Hiram O. Taylor Post 189
* The American Legion was founded in Paris 15-17 March 1919.
* Received Congressional Charter 16 September 1919.
* Our post applied for American Legion Charter on 27 Aug. 1919, granted a temporary charter 1 week later.
* Granted a full charter 10 August 1920, with Sherman H. Waters as the first Post Commander.
* An American Legion Auxiliary was later formed and granted a Charter on 20 March 1924.
From its earliest beginnings the post has had meetings at several venues in town. The post had met at the now defunct Bartlett's store which was located at the north end of the town common, and at the 2nd floor above the present day light department building. During WWII the post met at the Sterling Inn on Rt 12.
According to an article written and published on 23 Dec, 1960 in the Telegram & Gazette, the Legion met "in a building across from the town library on Main St.". Could it have been above Austin Philbin's variety store which was located at Main and Washacum Ave next to Woody's Barber Shop?
In 1961 the town sold the red brick school house to our legion post, where we have been meeting for almost 50 years.
In 1991, with Robert Temple as commander, the post started an avenue of flags in Hillside Cemetery, beginning with 10 flags originally put up on Veterans Day. This tradition has grown to almost 200 flags as of 2009. Flags and flagpoles are put up on Memorial Day, with the name of a deceased veteran affixed on the pole to commemorate their service to the country. Flags and poles are taken down in the afternoon of the same day. Volunteers for the avenue of flags are made up from town residents and post members. Everyone is welcome to help.
Our latest accomplishment, unveiled July 4th 2009, saw American Legion Post 189 joining the 21st century with the creation of this web site.
Avenue of Flags on Memorial Day 2009, Hillside Cemetery
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