Dagblad Tubantia, 21 September 1959
On Saturday afternoon, the scouts in Aalten were presented with their own brand-new clubhouse. This marked the end of a years-long struggle by this guild to obtain its own modest yet solid accommodation.
The Aalten scouts have known various premises, but most were ‘hovels’ that after some time were only fit for demolition, with the result that this branch of youth work was repeatedly ‘out on the street’. However, the girls and boys in the familiar uniform did not lose heart. Their work continued with determination, ultimately resulting in them being able to move into their own home, thanks to the cooperation of many.
The road was not a bed of roses
Half hidden in the Veldhuisbosje on Haartsestraat stands a small building that many a youth club would be envious of. However, that the road to the completion of the clubhouse was not always a bed of roses was made abundantly clear in the opening speech by the chairman of the foundation board, Mr B. Garretsen.
Many difficulties had to be overcome, but, as Mr Garretsen put it, is this not the case with all buildings established through private initiative? It would have been a terrible shame, the chairman continued, if we could not have provided accommodation for these 80 boys and girls, because without this building, the entire scouting movement of the N.P.V. and N.P.G. in Aalten would have had to be disbanded.
So something had to be done, and something was done. The building is there, it looks neat, but much is still missing, such as water and light, while the interior painting also leaves much to be desired. However, the board takes the view that they must first get out of debt before further work is carried out. As the building stands now, it has cost ƒ7,000. An appeal will therefore be made to several wallets.
Cooperation of many
Among the many pleasant things, Mr Garretsen mentioned the cooperation of the local council. He thanked them for making the site available and for the sum of ƒ2,500. He also expressed his gratitude to the director of the Christian Technical School in Aalten, Mr S.J. v.d. Oever, who designed the building and had it constructed by teachers Schuijtemaker and v.d. Woestijne with a number of 15-year-old pupils.
With the handing over of the keys to Scoutmaster W. Prinsen, Mr Garretsen finally transferred the building to the scouts. After this, various speakers took the floor. Mayor E.S. van Veen, who was present with both aldermen, offered congratulations on behalf of the local council, Mrs Hartsuiker on behalf of the headquarters of the Dutch Girl Guides Guild, District Commander Bosman on behalf of the Winterswijk district, Akela Strating from Borculo, assistant from the headquarters, and further representatives of the Aalten clergy. Also present were scout groups from surrounding municipalities such as Doetinchem, Neede, Ruurlo, Varsseveld, Eibergen, etc. The Enschede Scout Marching Band provided the musical accompaniment and performed a tattoo on the Market Square on Saturday evening.
It should also be mentioned that the official opening ceremony was performed by Mayor E.S. van Veen. For this purpose, the ‘Burchtlanciers’, as the Aalten group is called, had built a drawbridge in front of the building. After it was lowered, Mr van Veen and the numerous guests crossed the bridge to the building.