The Final Destruction of Rye’s Durland Scout Center

Both of my sons went to sailing camp there. It was a wonderful experience for both of them. I do not think though that Rye should have “stepped up” and bought it with money it doesn’t have. I don’t think Rye should have bought the Byrd house either. Wonderful memories yes. If Rye buys every bit of property because someone has great memories we would be bankrupt!

The cash endowment Mrs. Durland left behind was waay more than enough to see the center thru thick and thin if only managed with average intelligence and honesty.

The bad guys here are the Boy Scouts – their administrative machinations would make a Bernie Madoff proud. May they rot in Hell.

Thank you Durland Family – you did much good for Rye and young people throughout the area for a very long time. We will not forget.

How Very Sad!
I spent many years in Durland as a Boy Scout.
Took part in many swim meets.

We were taught how to Canoe in the Durland Pool.

Looked forward to going there every week.
It was our own little YMCA!

May the people responsible for the Durland demise never be forgiven!

While I understand people’s disappointment with the loss of the Durland asset, the homes to be built on the land will provide meaningful (in comparison to a Rye Gate house, or homes in other neighborhoods with older housing stock) tax revenue to the City and School District at a time when everyone, including individual homeowners/taxpayers, need the revenue. Once designated as tax-exempt, it is unusual for parcels like Durland to be returned to the tax rolls. Usually it is the opposite (Byrd Homestead).

MY FATHER WAS THE GROUNDS KEEPER THERE FOR MANY YEARS,HE HAD TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE FUNDS SET ASIDE BY MRS. DURLAND FOR MANY YEARS. WE HAVE MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF OUR TIME SPENT IN HIS APARTMENT THERE,MY SON REMEMBERS SWIMMING IN GRANDPA’S BIG POOL!!!
MY FATHER TOOK SPECIAL CARE OF EVERYTHING THERE.IT IS SAD.

its not good.

It was such a wonderful facility! I don’t know the history of it or the Durlands, but I do have great memories of taking summer sailing lessons there during the mid ’70s. Great friends, fun times sailing out to the sound.

I remember going there during the summer when they had a sumer day camp. I also recall the Ham radio shack, Buster Crabbe, I learned all the aquatic merit badges (except sailing) there as well as Scuba Diving. I helped out with the swim meets, taught swimming and life saving with Mike Mariani. My brother was the care taker for a short while there. I piece of my heart was torn out when I saw the picture. I remember the motto “Let good use justify what good will has provided” that was posted on everything.

Nice memory Mike – very much like mine, especially the part about Buster Crabbe and the SCUBA program.

I think I’m going to Google up those cretins at the Boy Scouts and see where they are today. Maybe some payback can be delivered for the fraud perpetrated on future generations of kids of Westchester County.

The head of the Boy Scouts during the time of the mass sales of property, has left NY and gone to Jacksonville Florida.

While growing up on the Milton Point, remember well the construction of Durland. My brother Michael, an Eagle, aquatic expert would have shamed the BSA actions. Time offers some unfortunate change however memories can never be ceased nor changed. I’ll always cite Buster in his Cobra car, and I’d sit with him at Artie’s, enjoy a soda jerk. Yes, remember well when sailing started at Durland (Sea Scouts) while I sailed in the harbor learning alone in my Cape Cod dink, the launch hung off stern to our family vessel an Egg Harbor named “Wheel.” Bless that Buster Crabbe in befriending to me.

Amen. Buster was terrific.

My son learned to swim at Durland (Aqua Tot’s) long after Buster taught us there. And now he’s out at Buster’s alma mater USC but is no longer swimming competitively.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Crabbe

I learned how to swim with Buster!
Was a wonderful experience and a great location!
To bad it’s gone!!