West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
MANSELL L. PHILLIPS POST NO. 509, AMERICAN LEGION

Shortly after the West Liberty boys who had seen active service returned home from France they began activities, which led to the establishment of Mansell L. Phillips Post No. 509 of the American Legion, Department of Iowa.

A charter was granted to this organization June 21, 1920 with the following names as charter members : Arthur S. Black, Ray Heath, William Brown, Harry F. Lewis, J. C. Rock, F. C. Mead, Arnold J. Mullink, Ray Buckman, John E. Smith, C. D. Gibson, Robert Brooke, Jr., Paul Rought, Elmer Conklin. Before the summer had faded this post was fully functioning with an approximate membership of 100. From that time to this, Mansell L. Phillips Post, named for the first West Liberty boy to lose his life in action, has been one of the active organizations of West Liberty. Harry F. Lewis of the renowned First Division was the first commander of this organization, assisted by Chester Peters, as adjutant, of the famous Rainbow Division.

The post's first meeting place was in the Polder building and remained there until January of 1938 when the Harry Shipman building was purchased and transformed into quarters of beauty, with reception room , a basement with club facilities, a meeting room suitable for all occasions, all of which was made possible by a donation from the Kimberly Trust Fund, largely possible through the efforts of W. C. Kimberly, one of our public-spirited citizens. The endowment was for $1,000 which put the post on a sound financial basis.

The building committee consisted of Richard Peters, John Boden, Wayne G. Nichols, Lyle B. Holmes, Harry F. Lewis. The transfiguration of the building would not have been possible without the substantial help of the American Legion auxiliary and the citizens and friends of the Legion in more ways than it is possible to enumerate. This building was formally dedicated April 26, 1938. The present post commander is William H. Stotler of Atalissa, ably assisted by Don Bemis, adjutant.

The organization has either sponsored or cooperated in many community enterprises such as a Boy Scout Troop, the Easter Egg Hunt, public speaking, sending high school students to the Boys State, assisting in Memorial and Armistice Day observances.

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