ERWIN AMERICAN LEGION HARTLAND POST #241
The Erwin American Legion, Hartland Post #241 was organized in the I.O.O.F. Hall and received their national charter December 4, 1928, with the following sixteen listed as charter members; C.A. Anderson, Arnold Brown, John Johannesen, Joe Martin, Laurence Brown, Julius Noem, Alfred L. Sorenson, Louis G. Hoffman, Edwin T. Walseth, Fred Jones, Elmer Lundquist, Bernard J. Doyle, Chas. W. Baker, F.L. Shannon, Fred W. Johnson, Oliver H. Brown, and James Goldseth. It is believed that Fred Jones was the first Commander of the Post, the early minute books cannot be found.

The Legion Post had no permanent home for the first few years and held their meetings in the I.O.O.F. Hall or in the church basement when the Hall was occupied. In July 1933, they purchased the Steve Moore house. They used this as Post Home until about 1946 when they moved to the old I.O.O.F. Hall. On December 31, 1949, the Post was incorporated, and at that time had a membership of 42.
At the first meeting of the members and officers of the incorporation, they purchased the old bank building at the east end of Main Street. In 1950, they remodeled it for their Post Home. In the fall of 1978, the Legion Post with the help of the Auxiliary and the people of the Community, purchased the Garfield Church Fellowship Hall and moved it to town for the Post Home we presently use. Besides being used for Legion and Auxiliary activities, the building is somewhat of a community center, being used by organizations and individuals for meetings, showers, picnics, family reunions, receptions, etc.
The Post has been active in many Legion activities including: Boy’s State, Junior Legion Baseball, Jr. Baseball, School Awards, Memorial and Veteran’s Day Programs, decorating former members’ graves on Memorial Day, treats for children at Christmas, and supporting the Crippled Children’s School and Hospital at Sioux Falls. They have also been active in the County Legion Organization
At the time of our incorporation, our members were all from World War I and World War II. Now, we have no World War I or World War II members left in our Post.
The main source of income over the years has been the annual poultry parties, raffles, pancake and sausage feeds, and turkey dinners at the opening Sunday of pheasant season. When rabbits were plentiful in the area, we had several rabbit hunts.

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