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HAMILTON — In 1912, Col. J.R. Robertson started organizing the first Boy Scout troop in Hamilton. He moved away for a while shortly after that, so it really wasn't until 1916 that it really got going, and in 1917 membership increased from 17 boys to 67, enough to form a second troop and move meetings from Robertson's home to the YMCA in Hamilton.

There have been a few name changes through the years, but that's the origin of the Fort Hamilton District of the Boy Scouts of America.

Although Larry Timmer attended a few Scout functions when he was a child, he never got really involved until his two sons — and daughters — became members.

And Timmer began collecting things when he saw the interest there was in badges and other Scout memorabilia.

"My boys had four suitcases full of patches and started trading them off," he said. "They could take five patches to a Jamboree and come back with 100."

At one Scouting event in Indianapolis, he discovered a group photo from 1937 of the Scouts in the Fort Hamilton and Middletown districts and realized the historical significance of his collection.

Timmer now has over 30 uniforms (some dating back to the 1920s), eight large three-ring binders filled with historical accounts and newspaper clippings, and innumerable badges, patches, pins, buttons, books and hand-carved neckerchief slides.

He takes his "traveling museum" to Scout functions all over the area, but for two days, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22 and 23, the public can explore the history of Scouting in Butler County as a portion of Timmer's collection will be on display at Heritage Hall.

Timmer said that he will be there as much as he can during the exhibition to answer questions and help people explore the collection.

How to go

WHAT: Fort Hamilton District Boy Scouts of America Traveling History Museum

WHERE: Heritage Hall, 20 High St., Hamilton

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22 and Aug. 23

COST: No charge

MORE INFO: (513) 737-5958.