American Legion Post 1 – Winfield Kansas
Organization and naming of Post 1
The men of the 35th and 8th Divisions during the “Great War”( WWI) was composed of men from the Winfield, Kansas area. In the early days of this War, several of these brave souls were killed in action, fighting to preserve our freedom.
On returning to Winfield at the end of hostilities, some of these remaining men decided to organize a local American Legion post, patterned after the national organization. They met in July, 1919, only four months after the formation of the National Organization held in Paris, France, with about a dozen interested Veterans in attendance at this organizational meeting. This is when a few soldiers informally formed the Winfield Post.
It turned out that there were 25 men listed on the original charter, which was issued on august 13, 1919.
After much consideration regarding the selection of a name for their newly chartered post these charter members decided it would not be proper to name the new post in honor of any one certain person, since several of their comrades from their home town division lost their lives on the battle fields, it was determined the best way to honor each and every one of these men, was to name the post after their home town - WINFIELD AMERICAN LEGION POST #1, since it was the first post to be chartered in the state of Kansas. Elected to serve as the first commander was Colonel John H. O’Conner, who was in attendance at the Paris caucus for the formation of the American Legion.
The local post carried this name for just a few years; in later years when a post was organized in Topeka – the the capitol of Kansas – they asked that their post be No. 1, since they were the capitol the state.
With numerous political maneuvers by some of the states' leading politicians, the #1 post title was forfeited to Topeka and the local post became known as the WINFIELD POST #10 of the AMERICAN LEGION, which name has been retained through out the past years.
Due to changing times there have been numerous changes in Post 10 since 1919. These changes have kept Post 10 among the top performing in the state of Kansas.
We have had several homes since the organization in the Chamber of Commerce building, the home for Post 10 for the first meetings.
Finances grew to allow rental of space in the State Bank building, 832 Main in 1921. This was the Post home for until 1927. The next home was space rented in the W. C. Root shoe store, 817 Main, until 1930 only to move to the upstairs of Olds drug store in 1932. Olds drug store was occupied until 1934 when the Post moved to an upper level of the Winfield fire station. This home was only to last for a few months; moving to the north half of the upper story of the Graves Drug building, 905 Main St. In one years time the Post was in a financial state to purchase this area along with the south half of the building.
Disaster strikes February 1940 as a fire starts in the Johnson Variety store located under the Post, spreading through the upper level destroying a large amount of historic artifacts and documents including the photographs of the 18 local soldiers killed in the Great War (WWI). The fire progressed into the south half of the building causing extensive damage to the Bergevin Drug Store and Dr, Falls office.
Still suffering the effects of the depression only $500 was in the Posts reserves. It was decided to form a board of trustees to find ways to invest these funds so a repair of the building could be undertaken. The Post needing to relocate while repairs were under way, the decision to move to a building at 10th and Main. In 1941, after expending $15,000, a move was made back to the remodeled 905 Main location, now sporting a new “Silverdale” stone front. Post 10 was to occupy the entire second floor for the next 28 years. In the 1950s the kitchen enjoyed a modernization, several businesses rented the downstairs to help defray costs of operating the post.
Due to the fact many longtime members were no longer able to negotiate the long flight of stairs to the second floor a “Building Committee” was ordered formed in 1963 to look for a new home for the aging Post.
It was not until 1965 that a suitable location was found for this home and the purchase of 115 E 10th was completed Christmas Eve 1965. After spending $9,000 for the new location an additional $40,000 was spent on the total overhaul of the former dry cleaners. Most of the labor being volunteer the project became affordable. On the weekend of May 20, 1966 a move was made using trucks but mostly by hand carrying the job was finished. 1967 an expansion was approved and May 15, 1968 a 3200 square foot project was started consisting of a new meeting room along with a recreational area.
January 1970 saw the purchase of the adjoining building to the west of the Post financed by building bonds purchased by Legion members.
