Post 67 Bridgton, Maine

Post 67

Bridgton, Maine

Post 67 Bridgton, Maine

About This Post

Post Namesake

Lopeman-Potts Post 67

 Edward P Lopeman, Pvt, USA, KIA

 Post 67 was established on Nov 4, 1919with 38 chartered members. On November 14, 1919 members took the name Roosevelt Post .  It remained that way until April 27, 1921 when the members all voted unanimously to change the name to Edward Lopeman post, in honor of a local Bridgton boy who was Killed in Action.  Edward Lopeman served with Co D, 103 Inf.. While serving with his unit on the Champagne, he was gassed and sent to the hospital.  After recoving from the German poison gas, Lopeman returned to his unit on July 19, 1918 and was killed in an attack the next day at Chateau-Thierry.  Edward Lopeman son of Mr and Mrs William Lopeman of Bridgton was a one of the most popular boys of the town.  Edward enlisted for border duty in the Second Maine Regiment in June of 1916.  He served along the Mexican border  until Oct 15, 1916 when his regiment returned to Maine.  When America entered the great war, Edward Lopeman again heeded the call , donning the uniform as a private first class on April 13, 1917, one of the very first to enlist in the country and the first from his hometown Bridgton.

William R Potts, Pvt, USMC, MIA

On May 3, 1946 members of the Lopeman Post 67 voted unanimously to add William R Potts to the Lopeman name.  William Potts was the son of Frank R Potts of Kansas Rd, Bridgton, Maine.  Potts was a private in the United States Marine Corp, while serving with the Marine Detachment aboard USS Mallory in the North Atalntic Ocean.  The Ship was torpedoed and Potts was listed as Missing in Action February 7,1943 and later officailly declared Killed in Action February 8, 1944.  William Potts was awarded the Purple Heart and the American Defense Service Medal posthumously.  Pvt Potts' body was never recoved but is remembered at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge England.

 

Notable Members

Upon the establishment of Bridgton's American Legion Post 67 in November 1919 with 38 charter members of honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and Marines veterans from the Great War.  The first elected officers of the post were Commander - Dr. Herbert L Lombard, Vice Commander - Thomas Fitton, Adjutant - Maurice Heath, Finance Officer - Oliver Young, Historian - David Cockburn, Chaplin - Harold Easton, Employment Officer - Henry Weeman, War Risk Insurance Officer - Everett Larrabee.  Committee on Resolutions and By Laws, Roland Richardson, Everett Larrabee, and Clifford Stiles.  

What Makes this Post Unique

Our Post is unique as it shares the 100th anniversary birthday of the Post along with the American Legion itself.  In researching the history of the post, it was discovered that the Post had a 40 piece band which performed all thoughout the state of Maine.  The band performed concerts during the summer in their town of Bridgton as well as in the surrounding towns.  The band was formed on October 2, 1931 with members of the American Legion Lopeman Post.  Dick Sanborn, leader of the school band and the Bridgton Academy band and one of the best saxophone and clarinet players in this section of the state of Maine, had been engaged to direct the band.

The Post's current building had been Bob's Trading post until the American Legion Lopeman- Potts Post purchased it in 1963.  The building itself is over 100 years old.  In 1995 the building was damaged in a fire and most but not all of the post's historical records were lost.  Since the Post revitaliaztion in January 2019, there has been an ongoing extensive research into the Post history.  Research has found many newspaper articales on the Post since it's establishment, but not many photographs were found.  The research continues.

Photos

HISTORY

1910

Bridgton Post, American Legion

Nov 4, 1919

On November 4, 1919, 38  honorably discharged military veterans of the world war established the American Legion Post in Bridgton, Maine.  The first order of business was to elect Post officers.  The Post had no home of their own at that time so meeting were conducted at various places, but were mostly conducted in a room above Jones' Store or at the G.A.R Hall.  It wasn't until the mid 30's that they finally had a..

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Bridgton Post, American Legion
 Bridgton's American Legion Post adds name to post

Bridgton's American Legion Post adds name to post

Nov 14, 1919

Shortly after Bridgton's American Legion Post was established, on November 14, 1919 the members of the American Legion Post of Bridgton voted to take the name Roosevelt for their Post.  The  name Roosevelt stayed as the post name until April of 1921 when members all voted to change the name in honor of a local boy who had been Killed in Action while serving in the World War.  


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Roosevelt Post to Have Gala Affair.

Nov 28, 1919

The American Le gion Roosevelt Post held a Gala Affair November 24, 1919, when members entertained men from surrounding towns, who served in the world war.  Although the weather was not cooperating and many of those who had planned to attend were unable to do so.  However there was nice turnout from delegations of the surrounding towns.  As a result the membership now numbers 75.  Plans were also under way for a Grand Military Ball..

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Roosevelt Post to Have Gala Affair.

1920

New Years Ball Great Success

New Years Ball Great Success

Jan 2, 1920

Roosevelt Post's most successful social affair held in the town for years was the Post's Military Ball and New Years Fete.  The social affair was held in the town's Opera House with around 300 people in attendance and were either spectators or participants in the dancing or drills and various numbers on the program.  Post Commander H.L. Lombard carried out the ceremonies in splendid  manner and the members of the Post, in their soldiers and..

