Post 62 Club History

The American Legion was founded in Paris March 15-17, 1919, at the first caucus by members of the American Expeditionary Force. It was chartered by Congress on September 16, 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. 

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., a Colonel in the A.E.F., had suggested a meeting of officers to study veterans problems and make recommendations for their welfare. A constitution was drawn and adopted in the old Parisian playhouse, Cirque de Paris on March 15, 1919. In May, a caucus was held in St. Louis, Mo. And the American Legion officially got under way. Present at this meeting was Ben M. Segal from Chillicothe.

The first meeting of record in connection with the organization of the Ross County Post of the American Legion was held in City Hall on Monday, July 14, 1919. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Austin P. Story who had served with the American forces in Italy.. Mr. Story was elected temporary chairman and Mr. Ben M. Segal was named temporary secretary, and the meeting proceeded. Mr. Story called for a name for the proposed post and Secretary Segal suggested the Ross County Post. The suggestion was passed unanimously. 

Chairman Story explained the purpose of the organization and Secretary Segal related the proceedings of the St. Louis caucus. He pointed out that the organization would assist members in adjusting allotments, compensation, Liberty loan bonds, insurance back pay, bonus affairs, etc. A three man committee consisting of Granville H. Purdum, Howard Laymon and Segal drafted a constitution and by laws. A letter of explanation was sent to all ex-servicemen in Chillicothe and surrounding communities.

The next recorded meeting was at City Hall, September 4, 1919 where the constitution and bylaws were approved but the election of officers was postponed due to the small number in attendance. On September 26, the anniversary of the Argonne drive, the first permanent officers were elected: Commander, Austin P. Story; Vice Commander, Rufus E. Wiseman; Adjutant, Ben M. Segal; Finance Officer, S. K. Day; Historian, T.M. Cahill;, Chaplain, Clarence B. Rais; Surgeon, Dr. David A. Perrin; Sergeant at Arms, Harry A. Schrader; Color Sergeants, Nelson McQuillen and Raymond A. Griesheimer; Chief Musician, Walter Johnson. Members of the Executive Committee were: Dr. H.R. Brown, Robert Herron, Charles E. Vincent, Walter Johnson, George E. Benson, and Stanley Lutz. Dr. H.R. Brown was elected the first post delegate to the state convention and Mr. A.I. Cahill was chosen as alternate.

The club immediately became involved in the community and solicited the support not only of ex-servicemen but also of other groups in the community. At the September 4 meeting, a committee had been named to meet with representatives of local military organizations regarding the erection of a Memorial Hall to honor veterans who had sacrificed their lives. In 1920, the post lent its support to a local boxing club. It also became involved in educational and civic affairs, endorsing additional millage for school and city purposes.

In 1920, the post moved its meeting place to the Chillicothe Athletic Club and impetus was given to forming a Ladies Auxiliary. At this time it was also suggested that the post organize a branch of the “40 Hommes and 8 Cheveaux.” In 1922, the matter of purchasing a post home was broached. In August 1925, the American Legion state convention was held in Chillicothe with thousands of ex-servicemen and their families as visitors. 

As time went progressed, the post took on new duties and new service committees were added. Aid was not only extended to worthy distressed veterans, but also to widows, orphans, and other, sometimes unique, cases. One such case was an authorization to a veteran for “to purchase and charge to the Legion $8.00 worth of feed for his horse.” Funds were raised for a soldiers monument which was placed on West Main Street near the Colonel Enderlin Welfare House and later moved to Yoctangee Park and placed in front of the Memorial Armory. Ironically, in 2002 as part of local Bicentennial preparations, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 62 donated the funds to restore the soldier’s monument and the statue of Colonel Enderlin and relocate them from the Armory to a more prominent and visible location at the head of the park.

Over the years, the Legion’s meeting place varied. After starting at City Hall, it had moved to the Athletic club and later to the Chamber of Commerce and East Main Street Armory, Eagles Hall, Nipgen Block, and the Memorial Armory in Yoctangee Park. On April 22, 1937, the Legion closed a contract for purchase of the Goldsberry home on West Main Street, which was remodeled to include club-room features, quarters for Legion and community gatherings and to provide “a place where members of the legion and their families may enjoy a homelike atmosphere with plenty of hospitality thrown in for good measure.” The post has remained at 53 West Main Street ever since. In the 1970s, the old home was replaced by a totally new structure and in 1993, that facility underwent significant remodeling, including handicap accessibility to the second floor.

Ross County Post 62 is proud of its long legacy of community involvement, a tradition that continues to be strong today. Youth Leadership is promoted annually through Buckeye Boys State and Girls State programs, Americanism and Government Exams, Oratorical Contests and 8th Grade Awards. Investment in America’s future is made through the awarding of multiple college scholarships to area high school seniors while the 40 et 8 continues its historical presence in Yoctangee Park to raise funds for nursing scholarships. Patriotism is promoted through Post 62’s award-winning Color Guard, Sons of the Legion and Junior Auxiliary programs. Youth activities include American Legion Baseball, youth league baseball and softball, shooting and gun safety programs. Post 62 annually supports area law enforcement through donations to the D.A.R.E program as well as community agencies such as the Good Samaritan Food Network, Head Start, Pioneer School, etc.

Nationally, the American Legion continues to be a strong community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.

If you have an honorable discharge or separation showing a period of active military service during any one of the following periods, you are eligible to belong: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918; December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946; June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955; February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975; August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984; December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990; plus Desert Storm dates August 2, 1990 to cessation of hostilities.

American Legion #62 
53 W. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
772-1929