Post#1
History 
When
Providence Post No. 1 opened its office it was the first organization of the
Legion. 3012 veterans registered to join, 1542 actually paid their dues and
then Providence Post ?'o. 1 was under way.
On
Probably no Legion Post was ever organized with so many
distinguished
men as
signers of the charter than Providence Post No. 1. They are as
follows:
Alexander
E. Johnson
James
H. Littlefield
G.
Edward Buxton Jr.
Fred
B. Thurber
Raymond
S. Weeden
Joseph
O. San Souci
Rush
Sturgis
Charles F. Tillingast
Albert I. Russell
Gerald T. Fanley
Herbert R. Dean
Harold F. Barker
Thomas Francis Dailey
John F. Kiernan
The first commander was Col. C. Edward
Buxton. As organizing Commander his name does not appear on the charter
application. This honor was reserved for T. Dawson Brown. His organization
consisted of Percy J. Cantwell as adjutant, Fred B. Thurber treasurer, Earl L.
Cooney, Service Officer, John F. Kiernan employment officer, Rev. Leonard C.
Harris chaplain, Charles Y. Muggins Athletic Officer. There were no Vice
Commanders and no historian. It was not until later that a full compliment of
officers was established. The first meetings of the Post were held in a
Fire Station situated where the Post Office Annex is now located. The Post soon
moved to the Elks Home on
Harry Freeman
Post Historian 1973-1974
A letter sent to all new Post#1 members during the
1970’s-1980’s
THE AMERICAN LEGION
DEPARTMENT OF

Recently, ________________ sent me a memo requesting that I forward to you, an application to join Providence Post One, The American Legion, Department of R.I..
It is enclosed herewith. It is also necessary that I inspect your discharge papers, namely, WD Form 55, War Dept Form 53-55 with WD Form 100, NAVBURPERS FORM, DD FORM 214, DA Form 356 or whatever other type of discharge or release order you were furnished. It isn't that we do not trust our comrades but it is required that I certify personally, that you are qualified to join the American Legion, thus I must see the documents that you were released from service under.
Providence Post
Number One (not to be confused with Providence Business Men's Post) meets 10
months during each year. We do not meet during the months of July and August. Thus: SEPT, OCT, DEC,JAN, FEB, MAR, MAY and JUN are months of
Regular Dinner Meetings. We dine first, then have our
monthly Post Business Meeting after Dinner. We meet at various First Class
Restaurants in RI and/or nearby
We generally have a short remembrance service on 11 November in memory of our departed Comrades followed by a Hot & Cold Buffet. This is followed by a Cocktail and Social hour (or two) Post Members Ladies are always included in this affair.
We also hold what we refer to as "Ladies Night" during April. This consists of a Sit down Dinner followed by an Evening of Dancing (or gabbing if you prefer) Providence Post One picks up the tab for each Comrades Ladies Dinner. Drinks are on each comrade.
Both of the above get-togethers are usually very well attended and enjoyed. The eight dinner-business meetings are usually attended by about 5O to 60 percent of Post Comrades. The bulk of the balance of the membership is homebound, in Nursing Homes or live in distant States which precludes their attendance as a rule.
At present we have on board ___ members. This includes
Members (both Male & Female) from World War 1 (we still have eight of the
original group that helped form The American Legion in
Providence Post
No One no longer has a Post Auxiliary Unit. It died out over the years.
Likewise we operated an American Legion Boy's Camp called "HAPPYLAND"
at
The Dividends from this Trust cover the main operating expenses of Post One. Members are requested to donate a small sum at each Dinner Meeting to help defray the cost of the meal. The Token Fee or Donation at present is $2.00 basically; the above is a brief summary of Providence Poet One's Operations, At present annual dues is $10.00 a year of which Post One gets .75 per year.
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HOWARD B WEBSTER
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