Post 45, American Legion, was founded September 18, 1919, two days after Congress granted a charter to the national Legion organization. For several years, it occupied the COE home on East Main Street, and remained at that location until 1923, when the property was sold to become the site of the Masonic Temple. The W. G. Warnock property at 212 Colony Street was purchased, and continued to serve as the post’s headquarters until 1946, when Legionnaires decided that it would be inadvisable to remodel it, and it was sold to provide new headquarters for the Meriden Public Health and Visiting Nurse Association. Temporarily, the Legion established quarters in the Winthrop Hotel while plans for the new home were discussed.
Several proposals were being considered and rejected before Marchand C. Blatchley, post commander at the time, announced on July 19, 1950 the signing of contracts for a Legion Home on property acquired at the former site of Hanover Park in South Meriden, which was rechristened Legion Park. The building was designed by Lorenzo Hamilton, architect, and was planned to furnish modern accommodations for all Legion Activities.
The new home in Legion Park was dedicated May 10, 1951 with appropriate ceremonies. Since then, it has been the scene of many events of the active Legion program. It is used also by the Legion Auxiliary, which was founded about a year after the post was established and the Sons of the American Legion.
