Bicentennial Honoree
Known as “Miss Cricket” by several generations of Girl Scouts, Miss Beardsley acquired her love of nature from her parents, being a “boy scout” when her father established a troop. She spent many years teaching scouts the beauties of nature. In 1972, The Hortense Beardsley Nature Trail was dedicated at Camp Jesse Mae Fageol. She first became active in Girl Scouts as a teacher at the old Highland School and remained active for over 40 years. She took care of the nature programs at area Girl Scout camps for 10 years. Also an avid local historian, she collaborated on many local history topics for publication at the Portage County Historical Society. She believed in the preservation of history for future generations and to that end lent her expertise to the historical society instilling in many residents the love of history.