A HISTORY

AMERICAN LEGION POST 164

SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA

Written for a compilation of Post histories

of South Dakota in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the American Legion, 2019

By

Ronald Schuttler

Post Adjutant

Post Historian

INTRODUCTION

Resources for this history were primarily old minutes, newspaper articles, and individual recollections.

The Post is fortunate to have the original minute book, hand written, recording the activities from the first organizational meeting until September of 1933.  Forty years of minutes are missing.  From  December 1973 to December 1980 are bound, and 1980 to 1986 are copies in loose folders.  The records from December 1987 to October 1991 are also missing.

An excellent local newspaper story written to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the American Legion  1969 was very helpful.  Two of the charter members were still living and their memories helped fill in the blanks.

To this day, three post histories have been written.  The best and most helpful document was also written in 1969.

Many activities have probably not received the coverage they warranted and individual names have been used sparingly.  Hopefully, this attempt to tell the Post history for the 100^th Legion anniversary will present a program that has persevered.

A heartfelt thank you needs to be made to Jim Childers, Post Finance Officer and Micheline Nelson, Auxiliary President for their editorial assistance.

On January 3, 1920, twenty three men, veterans of World War I, met with the intent to organize an American Legion post.  At this gathering, Walter Dickey was elected Commander, Ulig Danielson, Vice Commander, Malcolm Driskill, secretary,  and Rex Repass, finance chairman.  They agreed  to meet again  a month later.  In February, they were chartered the Ralph Toomey Post 164, named for a Spearfish soldier killed in the battle of the Meuse-Argonne in 1918.

The post members became active immediately, sponsoring a dance on February 20, 1920.  Dances were held under the post’s auspices until the 1950s with only a couple of years off during World War II.  Shortly, the post moved to purchase the City Rink.  This building later became the Vita Theater located near the corner of Main and Grant streets.  A committee was formed to discuss with the city a lease agreement for the Park Pavilion, looking forward for increased attendance at weekly dances.

Community involvement and service were high priorities for the post.  Members began by organizing a town basketball team and junior league baseball team.  These pre-dated the high school teams as Spearfish High School was not completed until 1924.  Another youth activity investigated was the Boy Scouts.  This led to a long association that has continued unbroken for Eighty eight years.  Later came a Cub Scout Pack whose history is seventy eight years of post sponsorship. Scouting groups for older boys and girls were of shorter duration.

 Spearfish also benefited from a fireplace in the log community building in the park and assisting in completing rest rooms in the same building.  The first flag pole at Rose Hill Cemetery was a post donation as well as moving the Spanish American War Memorial statue to the city park.  This statue was later moved back to the cemetery due to vandalism at the park.  An artillery piece was acquired to be located at the Normal School.  Evidently its display was short lived as soon after its arrival a collection of $1.00 per post member was assessed to pay freight cost to get rid of the gun.  Where it went is not disclosed.  In 1936 a Youth Drum and Bugle Corps was organized.  It appeared at local functions and area parades as well as traveling to a State Legion Convention before disbanding at the beginning of World War II.

In 1940 the first discussions about a new Legion program were undertaken.  Boys State, is a week long program for High School Junior Boys on all levels of government in the state, from city to state  offices.  Spearfish sent its first boy in 1940.  The program was so well received that the Auxiliary organized a similar program for girls, sending its first candidate in 1948.   Both programs became the cornerstone program of the Legion Americanism program.  A 1966 delegate to Boys State, Eddie Vigna, was selected for Boys Nation, a study in national government.  Only two from each state are selected to attend.

Concerned for a healthy community, on October, 1929 a motion was made to go on record in opposition to the sale of tobacco products to the younger generation, and to urge the city council to see that all tobacco advertisements be removed from the city.  Subsequent minutes do not reflect the result of the motion, but the point was made

Seeing a large increase in dance attendance it was proposed to sell the Legion Hall, the old city rink, and to pay off the loan the city had on the park pavilion.  A committee communicated with the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity  at the college, for purchase of the hall, and negotiate an agreement with the city for a long term lease on the park pavilion.   The Legion basically took over the pavilion for their dances, and sub-leased to other groups for their activities.  At the time, it was a sweet deal for both the city and the Legion.

