Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-28
Mansur Photo
GENERAL ALBERT GREENLAW

That many citizens of Kennebec
county will benefit through the es-
Establishment of the American Legion
Community Park at Three Mile
Pond, was the declaration of General
Albert Greenlaw of this city, speak
ing at an Informal meeting Of the
several scores Of volunteer workers
who had ~,labored enthusiastically
throughout the morning hours Of
Sunday. The meeting, which includ-
ed representatives. of several civic
service organizations of the county
as well as generous sprinkling of
citizens who had been drawn to the
beautiful spot by the big develop
ment in progress. was held follow
ing the noon luncheon which was
served from the completely equipped
kitchen of the splendid new pavilion
General, Greenlaw called attention
to the fact that it was Just four
weeks ago that the first work was
done on the project. which when
completed, will provide a wonderful
equipment for organization TO en-
Joy recreationaI advantages in the
summer months. Because it was all
, to be for the public welfare, many
different groups have aided the
I members of the James Fitzgerald
Post. American Legion. who hold the
property in trust by the deed of
gift of the public spirited donor, Ed
Sar a. Hussey of this city.
The initial development program
laid out by the Legion committee in
charge is rapidly approaching COM
pletion, and by the herculean tasks
which were carried through yester-
day it is now assured that every
thing will be in readiness on indie
pendence Day, July 9Th, when the
public ceremony of dedication will
be held with an attendance of citi-
zens from this section of the State
that Will probably number several
thousands.
1t was this community cooperation
which Gen. Greenlaw stressed in his
remarks, and TO those who had OPP
portunily on Sunday to inspect the
work completed during the past -four
weeks by the volunteers. the Ameri-
can Legion Community Park appear
ed as a splendid monument to vision
and cooperative effort.
Many Volunteer Groups
The progress over the week end
was marked. On Saturday a large
group from the Ivan z. Bicknell post,
American Legion of the National
Home went to the park and labored
throughout the afternoon in clearing
the extensive shore frontage of the
preserve. At s o'clock a hot baked
bean supper was served to them
from the Home and then the work
continued well into the evening and
even by the light Of the brush fires.
al II Tl.,,- i,,rr
crew of linemen from the Central
Maine Power Company was on the
grounds and under the direction of
Wallace A. Price, superintendent of
the Augusta District, completely wiz
ed the park and pavilion, with out
lets for a hundred lights. Some
members of the G. NJ. P. Co. crew
were Legionaires and others were
not, but all were inspired by the pur
poses of the recreational center and
by the great amount OF work which
had been accomplished by other SIM
liar groups during the past four
weeks The wire and material used
in making the grounds ready for
night illumination was contributed by
the Central Maine Power Company
through the courtesy of George S.
Williams.
ETSCl lay Tplc
A large contingent from the Ben
iamin Z. Smith post of Gardiner also
contributed materially to the pro-
gress of the development on Sunday,
and amongst the Legion groups the
Gardiner crowd won first hOnors yes
terday, both in the number of their
representation and in their effort.
This group, led by Hon. William Tu-
dor Gardiner assembled the mater
ials. placed the foundation and rails
ed the 66 foot flag pole on the high
point which commands the entire
project. The pole weighed 1900
nollnds and the task of stepping it
was most efficiently directed by Car
rol Brown. On next Monday. the day
of the dedicatory exercises, members
of the Gardiner Legion post will con-
duct the ceremony. of flag raising,
which will be one of the impressive
morning features of the all-day pro-
gram.
President J. Frank Bilodeau and a
stable delegation from the Augusta
Calumet Club were also at the park
Yesterday, and their part of the days
effort was in preparing the baseball
field for the games which will be the
snoring features of the Independence
Dav program.
There was a full score of ener-
-getic workers present from the OAK
land American Legion post, and an
other group from Winthrop. and the
county wide representation in the
big work crew of Yesterday was
most significant of the far flung m
terest in this project. which IS ire
biggest of it's kind ever undertaken
in Maine. The noon luncheon WIS
nrenared and served by members OF