New Post Building Project
1996: Commander
Alex Longhway proposed a new Post building. Issues with
limited parking, an occupancy permit that allowed only 49
persons in the club room, lack of wheelchair access to the
upstairs and increasing costs to repair and maintain the
building on Main St. led to us pursuing this idea.
1997: Commander
James Forkhamer:
Ideas and concepts were formed. Architect Thomas McCue was
hired to draw plans. Based on the resulting plans, contractors
were invited to meetings and gave information and estimates.
A vote was taken and passed to go ahead with the new Post
as soon as funding was arranged.
2004: Commander
Paul Gorman:
Winter damage to the Main St. building and the collapse of the
pavilion (pole barn) at the field was repaired / rebuilt, largely
by Post members and friends of the Post with money from an insurance
claim. The money saved by doing the work ourselves was placed
in the Post Building Fund. (See pictures
in the Photo Gallery)
2005: Commander
Paul Gorman:
Requests for local and State grants had gone unanswered or were
of such a small amount as to be insignificant. June 2005
- A vote was taken and passed by a majority on hand to start construction
with monies in the Post Building Fund and to continue with raffles
and fund raisers.
Through the
Summer and Fall the land was cleared, the cellar and septic
system excavated and blocked. Footers and slab poured. A
mild Winter aided the project as we were able to build the
exterior walls and the main interior partitions and got the
trusses and roof on by Feb. of 2006. (See
pictures in the Photo Gallery)
To Date:
Work is progressing... windows and doors installed through
the Summer, siding completed in October 2006.
Ladies Auxiliary
is raising funds to outfit the kitchen, our newly formed
(2004) Men's Auxiliary is building the bar in the club room.
Life member Russ Marsden has been ramrod for the project
and along with Commander Gorman, lots of Post and Auxiliary
members, and friends of the Post, have volunteered hundreds
of hours to our beautiful new 60 X 120 ft. building. (See
latest pictures in the Photo Gallery)
Don Babcock |