History of the Conde Legion Hall
When I joined the Legion in 1947 there was already some talk of a new building. It was sorely needed as anyone who navigated that twisting, low head room, semi dark stairway to the meeting room in the old bank building can attest to. I was commander in 1952 and the idea of a new building became more advanced. So, on Dec. 3, I appointed the following committee to research options. Any new or suitable building C. E. Jensen Rich Miller and E. G. Smith. New wood building Earl Grandpre and Paul Brown. Cement Building Henry Buising and Conrad Jensen. It was also decided to investigate the lots where the present building stands. Henry Myers was in control of the one where the old doctor’s office stood, and the Baptist organization was in control of the other two. It took until June 3rd to obtain the lots. And since we had not come up with a reasonable plan for a new building it was decided to have a special meeting on June 12. On the June 12th meeting we had a new commander Conrad Jensen. After much discussion that seemed to be going nowhere Connie said I propose that we build a new building, and he appointed a committee of E.G. Smith, Paul Brown, Henry Buising and Earl Grandpre to bring to the next meeting a complete proposal for a new building type of construction and material would be up to the committee. As most of you know the committee journeyed to Watertown one morning in time to have lunch in the new Pine Tree Café. While we were dining, we observed that this building seemed to fit what we had been sent out to get. We soon found out that the contractor had an office located in a small building setting on vacant ground a few hundred feet north of the café. The contractor Mr. Schnakanberger seemed reluctant at first. I think he was only waiting to find out how much money we had and when that was finally disclosed it, he said that was the amount he had in mind. So, we returned to the next meeting with his proposal in hand having not even entered the City of Watertown. At the September meeting the contract for a cement block building with a round roof, with cement footings and floor plus sidewalk was accepted and signed. This contract called for a payment of $3,750.00. And that was all the money in the treasury.
October 7, 1953 the monthly meeting was held for the first time in the new Legion Hall. There were a record 34 members and one guest in attendance. The hall at that meeting was one room, open steel girder ceiling with an open hole in the North East corner where a water faucet was located. At this meeting it was decided that we would need at least $1000 to make the hall presentable. This money we did not have so it was decided to issue bonds at $100 apiece at 5% int. Those buying bonds were Paul Brown, Henry Halverson, Henry Buising, Ed Herr, Earl Grandpre, Jim Cutshaw, Dave Peterson, Joe Sondergard and Bert Lenz. With this money we were able to enclose the open ceiling, build a ply-wood partition and install two hanging bottle gas heaters.
April 6, 1967 Oliver Terpstra suggested that we paint the inside walls. Commander Haskell agreed that there was a need to do something and suggested that we do a complete remodeling of the home. There was much discussion in the next few meetings finally on Sep. 7, 1967 a motion was made by Oliver Terpstra seconded by Bruce Herman to panel and insulate the walls and ceiling and install two rest rooms along the south wall of the post home.
December 7th, 1967 studding has been completed, some insulation had been installed and the water and sewer had been dug in.
March 7th, 1968 we were again out of money and bonds were issued to Ernest Smith, Melvin Henjum, William Miller, Loren Lenz and Lyle Little. June 4th the building committee was told to go ahead and fix the roof and build a storeroom addition on the southwest corner of the present building. Larry Doctor was given permission to install the new furnace.
These notes were taken from Richard Barrie’s award-winning post history-book.
