THE HISTORY OF THE CONDE AMERICAN LEGION POST 1487

THE HISTORY OF THE CONDE AMERICAN LEGION
{Compiled by Earl Grandpre}

Dec. 23, 1919. Attorney Frank Sieh, Aberdeen was here and outlined plans for a Legion post in Conde.

Dec. 30, 1919. another meeting was held but the post never got completely organized it really never got beyond the election of officers.

This post never really got started, as the sentiment seemed to be, we are not in the Army anymore. The officers that were elected became discouraged and finally just gave up. In the fall of 1921, the body of Donald A. Lewis was returned to the state for burial. Lewis came to Conde from Mellette and was here for a short while before he left for the Army. His family must have been in or around Mellette for that is where he is buried. The Mellette Post had more success in organizing and was a going concern. Because Lewis had a connection in Conde many Vets from here went to his funeral and it revived an interest in the Conde Post. Many Veterans from Conde joined the post in Mellette. It was about at this time Mellette started holding dances at Armadale. These dances drew heavily from Conde.

About this time the State and Federal Government passed compensation laws and several ex-servicemen had claims before the Veterans Bureau. All this required several forms to be filled out. Mr. C C Cordry of the Farmers and Merchants Bank was an ex-service man and it fell to him to help those that were pushing claims against the bureau. Some of these claims caused the veterans to go to Sioux Falls and Minneapolis for consultation and examination. There they saw the American Legion at its work in aiding veterans. A new interest in the American Legion began to awaken. It was about this time talk began of reorganizing the post at Conde. A call went out and a meeting was called for May 5th, 1925. The turn out was large as now everyone could see the necessity and advantage of a post in Conde. The new officers were Lloyd McMillan, Commander, Frank McLeoud, Vice Commander, Clyde Cordry, Adjutant, Stanley Johnson, Historian, E G Smith, Chaplain and Sgt at arms Dr. Paulson.

May 5, 1925 Meeting was held in the Farmers and Merchants building. Dues were $3.00 per year. Total membership for 1925 was 58

May 20, 1925. First undertaking was to under take the proper observance of Memorial Day. It was to include a parade forming at the schoolhouse of veterans of all wars, school children and lastly citizens of the community. They were to march to the cemeteries where graves of old soldiers were decorated with flowers by the school children. In the afternoon a fine address was given in the Municipal Building by Roger Campbell of Aberdeen. Only two remaining War Veterans – Mr. Odell and Mr. Coats occupied the position of honor in the center of the platform. Proceeding the speaker flowrers were distributed to all the Veterans.

In the summer of 1925, The State Convention was held in Milbank. Dr. Paulson and Harold Cundiff arranged a float which received honorable mention. It was unique in that it showed a wheat field, several male pheasants and otherwise portrayed the rural life of this community. I believe the man on the left is Cundiff Dr. Paulson at the right.

One of the first undertakings of the post was a celebration on June 17, 1925. A merry go round was secured the program included a ball game, races of all kinds and airplane rides. It rained 5 inches that forenoon. The Legion had an insurance policy of $500.00 so the post did not lose financially. The Celebration was rescheduled for July23, 1925. The day was ideal, and the program was likewise. A trap shoot was held in the morning. The Raymond band furnished the music. Post ran lunch stand. Dances followed in evening.

Nov. 11, 1925 Armistice night meeting was held. The Post authorized the purchase of a beautiful silk flag and a post silk banner for $135.00 Ten U S Springfield rifles with belts and ammunition were ordered from the U S Government. It was necessary to put up a $200.00 bond to get the rifles. Stands were made to hold the flags during post meetings.

1926, Dues were $3.25. Post put on a Minstrel Show in the Municipal Building. The show enjoyed a full house for both nights. Membership campaign brought in 127 members this ranked the post a 14th in the State. Conde’s Legion Post reputation was established from one end of the State to the other. Dec. 25, 1925 the post rented the I O O F hall, “I am quite sure this represents the International Order of Odd Fellows organization. The saying at that time was “Find the gang up over the drug store.”

March 25, 1926 No meeting was held on the 25th because the time was taken up by the planning of the minstrel show that was to be held in the Municipal Building. I believe we can well afford to lay off, thereby the entertainment committee sufficient time to figure a better one than MOOSE pulled. It will be hard to do I would say.

May 6, 1926 District meeting in Huron. They are expecting a big turnout from Conde. The bunch down there wonderers where we got all of our members. They know that we are one of the “top notchers” in the district. They know that there are not many in the district that top us in membership. They are planning quite a meeting, lots of entertainment a big feed and so on. One of the features is a big feed and honest to gosh boxing card. I have told them that undoutably a good-sized bunch will go from here. I’ll take my car and with a few like old “348” of Moose Shives, I believe we can get there.

June 14, 1926. A summer celebration was planned the day was ideal and the program went forward as planned but there were two things to mar the celebration. One was the crops were drying up and the other was both banks closed at this time. This completely tied up the post funds that amounted to $450. Commander McMillan said, “We are all broke but happy.” The Banks failure caused the post to advance $2 of next years dues to pay for hall rent. The Legion also ran the theater for a few years.

1926 Thursday April 29. District Committee-woman Mrs. W C Ewing is coming so all you fellows bring in those that are eligible. This includes wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters {sweethearts excluded}. Let’s have a good turn out. We need a unit here and when woman say I want it “I say give it to them”. The women will have their meeting in the Theater Building, if I can get it, at any rate they will have a meeting and it is our plan to give them a taste of our “grub” when they get to it.