Noting the number of veterans buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, beginning with the Civil War, a need was seen to honor these men.  Small American flags were purchased and placed on their graves on Decoration Day, later changed to Memorial Day.  The tradition is carried on to present day with over 250 flags placed every year.

The last entry in the original record book of hand written minutes was recorded August 14, 1933.  Unfortunately the blue ink used has faded from age and exposure to light.  The black is still legible but as now de-cyphering the handwriting is laborious.  It is unknown where they are but there are no records until 1973, with only scattered records until 1991.  To fill in the blanks, historical references have been gleaned from newspapers, other records, and personal memories.

In 1947, two significant things took place.  World War II had taken its toll on Spearfish servicemen.  To honor all who fell and all who served, the post was re-chartered, becoming Spearfish American Legion Post 164.  In line with that, an Honor Guard and Firing Squad was formed.  Ceremonial rifles were requested from surplus at an Army Ordinance Depot.  Ten 1903 Springfield rifles were sent, and they are still functioning today.

With good campaigning and state wide recognition, post member Earl Hood was elected State Commander in 1966.  Participation and involvement were high and a bid for a State Convention in Spearfish was made to State Headquarters.  There was some grumbling and opposition, mainly from the standpoint that Spearfish was too small to hold such a large event.  Because of the tourist trade, Spearfish probably had more tourist accommodations than the larger cities of eastern South Dakota. Despite the opposition, Spearfish was selected to host in 1969, for the 50^th anniversary year.   A very able committee was assembled and much to the chagrin of the nay-sayers, 1100 Legionnaires and spouses and families enjoyed the hospitality of our area.

Meetings through this period of time were held in the log building on Ames Street and then in the City Council room of the City Hall.  I do not know if the Legion owned the log building. I cannot find any reference to that.  That is information probably lost with the missing records.  After ten years of fund raising, construction began on a permanent post home.  Located on property the Legion had acquired years before, at 535 7th street, and at a cost of $55,000.00; the building was completed in 1956.  The note was paid off in 1972 with some influx of cash from post members.  Some income was garnered from rental of this building as well as the dances in the park. Dancing was tapering off so it was decided to shift to roller skating. This lasted into the early 1980s.

With the success of the 1969 convention still fresh in many minds, Spearfish lobbied and received the nod for the 1976 State Convention.  An all- time high membership of 220, a number that still stands, helped the selection committee.  The weather did not fully cooperate.  Lots of rain in the area caused the creek to overflow its banks, flooding some areas.  It did not dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance.  Before the age of cell phones, the land lines were busy to homes “back east” reassuring that everything was okay.

Continued service to youth was extended in the 1960s with the addition of the Oratory Contests.  The Spearfish post, after sporadic contributions to youth scholarship, initiated an annual $200.00 scholarship program to a graduating senior with an affiliation with the post.  That has been raised to $400.00 recently

Skating revenue had started to slide but we were determined to keep it going.  The city however put an end to it in 1984 when after 60 years they did not renew the Legion lease.  Part of that agreement allowed the Legion to sub-lease the building.  The city apparently recognized   an income source.  It was time to get out anyway as insurance and maintenance costs were using up all of the revenue gained from skating.  With a need for income in addition to hall rental, it was decided to turn the basement into a Legion Club with a restaurant and bar.  There were some discussions with the VFW for joint use of the building as they were having lease problems also.   Strong differing opinions, differing organizational policies and not being able to come to decision on building scheduling caused the discussion to fail.  The Legion went forward, getting another loan to fund all the small things that went with the task to furnish and put in a bar and upgrade the kitchen and decorate the place.  It opened in May 1976 and became a liability almost from the beginning.  Discussions of self- management or leasing went on for years.  Finally lease agreements with a number of different managers were tried.  Income was never enough to cover the loan payments, but only managed to pay the interest.  The opening of gambling in Deadwood and low cost meals at the casinos forced  our decision to close down the club.  With no income, it became evident that we could very easily default on the loan and lose the building.

