Formation of Posts and County organization occupied the first year of Middlesex County activity 1919 almost exclusively.
the first Post chartered at New Brunswick NJ on July,18 1919 Charles Henry Post No 29 and on July 25 1919 one of it's organizers, Franklin M. Ritchie was appointed by Hobart B. Brown State Chairman as County Field Secretary and was authorized by State Secretary Thomas Goldingay to organize Middlesex County.
He began at once the work of organizing new Posts throughout the County and by September 1 twelve Charters had been applied for.
In September the first gathering of Delegates from Posts was held in The War Camp Community Service Building in New Brunswick. Franklin M. Ritchie was elected County Chairman( the title used prior to the adoption of that of "County Commander") with Harold G Hoffman of South Amboy, now Governor of New Jersey as Secretary.
The first County Banquet was held in the evening of the Convention, September 15 1919,at the Klein Hotel in New Brunswick. The newly elected Chairman acted as Toastmaster ,and Governor William N.Runyon,President W.H.S.Demarest of Rutgers University and Supreme Court Justice Peter F.Daly were among the speakers. all Middlesex Posts were represented at the First State Convention in Newark NJ and County Chairman served as State Chairman of the Convention Resolutions Committee. Following the Newark Convention, by direction of State Headquarters to name three Vice Chairmen of the County,Harry A Richardson of New Brunswick,M.Lee Stults of South Amboy and Harry Kramer of Metuchen were appointed Vice Commanders each being assigned a District in the County to organize.
Russell E.Long of New Brunswick was elected as a Delegate to the first National Convention at Minneapolis.
Post Chartered 1919
