Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-06
GARDINER LEGION HOST To MANY
VISITING VETERA Ms ON OCCASION
OPENING OF new CLUB ROOMS

liam Tudor Gardiner, Speaker OF the
Maine House of Representatives.
a member and Past Commander or
the local post. Speaker Gardner
spoke of the wonderful growth or
the Legion, and how the local post
had prospered. saying that it would
not have been possible without the
assistance of the Grand Army. lie
expressed the hope that 1t would al
ways be used for the same high pur-
pose which it had been used by the
oldr veterans and that it would for
ever be the patriotic center of the
city.
Comrade L. NJ. Merrill of the G.. A.
r. was called upon and responded
with brief talk, saying that he was
the remaining survivor of six broth
ers, all veterans of the Civil War.
Chaplain Edw c. McAllister, pastor
of Christ church was the final speak
err, he telling Of the evidence of good
will in Gardiner through which a
newcomer was welcomed, and the
general good will of the entire peo-
pie of the city.
When the guests adjourned to the
clubrooms downstairs they found real
reason for the enthusiasm manifest
ed by the speakers, for here was the
result Of which they had spoken, one
of the finest and most up to date
club rooms in the state and certainly
one of the best in Legion circles.
Here the visitors inspected the work,
and began to get some inklng of the
Eardships which the boys had faced
Principal of these was the eXCavatfng
of hill of hard clay upon which the
top of the hall upstairs rested, then
| under that end of the building they
had to put q cement retaining wall
l IL feet thick and eight feet high
containing 200 bags of Portland &C.
ment. Instead OF the old wooden
posts which had supported the build
ing, cement posts were put in place
all the way through the building.
A cement fire pit was also put in
which contains n heating plant which
will supply heat sufficient TO have the
temperature OF the building what
ever is desired at anytime during the
day or night
The Ladies' Auxiliary has played n
ior part in the work, serving
| lunches to the workers, and raising
about $500 by sales and dances, this
sum being used to pay for the hard
wood floors throughout the building.
Through their own efforts and what
donations have been received the
boys have raised $4,000 and are at the
present time approximately $1,000 be-
hind on an outlay of $4,000 for neces-
sary materials.
The downstairs consists of the
| kitchen, with hot and cold water, gas
| range, cupboardS and dishes, in fact
| everything that is needed to serve
| $50 people. Directly off the kitchen
is the spacious dining room, finished
In dark grey and oak. panel style all
| ternating with Sheetrock. This sec
ton of the lower floor also contains
| a ladies' room finished in the same
colors, with handsome wicker furni-
ture.
The club room proper strikes a note
OF rich simplicity, and as one enters
the huge fireplace is seen. made of
tapestry brick with the American Lee
4, gion emblem done of oxide copper.
The furnishings of the room are big
leather lounging chairs and black
walnut tables. The chairs were the
gift of r. r. Littlefeld the writing
tables We're donated by Fred n. Ros-
ton. while the pool table was given
by Mrs. +. II. Gardiner. Justice cam
! not be done to the rooms, and when
considered that not one cent of
money was expended on labor this
makes the completed work even more
wonderful.
Mansons Orchestra furnished
music for the evening, and refresh
ments of sandwiches, cookies. ice
cream and coffee were served in the
new dining hall.
The present commander Of Ben
Jamin E. Smith Post is William O.
Trip. who succeeded William Ma
loney. and Thomas Kelley is vice
commander; B. II. White, treasurer;
5. ID. Monaghan. adjutant; Rev. Ed
ward c. McAllister. chaplain. The
Post has been formed since 1919. The
commanders being as follows: w. 7.
Gardiner. E. II. Maxcy, Burleigh
Wing. Wilbur Roberts, John Burke |
William Maloney. William Trip.