In May of 1984 our finance report showed cash on hand of $147.47.

In 1986 after listing the building, and the liquor license, both were sold.  After paying off the loan the remaining money was invested.

Monthly meetings continued to be held in the log building in the park.  Meeting attendance and activity declined but the Legion programs continued.  To help pay the monthly bills and let our investment grow we started operating a food booth at the Festival in the Park.  Income has not always been good but we have operated in the black and the last couple of years have been good.  To keep our face in the crowd we started a booth at the Spearfish Home Show. Our commitment to community involvement and exposure were achieved.  This not only gave us community exposure but gained us new members.

Late in the year 1976, the Legion and VFW combined their Honor Guard teams.  Most members belong to both organizations anyway.  It became the Spearfish Veterans Honor Guard.  A subtle but distinctive uniform was adopted for participation in parades, school visits, flag ceremonies, and many funerals.  It keeps them busy and provides a viable and visible presence.

The 1950’s saw Legion Baseball in Spearfish, but it died out after a few years.  After a 30 year hiatus baseball started up again.  Talk began about building a baseball park.  Discussions within the Legion and with the baseball organization went on for a couple of years with varying amounts of money entering the discussions.  The baseball organization knowing of our investments wanted it all, saying we could have a meeting room in the club house as bait.   In the end the Legion agreed to contribute $10, 000.00 dollars to pay for a flag pole and a public address system with the ability to play music.  The baseball group did find funding through the major electrical power company in the area.

Membership and activity participation ran hot and cold in the 1990s.  State conventions in 2007 and 2010 brought stabilization.  New and younger members in both the post and auxiliary brought expanded activity areas.  Monthly auxiliary reports at Legion meetings stirred interest in joint participation.  In 2010 a member in a meeting brought up the idea of a veterans monument.  In February of 2011 a monument committee was formed with members from both Legion and VFW.  The Spearfish post donated $1,000.00 seed money to begin studies. 

In December of 2011 a delegation of Legion Riders from Rapid City attended our meeting and made a presentation about and encouraged us to promote and form a Legion Riders group.  Great interest was shown by members and the next month the group was formed, and by-laws drawn up.  A uniform in addition to the vest was decided upon and they have not stopped since.  Black Hills Chapter of the American Legion Riders was chartered in 2012, and they immediately became known for their clean neat appearance.  They also formed in addition to the flag line, a  POW/MIA  ceremony team that has been performing at District and State Conventions.  This group has had the biggest influence on membership growth in the post.

In 2014 Boy State representative Ryan Walno was selected for Boys Nation.  An enthusiastic young man, he expressed a desire to form a Sons of the American Legion Squadron.  A group of interested youth and adults that qualified was formed and they received their charter in 2015.

Spearfish American Legion Post 164 was now a complete family….Post, Auxiliary, Riders and Sons.

It was also in 2014 that National Commander Dan Dillinger honored our post with a visit on his Mid-Western Tour promoting his personal project, The National Emergency Fund.  Escorted by the Legion Riders on his visit to Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital and our Veterans Monument he ended his stay in this area at a dinner hosted by Post 164 Auxiliary.

The year 2015 saw the need to re-write our Constitution and by-laws.  The addition of Riders and Sons prompted it, but also antiquated rules concerning membership and office qualification were corrected to comply with State and National by-laws.

In 2016 saw the inauguration of the Legion Birthday Ball, a Prom for all ages.  A roaring success it was repeated in 2017 and plans are to incorporate it into our regular annual activities.

In 2017, Zachery Thoreson, an Eagle Scout from our Troop 17 was selected as South Dakota Eagle Scout of the Year.

With the addition of the Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion, greater inclusion of the Auxiliary and their startup of a Juniors program, expanded the involvement interest for prospective members.  Keeping that alive is our goal. 

“For God and Country

We associate ourselves together….”