Neighbors

Grindle Does His Duties: Scout Leader, Fire Chief

Franklin’s Bob Grindle has two major involvements today because, years ago, two people asked him to step forward and take charge.

The first was Jamie Townley, his nephew. The local Boy Scout troop had lapsed, and Townley wanted Grindle to start another and be its leader. That was 1984.

The second was Greg Bunker, Franklin’s former fire chief who retired in 1996. He and his board called on Grindle to replace him.

Grindle’s reply: First, he had to speak to his wife. And second, he would be chief only if Brian Abbott, who had been a dutiful assistant in Scouts ever since the start, would be his deputy.

Years later, he is still enthusiastic in both leadership positions.

When he’s not wearing one hat, he’s wearing the other.

Boy Scouts takes up one evening a week, plus one weekend a month when the troop goes on an overnight camping or hiking adventure.

His Fire Department duties take up all other evenings, when he visits the firehouse for a few hours just to be on hand, if any of the other volunteer firefighters need to see him.

On the county level, he has served as one of the directors of the Hancock County Firefighters Association for three years. He is also the group’s sergeant-at-arms.

Back in Franklin, much of his time goes to the unscheduled fire calls. If it’s not a fire or car accident, it could be a rescue on one of the ponds or on Schoodic Mountain.

Both Scouts and the Fire Department have come to envelop the full Grindle family.

Bob and Becky Grindle’s oldest son, Steve, wasn’t yet old enough when Bob took on Boy Scouts duties in 1984. Becky joined in when Steve was ready for Cub Scouts. He later became an Eagle Scout and now, at 21, is a volunteer firefighter, too.

National Boy Scout statistics show that only two or three boys out of every 100 Scouts actually earn their Eagle Scout rating.

Grindle’s troop has had nine, so far, in 18 years. The Grindles’ youngest son, Billy, is about to become the troop’s 10th Eagle Scout, once his paperwork clears the national office in Texas.

“We could not have had so many Eagle Scouts without the support of many other adults in town,” Grindle said.

He estimates that about 100 Franklin boys have passed through the troop in a meaningful way. There are more who have drifted in and out.

“You don’t quite reach everybody, but you try,” he said. “As long as you reach some of them and it helps them, that’s what makes a difference.

“I enjoy the troop, obviously, because you can see how Scouting has changed some of the lifestyles of the kids. You can see where they came from, and where they have gone from there.”

The troop has had as many as 30 boys involved. There are 10 Scouts currently.

As for the Fire Department, there are currently 26 volunteers. Only about 10 of them, he said, are considered steady, ready for any call.

One of them is Becky Grindle. After years of working with the Ladies’ Auxiliary, she took the training and joined the department about four years ago.

“I finally was able to talk her into it,” Grindle said. “She is in Franklin during the day, and she can get the vehicles to a fire.”

Just as important: “There isn’t a person or place in town that she doesn’t know.”

Becky Grindle’s forefathers were some of Franklin’s earliest settlers. Both Donnell’s Pond and Abrams Pond were named for them. Her mother was a Tracy.

Bob Grindle himself grew up in Ellsworth Falls. He has worked as a mechanic at Morrison Chevrolet for a total of 16 years.

But it’s his volunteer work, rather than his day job, that keeps him involved in Franklin.

“People are sociable in Franklin, not stand-offish. Most of them seem to care about their community, where it’s going and what’s going to happen.

“It’s like one bigger family that’s trying to work together.”