Greensburg ? When most of this town was destroyed by a tornado, the quality of life vanished, also.

Tom Corns, however, sees that trait returning, even visible in buildings like the new Scout Cabin, which has replaced the more than 70-year-old structure demolished in the May 4, 2007, storm.

The Scouting program has a long history in this community, evidenced by the fact that it has produced more than 80 Eagle Scouts since the program originated in Greensburg in 1935. That same year, a very rustic cabin was built for meetings of Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies.

Leveled by the tornado, all that was salvageable was some cooking equipment. Luckily for the local organization, benefactor Charles Phillips had left the organization a sizable amount of money back in the 1970s, said Corns, an Eagle Scout and president of Greensburg State Bank.

“That money was invested and grew,” Corns said, explaining that those funds went toward construction of the new cabin. “That’s exactly what he would have wanted to spend it on.”

The new structure will also serve as a community center, with a meeting room that could seat up to 80 people, a complete kitchen, office and fireplace.

“It’s not luxurious by any means,” Corns said. “But it will be good for the Scouting program and a lot better than they had before the tornado.”

Like most the new buildings in this community, it will be structurally sound and energy-efficient. While it doesn’t have a basement, the bathrooms are tornado-proof and will be used as shelter when necessary.

Scouting isn’t as popular in Greensburg as it once was but Corns is hopeful, with the new cabin, they can begin to resurrect the program that had been so integral to the community back in the 1950s. He’s also hopeful that Girl Scouts and Brownies will become more active.