powell system of Scouting, Montclair, New Jersey
, March 9, 1909 later to become Troop 4. Ernest Thompson Seton
, Chief Scout, visited Montclair to address the scouts, December 9, 1910. Frank is believed to have organized the first real Boy Scout Camp in the United States on Dudley Island, Sussex County, New Jersey
Summer 1911. Frank is one of the organizers of the Girl Scout Movement in the Montclair area, 1912-1913. He also founded, in 1914, the ‘Old Guard’, an honor society for preservation of ‘scout camping’ . Frank awarded Montclair’s first Eagle Scout
Award to Howard Utter, Autumn of 1915. After running Boy Scout Summer camps at various locations between 1913-1916 he was founder and namesake of Camp Glen Gray, Ramapo Mountains in Bergen County, New Jersey
May 1917 .
Frank organized many World War I relief efforts (War Loans, Thrift Stamp, raising over two million dollars), including the Emergency Coast Guard, April 15, 1917. He continued his active involvement and support of Scouting in the Montclair area until health issues intervened. He last visited Glen Gray in 1930. He was a piccolo
musician, author, songwriter, poet, and above all, an exceptional organizer and a great teacher to all the youth using Baden Powell’s principles of Scouting.
Come, sit a while with me
Up in the old cabin shade,
If the day is hot,
There’s a cool verandah,
And if there’s a chill,
There’s a wood fire on the hearth,
And there’s a book to read
Or chance to write a letter home.
So come sit a while with me
And talk about the old times and new
In the cabin by the lake.
"Uncle" 1935
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
founder of the Scout Movement
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
who on a visit to Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
on February 2, 1912 bestowed the singular honor of "The Baden-Powell Troop" on Frank's Boy Scout Troop 4 .
After having been educated at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
Fraternity, Frank was a teacher at Military Academies in Long Island, New York. While visiting Scottish relatives in 1907 he visited B-P at the first Scout training camp at Brownsea Island Scout camp
Brownsea Island Scout camp
The Brownsea Island Scout camp was a boys camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, southern England, organised by Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell to test his ideas for the book Scouting for Boys. Boys from different social backgrounds participated from 1 August to 8 August 1907 in...
and returned in 1908 as a participant. He is believed to have started the first Scout Troop in Glasgow, Scotland in 1908. Frank was the founder of one of the first Boy Scout Troops in the United States based on the Baden-Powell system of Scouting, Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, March 9, 1909 later to become Troop 4. Ernest Thompson Seton
Ernest Thompson Seton
Ernest Thompson Seton was a Scots-Canadian who became a noted author, wildlife artist, founder of the Woodcraft Indians, and one of the founding pioneers of the Boy Scouts of America . Seton also influenced Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting...
, Chief Scout, visited Montclair to address the scouts, December 9, 1910. Frank is believed to have organized the first real Boy Scout Camp in the United States on Dudley Island, Sussex County, New Jersey
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
Summer 1911. Frank is one of the organizers of the Girl Scout Movement in the Montclair area, 1912-1913. He also founded, in 1914, the ‘Old Guard’, an honor society for preservation of ‘scout camping’ . Frank awarded Montclair’s first Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
Award to Howard Utter, Autumn of 1915. After running Boy Scout Summer camps at various locations between 1913-1916 he was founder and namesake of Camp Glen Gray, Ramapo Mountains in Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
May 1917 .
Frank organized many World War I relief efforts (War Loans, Thrift Stamp, raising over two million dollars), including the Emergency Coast Guard, April 15, 1917. He continued his active involvement and support of Scouting in the Montclair area until health issues intervened. He last visited Glen Gray in 1930. He was a piccolo
Piccolo
The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
musician, author, songwriter, poet, and above all, an exceptional organizer and a great teacher to all the youth using Baden Powell’s principles of Scouting.
Poem
An InvitationCome, sit a while with me
Up in the old cabin shade,
If the day is hot,
There’s a cool verandah,
And if there’s a chill,
There’s a wood fire on the hearth,
And there’s a book to read
Or chance to write a letter home.
So come sit a while with me
And talk about the old times and new
In the cabin by the lake.
"Uncle" 1935