Nine members of a family representing three generations have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The first, Jamestown resident Jim Fincher, accomplished the feat in 1957. Submitted photo

Nine members of a family spanning three generations have now earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

For his project, Cole Barber built a covered swing on the northern edge of Werner Park in Russell, Pa. The feat, celebrated May 8 at the park, was made more special in that Barber was the ninth one in his extended family to become an Eagle Scout — the highest achievement recognized in the Boy Scouts.

Jamestown resident Jim Fincher was the first to earn his Eagle Scout rank, an accomplishment reached in 1957. His brother, Richard, attained his rank in 1966. Fincher’s son, Erik, as well as Erik’s three sons — Alex, Zack and Logan — would also go on to become Eagle Scouts.

In addition, two grandsons of Fincher’s sister, Ethan Mitchell and Matthew Keller, earned their Eagle Scout ranks.

And this month, Barber officially became the ninth member in the family to become an Eagle Scout. Barber, the son of Mike and Kim Fincher Barber of Jamestown, was awarded the rank at Werner Park.

“Nine members of the same branch of the family tree earning the Eagle rank is not an every day occurence,” said Fincher, no stranger to the outdoors as the recently retired president of Chautauqua Rails to Trails. “Our congratulations to all the Eagle Scouts.”

Barber represents the last eligible person of his generation and family to earn the award, Fincher said.

To obtain their ranks, Erik Fincher built a hiking trail on the Chautauqua County Extension service land near the Jamestown airport; Logan rehabilitated a trail that wound through the woods in Werner Park for people to easily use; Zack rebuilt an entrance sign and flower bed leading to the town of Pine Grove Park; Ethan Mitchell installed large raised vegetable beds in a community park in Rochester; and Matt Keller built a shed to protect and dry firewood that would be used to boil maple sap into maple syrup in the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, N.Y.

Jim Fincher and his brother did not complete a project as they received their Eagle rank before a project was a requirement.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2.5 million youth.