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Roosevelt Post Members Hold Special Meeting

Jan 30, 1920

At a recent meeting the members of the Roosevelt Post voted to hole a special meeting, when the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of all service men who died, or those who are members of the American Legion are invited to be present.  The special meeting will be to discuss the forming of the woman's auxiliary.


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Roosevelt Post Members Hold Special Meeting
Push verses Drive

Push verses Drive

May 21, 1920

In the first place, it's not a "Drive" but a "Push".  Back in the dim early days of the war publicity experts borrowed the word "Drive" from the slang of the day.  Everyone who went after something had a habit of calling their campaign a drive.  When the American Legion wanted to look for new members, they felt drive was as punchless as an empty cartridge.  They decided to use the word "Push" which was..

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Legion Members Involved in Accident

Jun 4, 1920

Five members of the Roosevelt Post along with other members were part of a detachment on it's way to assist in the Memorial services at Webbs Mill, when the five members riding in a truck hit a patch of sand on the road and lost control causing the accident.  The most serious injured was Maurice Hamblen who was badly cut by broken glass of the windshield.  Everyone else received severe bruises and was shaken up..

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Legion Members Involved in  Accident
Roosevelt Post gains members

Roosevelt Post gains members

Jun 11, 1920

The American Legion Roosevelt Post gained 22 new members in a recent "Push" week.


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Victory Medals Presented

Nov 19, 1920

  Members of Roosevelt Post, American Legion received their Victory Medals in a ceremony held at the town's Opra House.. The Government presented the medals to those who were present.  There were others present who are entitled to them but had not applied for them at the present time.  Bridgton's servicemen who died during the war received their medals by their family members.  The clasps on the medals represents the number of major battles they..

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Victory Medals Presented
Concert and Ball

Concert and Ball

Jul 1, 1921

American Legion Lopeman Post will hold a Concert and Ball on July 4th at the Opra House in Bridgton.


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Guest speakers attend Edward Lopoeman Post

Jul 8, 1921

Edward Anthoine, Vice Commander of Maine American Legion along with Albert Anderson Commander of Andrews Post in Portland, were guest of the Edward Lopeman Post on June 28.  It was regrettable that the attendance was small as both had important information for the members.


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Guest speakers attend Edward Lopoeman Post
Body Of Edward Lopeman on way home from France

Body Of Edward Lopeman on way home from France

Aug 26, 1921

THe American Legion Lopeman Post received a telegraph as well as the family of Edward Lopeman the his body was on the way home from France and will be arriving on Aug 25 in Hoboken, NJ.  A date for the funeral had not been available yet, but a request of all serviceman hold themselves in readiness for the announcement as to the date of the funeral.  Edward Lopeman was one of the first Bridgton boys..

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Military Funeral held Sunday for Edward Lopeman

Sep 9, 1921

The remains of Edward Lopeman, Killed in Action in France, was brought home to his native town for burial.  His remains lie in state at the Town House where the townspeople are invited to pay their respect to a Bridgton boy who made the surpreme sacrifice overseas.  The remains were taken to the Forest Hill cemetery were he received full military honors.  All ex-servicemen, whether a member of the Legion or not were ask to..

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Military Funeral  held Sunday for Edward Lopeman
Lopeman Post members voted to hold meeting at G.A.R. Hall

Lopeman Post members voted to hold meeting at G.A.R. Hall

Apr 21, 1922

The Edward Lopeman Post, American Legion, voted to hold it's meetings at the G.A.R. hall, where they were formaly located.  The Post had headquarters over the Jones Store, Pondicherry square.


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New Officers elected by the Lopeman Post

Dec 29, 1922

The American Legion Lopeman Post elected new officers for their Post.  

Commander, George Kimball

Vice Commander, Maurice E. Heath

Sgt At Arms, Frank Lopeman

Chaplain, Owen Cole

Adjutant, Winton Clark

Treas., Herbert Evans

Historian, Robert Fields

Service Officer, Leon Crosby

Asst. Service Officer, Robert Berry

The officers were installed on Dec 25 at the meeting.  The past Commander, Robert Fields

 


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New Officers elected by the Lopeman Post
Lopeman Post Elect new Officers

Lopeman Post Elect new Officers

Dec 16, 1927

At the annual monthly meeting the members of Lopeman Post elected new officers.


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1930

American Legion Lopeman Post starts Legion Band

Oct 2, 1931

At a meeting members of the Lopeman Post, American Legion decided to organize a American Legion Lopeman Post band with members of the Lopeman Post. 


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American Legion Lopeman Post starts Legion Band
Lopeman Post Sponsors Show

Lopeman Post Sponsors Show

Oct 21, 1931

The American Legion Lopeman Post sponsored a Sensational Comedy of the American Rookie, Corporal Egan.   Included 150 local  people of Bridgton with an all star cast headed by Clement McKeone and William Powers and performed at Bridgton's Riverside Theatre.


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American Legion Lopeman Post Band

Jun 30, 1933

The American Legion Band  of the Lopeman Post will hold free concerts every Friday night starting in July.  The 40 piece band was popular thoughout Maine.


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American Legion Lopeman Post Band
American Legion News Lopeman Post

American Legion News Lopeman Post

Nov 10, 1933

The Edward Lopeman Post 67 passed the following important resolutions at their meeting on November 7, 1933.  The reasoning for the resolution being as follows.  Unauthorized by the Post, the band had elected their own officers and functioned independently, even having it's own treasury.


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