["Post Purchases Fifteen Acres for Home." Anoka Union 15 Oct. 1948: Print.]
The Legion purchased the Jacobson farm of approx. 15 acres (between Oakwood cemetery and Fairoak Ave.) They kept what they needed and sold the remaining 12 (100 ft) lots for $2000 per lot. Will Ridge and Wally Jacobs formed the building committee, got organized, had no problem getting help and got started after July 4th. They rented equipment from City Mgr. Rudy Johnson, businesses in Anoka donated material and workers donated their time. These included: builders, Carlson building, Ed Bune & Sons, Wally and Anne Martinson, Linden Plumbing & Heating, Hayford Plumbing, Grossleins, Thurstons, grocery stores, bakeries, Bob Ehlen sent a check. On a Saturday, as many as 100 workers had breakfast at Greenhaven (Lawrence Chouinard) paid
by the Club; many came back on Sunday, even without breakfast. Retired Fire Chief, (Becky Beckenbach -Dec. 1979). The members dug a hole, built a foundation, pulled the two houses to the site, attached them built a porch and accomplished all the wiring, plumbing and interior carpenter work”...Becky remembers it as a cooperative effort with the masons and electricians, plumbers and carpenters of the Post donating their skills, and the unskilled members helping in any way they could. In addition to the two houses, glassed in porch, they put in a well and septic tank; city crew did the pipes, lights etc. The Post kept track of time worked and paid the city. Among the 100 or so Legion members, those recently discharged and volunteers were: Howard Menter, Jerry Raney, Dave McArdle (electrician- not a member until early 50s), Dick Steidl (dug the basement with a hand shovel), Marv Gilbertson helped shingle the roof, painted, replaced some plumbing), Dick DeLong volunteered at 10 to 11 pm week nights, Arch Pease kept track of the work and progress and wrote of the support of individuals and business. (The off ramp from Hwy. 10 by Greenhaven was the was the
location of the Post “on the hill”.)
