Housatonic Council to recognize Bassett family's generosity

Dedication of W.E. Bassett Shower House slated at Boy Scout camp

The Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America, will recognize the generous contribution of the William E. Bassett Family at the dedication of the W.E. Bassett Shower House at 11 a.m. June 9 at Camp Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation, 278 West Side Road, Goshen. Luncheon will be served.

The current shower house was constructed in 1962 with a donation from the Bassett family. The shower house was built to Boy Scout standards at the time, a time when “gang showers” were the norm and the Scouting program stressed “roughing it.” The shower house has served Scouting well for 50 years.

In keeping with changing society expectations, the new shower house features eight showers with private stalls, two lavatories, and one handicapped-accessible restroom offering a shower and a lavatory. In addition, a new septic system complies with local health codes and exemplifies environmentally responsible construction. The privacy afforded by the new shower house makes the camp appeal strongly to co-ed groups, including schools and church groups.

Owned and operated by the Housatonic Council, and located in the foothills of Litchfield County, Strang Scout Reservation's 187 acres of forest, fields, and streams provide an excellent backdrop to an exciting program. The Camp, now in its 51st season, has been a training ground for many Scouts who later grew to be leaders in the community. The Camp serves hundreds of boys and young adults from the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 

William Bassett is chairman of the board of W.E. Bassett Co., a family-owned business, founded in 1939 in Derby.  An active business and community leader, Bassett is chairman of the board of Birmingham Group Health Services, a founding member of the Valley Community Foundation, board member of Latex International of Shelton, a founding member of MAC Casualty as well as a founding member and past chairman of the Manufacturing Alliance of Connecticut.

“Bill Bassett is an outstanding leader not only in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, but also throughout the State of Connecticut,” said Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Chair of the Building Committee.  Other committee members included Dr. Gregory Egnaczyk, Royal Wells, and William McDonnell.  

The total cost of the project was $300,000.  Along with a significant contribution from the Bassett family, the Housatonic Council received major funding from the Katharine Matthies Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Bruce N. Griffing Trust, and numerous friends of the Housatonic Council.  The Council is grateful to the Fletcher Thompson Architecture and Engineering Firm, headquartered in Shelton, for their donation of the architectural design and engineering documents of the shower house.

The Primrose Construction Co. of Bridgeport was the general contractor.  President and CEO John N. Guedes was instrumental in getting the project completed and within budget.

Organized in 1920, the Housatonic Council serves the communities of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
For information, contact: Kevin Bishop, Scout Executive, 203-734-3329 ext 304, kevin.bishop@scouting.org.

The above release was contributed by Shelton resident Bob Hilliard, representing the 
Housatonic Council, BSA.