Lowell Post 101, American Legion
HISTORY OF LOWELL POST 101
The Lowell American Legion Post 101 is located on five acres of land at 108½ East Commercial Avenue and extends to Oakley Avenue on the south, Cedar Creek on the east and the Monon Railroad tracks on the west.The Lowell Legion Post was formed in October 1919 with twenty-one charter members. The Post's headquarters at that time consisted of a club room above a mercantile building on Commercial Avenue.
In 1927 the Legion purchased the Borden Dairy building located on the present Legion premises. The building was a two story brick structure with a meeting room on the first floor and a small community hall on the second floor.
In 1948 the Legionnaires realized the need for a larger community building and a recreation center for this locality. Construction was started by adding to the present building, which was to house eight bowling alleys on the first floor and a community hall on the second floor.
This addition was completed in February 1949 and the Lowell Post was credited with having the first Legion owned and operated bowling establishment in the State of Indiana.
Present membership of Post 101 is approximately 307.
Past Commanders
| (* Deceased) | Year | Name |
| * | 1919 | W.J. Surprise |
| * | 1920 | Harry Petrie |
| * | 1921 | Thomas Taylor |
| -- | 1922 | George Hayden |
| * | 1923 | Guy Dickey |
| * | 1924 | Ed M. Berg |
| -- | 1925 | A.B. Hayhurst |
| -- | 1926 | Leon Bailey |
| * | 1927-1928 | Max Ragon |
| -- | 1929 | Morris Gilbert |
| -- | 1930 | Herald Littlefield |
| -- | 1931 | Dr. G.W. Bardens |
| * | 1932 | Clayton Davis |
| -- | 1933 | George Hathaway |
| * | 1934 | Fred Minninger |
| -- | 1935 | Dr. F.G. Behmlander |
| -- | 1936 | Harry Clark |
| -- | 1937 | Floyd Hamilton |
| * | 1938 | Roy Black |
| -- | 1939 | Harold Brownell |
| -- | 1940 | Robert Cullen |
| -- | 1941 | Ralph Hudson |
| -- | 1942 | Floyd Vinnedge |
| * | 1943 | Fred Minninger |
| -- | 1944 | Zelbert Sisson |
| -- | 1945 | Norman Jones |
| * | 1946 | Sidney Blanchard |
| -- | 1947 | James Combs |
| -- | 1948-1949 | Ty Alyea |
| -- | 1950 | Robert Trump |
| -- | 1951 | Austin Cunningham |
| -- | 1952 | Malcomb Perry |
| -- | 1953 | Peter Wehle |
| -- | 1954 | Harrison Snell |
| -- | 1955 | Garland Fish |
| -- | 1956 | Paul Roberts |
| -- | 1957 | Dorsey Ruley |
| -- | 1958 | Roy Wood |
| -- | 1959 | Robert Turner |
| -- | 1960 | Nick Schafer |
| -- | 1961 | Eugene Ruley present commander |
For more information, read "A Local Creamery and the Lowell American Legion Post #101," by Richard Schmal.
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