Eagle Scout installs High Street benches in time for Rain Day
Courtesy of Melissa Adams
One of the benches installed along High Street in Waynesburg
Courtesy of Melissa Adams
Waynesburg Boy Scout Troop 1280 members work on installing a bench on High Street in Waynesburg Sunday, as part of Paul Adams’ Eagle Scout project.
Courtesy of Melissa Adams
At left, Paul Adams, 16, of Sycamore, sits with other members of Boy Scout Troop 1280 on a bench they installed Sunday on High Street in Waynesburg as part of his Eagle Scout project.
A Sycamore teen has finished up his final Eagle Scout project in Waynesburg just in time for Rain Day, a goal he’s been working toward since December.
In Sunday’s heat, Paul Adams, 16, with help from his family and members of Boy Scout Troop 1280, installed four metal benches along High Street. He went to borough council in January to get permission to install the benches.
“It was for community events and for people to get together,” Paul said.
One bench is outside the borough police station, two are near the parking lot across the street from Don Patron’s Restaurant and one is near Fischer Antiques.
Paul’s mother, Melissa Adams, said her son’s goal was to get the benches installed before Rain Day, July 29, because his troop serves as “rain watchers.”
“They camp out and watch for rain all night,” she said.
Melissa said that during last year’s Christmas parade on High Street, her family forgot to bring chairs, so they had to stand. She said many people sat along the courthouse wall.
“They do a lot of parades, and High Street is kind of the focal point of Waynesburg,” she said. “I had mentioned to Paul that they really need to get some seating up here.”
That’s when Paul decided what his final Boy Scout project should be. He worked with the borough on the location of the benches and sought funding from the community. He said he negotiated a price of $400 per bench from Lowe’s, then got sponsorships from First Federal bank, the Waynesburg VFW Post, Fischer Antiques and Taylor Miller of Waynesburg.
Paul said each bench has a plaque on it, recognizing his troop and the sponsors.
“When I ride on the bus to go home, I get to see every single one of them,” Paul said. “And during Rain Day and other events, I’ll get to sit down on one of them and say ‘I built this.’ I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I put a lasting mark on this community.”
Melissa said she thought her son’s project was a great idea and that she’s proud of him.
“It was hot yesterday getting those benches put in,” she said Monday. “A lot of people don’t see Eagle Scout projects because they’re not always meant to be a focal point of the community, but this will shine more of a light on what Eagle Scouts do.”