Girl Scouts

The Story of the Girl Scout Cottage at St. Rose of Lima
August 25, 1996

The story of the Girl Scout Cottage began several years before its completion.

As the Girl Scout program at St. Rose of Lima continued to grow and expand, it became increasingly clear that there was a need for a permanent meeting place beyond classrooms and the cafeteria. Several possibilities were explored—including use of the convent, the old youth building, and temporary facilities—but each option was ultimately set aside.

Then, in the summer of 1995, the parish purchased the property located on the corner of Wakefield and Brinkman to create additional parking.

Situated on this property was a small two-bedroom house originally built in the early 1940s by Odell and Anna V. Gowan, who raised their family there. Years later, after the family moved to a larger home, the property was purchased by a Plumbers’ Union Local and used as a meeting space before eventually being sold to St. Rose of Lima.

Inspired by generosity—and encouraged by dedicated Girl Scout leaders who were tired of transporting meeting and craft supplies in the backs of their cars—Msgr. Tom Wendland presented the house to the Scouts, and the great remodeling project began.

The first challenge was choosing a name.

“Scout Hut?” Already taken.
“Scout Building?” Too ordinary.

The dark and somewhat gloomy interior inspired one observer to suggest “The Catacombs,” but Stefanie Peterson looked around and simply said, “It looks like a little cottage.”

And so, the Girl Scout Cottage was named.

Although structurally sound, the house left much to be desired aesthetically. Exterior siding was cracked and missing in places, paint peeled from the walls, and the inside featured brown carpeting, brown paneling, and brown trim.

The Scouts quickly realized that transforming the neglected structure into a warm and welcoming gathering space would require countless hours of work and considerable financial support.

Dennis and Kay Alexander organized a highly successful golf tournament that generated much of the funding needed for renovations. Parishioners and members of the community generously contributed additional donations, allowing work to begin.

Workdays were scheduled, and Scouts, parents, and families came together to haul debris, replace siding, paint, clean, and tackle countless repair projects.

As the school year began, progress slowed somewhat, but improvements continued. Interior spaces were painted, and older Scouts added hand-stenciled ivy and holly borders throughout the rooms. One family donated and installed mini-blinds, while another provided much-needed tables and chairs.

Work paused temporarily in the spring as Scouts shifted their focus to other parish initiatives, including chairing the St. Rose Auction and organizing the Children’s Midway at the Spring Festival.

After a well-earned break at the start of summer, efforts resumed in earnest as the deadline for St. Rose Day approached.

Fresh exterior paint finally answered Fr. Tom’s repeated question: “When are you going to paint that monstrosity?”

The back porch was transformed from a storage area into a cheerful sunroom with screened walls and protective bars. The larger bathroom was completely renovated with new sinks, toilets, walls, flooring, mirrors, and hand-painted topiary accents.

(As for the smaller bathroom… that remained firmly on the “To Do” list.)

Though most of the renovation work had been completed, planning for the future was already underway. Another fundraiser was being discussed to address upcoming needs.

The aging air conditioner—older than many of the Scout leaders—would likely need replacement. Fencing the backyard would create a safer outdoor area for younger Scouts, and insulating and finishing the attic could someday provide a space for overnight gatherings.

Slowly but surely, the dedication and hard work of countless volunteers transformed what once seemed like an endless project into a place with purpose, warmth, and community.

Today, we celebrate what was accomplished with approximately $4,000, countless volunteer hours, and an abundance of love.

In more recent years, the cottage was removed, and the Girl Scouts have continued to gather and grow through the use of other facilities across the St. Rose campus. As we look toward the future through our Capital Campaign, we invite you to consider making a donation to help support the continued growth and sustainability of our Scout programs and provide opportunities for future generations of youth at St. Rose of Lima. Interested in learning more about the Girl Scout program at St. Rose of Lima or becoming involved?

We would love to hear from you. Please contact us at:

girlscouts@stroselima.org