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Eagle Scout Spends Spring Break Contributing to Southern Museum

KENNESAW, Ga. – Instead of heading for the beach, Kell High School sophomore Jordan Lolley spent his spring break building benches for the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, as part of an Eagle Scout project.

“My parents work in downtown Kennesaw, and I would see (Museum Lead Interpreter) Harper Harris outside giving weapons demonstrations to kids during field trips. They were always sitting on the grass, and I thought it would be nice for them to have benches to sit on,” Lolley, a Kennesaw resident, explained.

The five new benches were dedicated April 15 in a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Kennesaw Mayor Leonard Church, Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney, City Manager Steve Kennedy, Lolley, and several waitresses from Hooter’s, one of the financial sponsors of the project.

Lolley spent nearly a week on the project, preparing the wood, assembling the benches, then installing them at the Museum. He had some help from his parents, Bill and Brenda Borden, Scoutmaster Bill Wrye, and fellow scouts Herman Owens, Zach Smith, and Carter Kees. Several local businesses contributed money or supplies to the project, including Hooter’s; Raymond D. Rhoades, CPA; Threads for the South; Jasper Lumber; and, Wally Zimmerman of Crashmasters, Inc.

“We really appreciate all the hard work Jordan put in,” Drobney said. “He’s an amazing kid – he raised all the money himself, then built and installed the benches for us. Now kids will have someplace to sit during the outdoor portion of their field trip.”

Lolley is a member of Eagle Scout Troop 422 of the Mountain Lake District of the Atlanta Area Council.

The Museum is 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273, Wade Green Road. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org for more information.