Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

AMERICAN LEGION

The Gordon May Post No. 439 of American Legion was organized on February 13, 1920, and was authorized by the National Headquarters at Indianapolis, Indiana on August 10, 1920. This post was named in honor of Gordon May, who was the first veteran from Silver City community to pay the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield of France.

The National Legion in 1934-1935 registered the graves of all American War Veterans. Local posts took an active part in their own communities. When a grave was unmarked, a stone was placed on the lot. Roy Flanagan served on this committee. In 1935-1936 Roy Flanagan served as Seventh District Vice-Commander; he was also District Labor Chairman for several years.

In order to make the meetings more interesting, in 1940, the members of the post related their war experiences with two members serving at each meeting. An oyster supper or steak fry was held at least once each year. The American Legion has also given several Home Talent Plays, assisted with communitee carnivals and parades and given fish fries.

At a county meeting held at Silver City, on April 10, 1942, the Legion and Auxiliary honored six couples who had recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversaries. During the course of the meetings of ‘42 and ‘43 scrap drives were held, which increased the bank account by several hundred dollars. At the February meeting of 1943, a Community Service flag was purchased and was dedicated on Memorial Day of the same year at the high school auditorium.

After World War II the membership was increased regularly by the addition of several veterans. The new members related their war experiences at the meetings. Motion pictures of several battle scenes were shown by K. Campbell, one of the legionnaires.

The veterans of Mineola organized a new Legion Post on October 27, 1947. It was named the Mineola Post No. 705. The Gordon May Post continued as a single post.

In the spring of 1953, the Legion purchased the Adams building on the west side of Main Street and made the necessary repairs for a suitable place for future meetings. The Auxiliary also conducted its meetings there. To initiate the new hall, a Buffalo Supper was held on April third with a large attendance. Ward Burgoin furnished the meat. Donations were received from several non-legion men.

During the fall of ‘53, the legion men sponsored an ice cream social and chili supper for the building fund. The members of the Legion are noted for their welfare work. They have assisted in the funeral services of many veterans of the various wars.

The American Legion hosted several events during Silver City’s Centennial celebration. They held bingo during the day, hosted a dance at the gym and served a Sunday pancake breakfast.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

The first American Legion Auxiliary met April 17, 1922 and organized with sixteen members signing the charter. The first president was Mrs. Mae Johnson. Their most commendable project was the purchase of markers for the G.A.R. graves in the Silver City Cemetery. Until this time the graves of the Civil War Veterans were not marked with official association markers.

Several years later on November 20, 1929 a social meeting of the Gordon May Post #439, the American Legion was held at the Royal Theater for the purpose of organizing an Auxiliary Unit again. After the program the Auxiliary elected their officers. Mrs. Kate Maddocks was chosen for the first president. There were eighteen charter members, only one was a Gold Star Mother of W.W. I, Mrs. Tishia McNay. The members have sponsored various activities to raise money as — selling lunches at farm sales, plant sales, selling popcorn at free movies.

During the Depression Years, there was a great need of welfare locally and for veterans’ families. Again at the time of W.W. II they gave assistance in many ways. Many a pound of carpet rags has been sent to Knoxville for veterans to use for their rug making. One of the largest projects the Auxiliary ever sponsored was compiling a two hundred page “History of Silver City” in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the town. This was published in 1954 with four hundred copies sold. The chairwoman was Mrs. Ida Flanagan, assisted by the majority of the members. The Auxiliary entertained the Legion on their 50th Anniversary 1969 with their W.W. I Veterans as special guests. The Auxiliary assisted financially with the Avenue of Flags for the Veterans of the many wars. The women also contributed to the Senior Citizen Building Fund. When Silver City planned for the Centennial in 1979 the Auxiliary agreed to make a historical quilt depicting early buildings and activities of the town. Everyone was happy with the results; it was beautiful. On October 12, 1979 our Unit observed its 50th Anniversary with Open House honoring our two charter members — Hazel Bobbitt and Veda Myers with Fifty Year Shields.

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby