Girl Scout Cookies and Statue at Three Rivers Museum

Muskogee's Mistletoe Troop
Formed in 1917

Muskogee’s first Girl Scouts were organized by Miss Marion D. Brown.  She was the Supervisor of Physical Culture at Muskogee’s High School beginning in 1914 having come to Muskogee after graduating from the New Haven School of Gymnastics at the age of 20. When she died from blood poisoning in December of 1918, Miss Brown was highly respected by both students and faculty.  She was from Angelica, New York and was introduced to the Girl Guides while on a trip with a friend.

The first meeting of the Mistletoe Troop was held on Wednesday October 17, 1917 at 8:00a.m.  At that meeting the girls were organized into ten platoons made up of eight girls each including an elected captain. The captains were: Dorothy Livingston, Maude Nible, Kathleen Berry, Ruth Swanson, Goldie Merriman, Julia Milne, Laura Reynolds, and Mildred Coffeen.

The early meetings appear to have been held weekly and involved such activities as learning the Scout salute, Scout laws, tying knots, the meaning behind the U.S. flag, what it stands for, and how to fly it.

December of 1917 was a busy time for the girls.  They made and sold cookies in the Muskogee Central High School Cafeteria and did the same with popcorn balls and calendars to earn the funds to send Christmas bags to Oklahoma soldiers.  They met to make up the Christmas bags on December 7th and reported to the Muskogee Daily Phoenix that they were glad to be able to take part in this good work since they were so newly organized.  On December 17th the packages were shipped from the Red Cross headquarters in care of Sergeant C.H. Larkin, 142nd Infantry, Camp Bowie, Fort Worth.

By being the first Girl Scout troop to make and sell cookies, the Muskogee Mistletoe Troop created the model for the Girl Scout Cookie Program nationwide. Even though this troop was disbanded several decades ago, Muskogee is still an active member of the Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout Statue "A Promise to Keep"
Sculptress, Phyllis Mantik

Dedicated on May 31, 2008, as three Girl Scout councils consolidated to form Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma and commemorating the first known mention in US heritage of Girl Scouts baking and selling cookies to raise funds to support their troop activities…and, it all started right here in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1917 with the Mistletoe Girl Scout Troop.

You can see the Cookie exhibit inside of the museum during open business hours!

Picture

                          "A Promise to Keep"

Girl Scouts, parents and leaders come from all over the world to see and have their picture taken with the statue of the little girl that represents all Girl Scouts and their famous cookies.