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 June 23, 1919 fifteen men received a charter for Post No. l. On June 30, 1919 and only seven days after, Providence Post was organized. This was followed soon after when West Warwick was granted the charter as Post No. 2.

 

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

Everett S. Chaffee

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 Washington Street. By this time the membership had reached almost 2000. Many hot debates issued here. Percy Cantwell and Henry Samson seemed to enjoy these heated sessions and seemed to keep the renegades in line. This, the formative period of the Post soon weeded out the chaff, and from the original group evolved an orderly progressive organization. The following list of Commanders represent some of the leading figures in Rhode Island:

 

 

Harry Freeman Post Historian 1973-1974

 

 

 

 

 

A letter sent to all new Post#1 members  during the 1970’s-1980’s

 

PROVIDENCE POST No. 1

THE AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT OF RHODE ISLAND

 

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 Mass. They usually are ever by 9:30 or 10:00 P.M. unless some subject is debated rather hotly, then a meeting lasts a bit longer.

 

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 Paris France) and Providence RI in 1919. We also have members who were in World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet-Nam Brawl. I am glad that I wasn't the Post Adjutant in 1919 and 1920 when Prov Post One had over 2000 members and had to hold their meetings in the Elk's Auditorium on Washington Street in Providence. They must have had the poor guy climbing the walls.

 

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 Camp Avenue on Quonset Point until the US Government took it to build Quonset Point Naval Air Station. About that time we also disposed of our Post Home on Thomas Street in Providence next door to the RI Historical Society building. Therefore, no more building operating and maintenance expenses, bar license and expenses, etc. The Post is supported by a trust set up by Albert Henius, a Telephone Company Engineer who set up the fund in honor of his son Cyril Henius who was a Lieutenant in the Army who was killed shortly after arriving in France with the AEF.

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.

 

HOWARD B WEBSTER