Eagle Scout project helps historical society
WINFIELD TWP — A project to upgrade the dated signs at Cooper Cabin will benefit both a Knoch sophomore and the Butler County Historical Society.
J.J. Dawson, 16, decided to replace two signs for the historic Cooper Cabin, which is owned by the historical society, with upgraded versions in pursuit of his Eagle Scout project.
Dawson, the son of Nichol Zaginaylo of Penn Township and Jeremy Dawson of Winfield Township, has been a member of Boy Scout Troop 58 in Middlesex Township for 11 years.
“I think Boy Scouts is a great program that develops a lot of leadership skills,” J.J. said.
He hopes attaining his Eagle Scout status will improve his chances of being hired someday, because Boy Scouts of America is known for teaching values and integrity.
J.J. explained he gathered 15 of his fellow scouts at his home to fabricate the steel sign posts that were cemented into the ground at the entrance to the cabin on Cooper Road and at the intersection of Route 356 and Cooper Road.
His father’s employer, Brayman Construction, of Jefferson Township, donated the steel and hardware for the posts.
J.J. met with Jennifer Ford, director of the historical society, who wholeheartedly supported allowing the young man to replace the dated, western fort-style signs that were in the two locations.
“I told him ‘I’m design and you’re the engineer,’” Ford recalled. “From start to finish, he was probably better to work with than any professional would have been.”
Ford ordered the graphics from KeyGrafix of Butler Township, and J.J. picked up the modern signs at the historical society in Butler when they were finished.
J.J. said that on May 6, he and 15 fellow scouts split into two teams, removed the old signs, dug 3-foot deep post holes in a location near the former signs, and placed the new posts into a slurry of concrete inside the post holes.
The sign along Rt. 356 directing visitors to Cooper Cabin is 4 feet by 8 feet, and the sign at the entrance to the historical site is 4 feet by 4 feet.
J.J. said his father grew up in the home next to the cabin, so replacing the signs for his Eagle Scout project seemed natural.
“That was something the historical society wanted to do, but didn’t have the funding,” he said.
He said his father has been a big help in the whole process to attain his Eagle Scout status.
“He was also an Eagle Scout, so he knew the steps toward this and he pretty much guided me through those steps,” J.J. said.
J.J. said he is happy with the signs and looks forward to the next step in working toward top status in scouting.
“This is a major step in my Eagle Scout career, and it’s a great feeling to get it done,” he said.
Ford said she and the historical society’s board of directors are thrilled with the upgraded signs and their builder.
“J.J. is a wonderful young man, and we are very happy with the results,” she said.
