Post 200 Hampstead, Maryland

Post 200

Hampstead, Maryland

Post 200 Hampstead, Maryland

About This Post

Post Namesake
The Town of Hampstead
What Makes this Post Unique
Our Legion Story (as taken from archives and notes by former, Historian, Harry Griffith) The following information was taken from notes found in our archives, most of which was compiled by former Legion Historian, Harry Griffith and compiled by Elinore Frush, American Legion Auxiliary Historian for Unit 200. Thank you, Harry. We thought that these important notes should be passed on to our membership, so now we tell the story of how and when our membership in the American Legion began. Hampstead, Maryland actually had their first Legion Post, known as Post #76 on November 25, 1919. Started by returning World War I vets, they existed until October 10, 1926, when they gave up their charter. As a side note to the history, as the Hampstead Veterans of World War I, a Charter was granted to “Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A.”, Hampstead Barracks, Department of Maryland #990, established July 8, 1957. They met in our Legion Hall, but all of those members have passed on and the Barracks is now empty. The Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A. was organized by World War I Buddies in 1948, uniting in fraternal, civic and social comradeship those who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of World War I beginning April 6, 1917 and ending November 11, 1918, “Armistice Day”, and for those who served in Siberia from November 11, 1918 to July 1, 1921. 4,734,991 men and women participated in the First World War. The VWWI was incorporated by the 85th Congress on July 18, 1958. The constitution and by-laws were similar to those of the Grand Army of the Republic; Veterans of World War I ‘that this organization will dissolve upon the death of their last member’. The members were called “Buddies”. Many of you might remember that our country recently learned of the death of the last known remaining WWI Doughboy living in the United States, Army Corporal Frank Woodruff Buckles who passed away on February 27, 2011, in his Charles Town, West Virginia home at the age of 110. Hampstead was without an American Legion Post until the end of World War II. In December, 1945, a group of mostly World War II veterans looked into starting an American Legion Post. Albert Phillips, a World War I veteran said that if they could get 25 names by the end of the year, a branch of the American Legion could be started in Hampstead and the number would be #200. They really wanted that number and enough members came together and the Post was formed. Charles (Booker) Miller, temporary chairman presided until the first election of officers on May 27, 1946. Albert Phillips, Sr. was elected as Commander with Charles Miller, as 1st Vice. Then there was a question as to the name for our new post, the selections were: Hampstead Post; Singer-Curtis Post; The Mason-Dixon Post; or the name of the first man from this community to lose his life in the war. By unanimous vote, it was decided that the name of the post would be Hampstead Post 200. A temporary charter was granted on July 15, 1946, by the Department of Maryland. The Post Home met on the second floor of the old Hampstead Fire Hall, located on Main Street, which is now Towne Pride, Inc. On January 1, 1950, a new Post Home was established on the corner of Main and Lower Beckleysville Road. This was our “own” Home. The former Hyson’s Appliance Store was purchased for $16,000 with $7,000 down and $9,000 borrowed from the Hampstead Bank. The loan was paid in full on March 15, 1963 and Post 200 was free and clear of debt. Suppers, Seafood Parties, Bull Roasts and a Saturday night teen center were some of the events held at this location. For those 100 or so teens who attended the teen center weekly, they remember the fun they had under the direction of Mary and Bob Albright. Richard Hyson, Past Commander (deceased) from 1956-1957 remembered when the Legion used to hold a week long carnival behind this former post location. He recalls that in that building they had a live-in bartender by the name of (Elwood) Bill Horn who lived in a small room in the back. In the meantime, under the command of Edgar Snyder, a “permanent” charter was granted by the Department of Maryland in January of 1957 (#212518) Around March of 1969, ten acres with an old barn was purchased on the outskirts of Hampstead, formerly the Thomas Matthews property, for $20,000. The barn was rehabbed into a new Post Home. It was a two story building with a lounge and meeting room on the first floor and a hall on the second floor. This was done under Commander John Goff. Around 1984, under Commander Rodney Leister, an addition was added and doubled the downstairs area. In 1994, 2 ½ acres were purchased under Commander, Thomas Wickline, Sr., adding to the Post grounds. As well as being part of the National American Legion, chartered in September, 1919 after the end of World War I, we are a part of The American Legion, Department of Maryland, Inc. and The Western Maryland District of Maryland. The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 200 original charter was dated May 8, 1950 with 38 names, followed by the Sons of the American Legion with their charter being signed by 37 members and granted on March 21, 1977. The last member of our family to join us was the American Legion Riders who arrived on November 13, 2008. The Auxiliary has been busy over the years with bake sales, dinners, dances, bingo and help where needed. Our SAL group has held various fund raisers and built our new POW/MIA pavilion on the grounds. The idea of a pavilion first came in 2007, and with approval from the Legion, work began in April of 2011 and final approval by county officials was given in November of 2011. The Sons are quick to back up the Legion whenever needed. Our Legion Riders have held various fundraisers such as memorial rides, fun rides, feeds and breakfasts. They regularly supply fishing rods and bicycles as well as delicious lunches to veterans. Our entire family heavily supports our veterans. As you look in and around Post 200, respect and honor of our veterans is evident from the beautiful mural of the servicemen on the wall of the lounge painted many years ago by Keith Weaver, to the POW/MIA table in the corner that reminds us of those who never returned, to the pictures of our past leaders, to the pavilion built to honor POW/MIA’s that continues to be a work in progress. It has been 70 years since the beginning of our Post and we are still veterans helping veterans. As the motto under our mural says; “It’s not the price they paid to be a member, it’s the price they paid to be eligible”.

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