History of The Elburn American Legion Post 630
Groundbreaking - April 30th 1949
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Elburn Community Memorial Center took place on April 30, 1949, 29 years to the day of the organization of the Elburn Post. After a prayer by Wesley Weston, Legion chaplain, Fred Johansen, outgoing President of the Village Board of Trustees, as one of his last official acts, turned the first spade of dirt signaling the beginning of excavation operations. A bulldozer began working that very afternoon.
Building - June 11th 1949
It was originally hoped that the drive would be completed by Memorial Day when cornerstone ceremonies were planned, but neither the work on the building nor the fundraising efforts had progressed to the point where that was possible. Drainage issues at the site and inclement weather hampered construction efforts
The first blocks were laid on June 11 and the fund-raising campaign continued throughout the summer. It was extended until Elburn days on Sept 11 that year in the hopes that homecoming visitors would also contribute to the effort. By the end of the campaign in the fall, nearly $7000 was raised. Work was put on hold during the winter months, and was further delayed in the spring by the inability to secure the necessary steel. Trucks from the Horn Steel Structural company of Geneva finally delivered the first steel beams in the beginning of November of 1950. Despite the diligent effort of legion and community members, the laying of the steel decking for the first floor was not completed until May of the following year, and the concrete floor was poured the following month, in June of 1950, with the generous assistance of cement workers of Local 16 in Aurora.
Despite numerous delays and setbacks, the work on the Memorial Center brought a great spirit of cooperation and unity to the community as so many pulled together to bring the project to fruition. Nearly all the work was done by Legion members and other volunteer workmen as a reflection of their effort to “give expression to the community’s desire to honor its veterans” (EH 6-28-51). Work parties were organized on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as some weekday evenings. Masonry services were donated by tradesmen of the William Hedlund Masonry contracting firm of Aurora. Legion Auxiliary members served coffee and donuts to workers and George Herra donated soft drinks.
By the summer of 1952, Legion Commander James Rowe, and Harvey Hoyt, Finance Officer, were heading up the final drive for funds to complete the building as well as for volunteers to work weekday evenings as the push was made to ready two of the rooms on the main floor for occupancy by the Kaneland school district in time for the school year beginning Sept 1. Plumbing, heating, electrical were finished and the roof was completed in early July . The rubber tile on the first floor was installed in the middle of August.. Although there were still some finish work to be done, the building was now ready to be used by the community
First Meeting - August 20th , 1952
On Wednesday, August 20, 1952, the first meeting of the Legion and the Legion Auxiliary (which normally met in the homes of its members) was held in the Community and Memorial Center where installation of new officers for both organizations took place. Stanley Chaon was installed as the new Commander, Wesley Weston as Senior Vice Commander, and William Rooney as Junior Vice Commander. Harvey Hoyt continued his service as Finance Officer with Joseph Radovich serving as Judge Advocate, Grover Petrie as Adjutant, Keller Nickels as Sergeant-At-Arms and Harvey Hoback to serve as Chaplain. Mrs. Almer Gliddon was installed as President of the Legion Auxiliary. Also at that meeting, August Chaon was given an honorary life membership in recognition of the many hours of service given in the construction of the building. Though not a veteran himself, August, a mason by profession, provided invaluable assistance as he devoted countless hours to the building’s construction.
Open House
Over 350 people attended the open house held at the memorial building on Nov 11, 1952. The focal point was the large plaque at the entrance to the building designed by Turner Brass company of Sycamore (EH 10-12-49) with the names of Elburn men who lost their lives in both World Wars. Those so honored include Jay M. Griffith, Fred W. Pattee and Daniel W. Simpson (WWI) and Emerit Lee Hughes, William S. Johnson, Robert L. Motz, Kenneth M. Sears, and Gideon W. Warne (WWII). Mrs. Ida Key and Mrs. Ethel Wolf, first grade teachers whose classes met in the building, were on hand to show visitors the classrooms. Refreshments were served in the basement and the Legion Auxiliary sponsored a sale of articles made by veterans (EH 11-11-52).
It did not take long for the building to become an integral part of community life and a popular gathering place. Even before the basement room was finished it hosted community activities. Pool tables donated by Kane County Title became popular with youth during the after-school hours. The Elburn public library made its home there in the early part of 1953 (EH 12-11-52).
Dedication of the building
The Community Memorial Center was officially dedicated the following year, on Armistice Day, Wednesday, November 11, 1953 in a program broadcast by radio station WMRO-Aurora and attended by nearly one thousand Elburn residents. The event was presided over by Master of Ceremonies, C. V. Amenoff, former National Commander of the American Legion, with a dedicatory address by Hon. Edward A Hayes, former National Commander of the American Legion and an assistant to Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy during WWII. There were also remarks by Post 630’s Legion Commander, Westley Weston, Mrs. Winnafred Meredith of the Legion Auxiliary, Harry L. Johnson, Village president, and both the county Legion Commander and Adjutant (event program).
The highlight of the dedication was a stirring ceremony wherein family members of the deceased war veterans were invited to light the torch above the names of their loved ones on the memorial dedicated to “The Dead of all Wars” and bearing the inscription, “The Torch they proudly carried high, shall ever brighten Freedom’s Sky.” The central torch was lit by member of the Women’s Relief Corps, Mrs. Alice Wood. Reverend Charles Hill, Legion Chaplain, read the dedicatory prayer as organist, Mrs. Leslie Westlake, played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The program concluded with a reading of the poem “In Flanders Field” by Ruth Wilyard, a firing tribute by the Elburn Legion firing squad, and the playing of Taps by Paul Morris. After the benediction, the Elburn fire whistle was sounded for one minute by Fire Chief W.E. Morriss as a tribute.
The night previous, over two hundred attended a pre-dedication dinner at the hall. Past Commanders of Post 630 were called upon to talk about their efforts during the construction of the building. Among those who spoke were Stanley Henderson, Scott Anderson, James Rowe, Stanley Chaon, and the chairman of the evening’s program, Earl Wilkson. The program for the evening’s entertainment included acrobatics, tap dances and a group of variety numbers. The high school orchestra performed harmonica selections and Paul and Robert Gee delighted the audience with numbers on the piano and guitar. The meeting closed with the group singing “God Bless America” (EH 11-11-53).
Coming Soon = History of Kill Roy
