June 1954

Life Member of Sgt. Alfred Stevenson Post 190 American Legion, Chester, PA
Life Member Penn Lodge #709 F. and A.M. Chester, PA
Member Cemetery Superintendents Association both Philadelphia and National
Member National Geographic Society
Member National Association of Gardeners and the Philadelphia branch
Member Delaware County Field & Stream Club
Commander Stevenson Post 190 American Legion 1954-1955

Born February 5, 1894 at Burlington, North Carolina

March 20^th, 1915:  Came to Chester, PA and resided at 706 Potter St.

Had restaurant on Morton Ave.

On or about September 20^th, 1917:  Went into the Service

Was in Headquarters Detachment of the 304th Ammunition Train, 79^th Division at Camp Meade, Maryland

November 11^th, 1918:  The War ended and was discharged from the Service at Camp Lee, Virginia and got home for Christmas in North Carolina.

February 1919:  Came back to Chester and went to work for Baldwin Locomotive Co.

Spring 1921:  Went to work at Aberfoyle Manufacturing Co. and worked in Cloth production department

About. 1925:  Took over the job of Entertainment Director in the Service Department.  The duties of this job was to plan all programs for the four mills, Aberfoyle at 4^th & Morton Ave, Arasapha t 10^th & Walnut St., Highland Mill at 15^th & Upland Ave., Townsend at west end of Chester and the Aberfoyle Country Club.  Continued in this work until December 1^st, 1929 when all such activities were closed down and when hundreds of the production employees were laid off due to the depression.

Christmas of 1929:  Worked at Chester Post Office

January 1930:  Went to work at Ford Motor Co. in the Export Department.

April 1930:  Elected Superintendent of Chester Rural Cemetery Association.

April 9^th, 1930:  Took over the job at Chester Rural Cemetery

American Legion

Joined Sgt. Alfred Stevenson Post 190, American Legion in August 1919 just after they had received the Charter, was a Charter member in the fall of 1919 after the Charter had been properly granted to the Post.

Has served some Committee job under every Commander from Dr. George L. Armitage who was elected to succeed Howard T. Innis in 1920 and on to 1954 under Commander Alfred V. Stiscia.

Was elected Commander of Stevenson Post on June 10^th, 1954 and will be installed in office on September 9^th, 1954.

During Christmas 1929 Stevenson Post conducted a show and toy party for more than 1500 children.   At that time things were very bad and we raised funds for rent, food, fuel and clothing for several families.

Stevenson Post continued the Christmas basket projects until the depression eased up in about 1935.

Was Chairman of Stevenson Post Entertainment Committee in 1922 when we conducted an Armistice Ball with over 3500 present.  Miss Chester (Anne Burke) lead the Grand March when 22 other couples were on the March.

We made a net profit of one thousand dollars on the Ball and very soon we bought our present Legion Home at 227 West 7^th St. Chester.  Now we will be in that home for 32 years next November.

We went in debt for a ten thousand dollar mortgage so we had to hustle to get going.

Was given enough good furnishings from Aberfoyle Manufacturing Co. from a big Boarding House that had been closed to completely furnish our Legion Home from bulletin board on the front porch to third floor bedrooms.

Hauled the furniture and completely set up the Home before letting anyone know about it.

At the regular meeting in December 1922 was voted a Life Membership for getting the first thousand dollars and furnishings for the Home.  As far as we know that was the first Life Membership ever given in the American Legion.

In 1928 we had a campaign for funds for our Legion Home and at this time about eighteen thousand dollars was raised and the Auditorium and other improvements were made to our Post Home.  Also the mortgage was paid off at that time.

About 1929 the first Citizens Service Award was presented by our Post and in the past twenty five years there has been nineteen such awards presented.

Has worked on that Committee since it was begun.  These awards are now presented on a National scale, however, we think Stevenson Post originated this award.

Stevenson Post was the first to take entertainment to Veterans Hospitals and in 1921 we made our first trip to Marshalton, Delaware before Perry Point Hospital was completed.

Have continued this work ever since and many years ago this was organized into a Tri-State Committee of Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

Every week of the year there is some kind of entertainment taken to such Hospitals as Perry Point, MD, Coatesville, Valley Forge and Philadelphia Naval Hospital.

Clarence Yelton has been Chairman for Hospital entertainment and he and his family have provided fine programs for Stevenson Post for many years.

Chester Veterans Council

Was Commander of Veterans Council in 1938 when the 300^th Anniversary celebration was held for the Finnish at which time the fine Monument was dedicated in Crozer Park, Chester, PA.

This dedication was held on June 29^th, 1938 when thousands of people were here from the north, south, east and west.  The Finnish government issued 25 Medals, two were gold and twenty three were bronze.  One gold was presented to the President of the United States and one to the King of Sweden.  The 23 bronze medals were presented to various people that helped in the celebration.

Was presented with one of the bronze medals for activities in the celebration.  Also received fine letters from the Finnish Societies in Washington, New York and Chicago.

During 1946 and 1947 obtained two complete sets of photos of ships that had been built and named for Signers of the Declaration of Independence.  These ships were built in yards from Portland, Maine to California.  This project was made possible by the cooperation of U.S. Maritime Commission.  These photos were compiled in two large albums and one was presented to the National Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence at their annual meeting in Philadelphia and the other was presented to the Delaware County Historical Society at their fall meeting in 1947 and can be seen at the Old Courthouse.

During WW2 Stevenson Post operated Observation Post 190 A. for more than fifty thousand man hours with the help of members and many friends.

Was treasurer of the Observation Post and raised funds to supply all the needs of the Post while in operation which included a new building and all equipment and other necessities.

During WW2 worked on Victory Garden projects, put on two Victory Garden shows in Chester Armory, one held August 18^th, 1944 and one held August 20^th, 1943.  All the produce that was exhibited was given to Chester and Crozer Hospitals, also most of the prize money was donated to the Hospitals.

Was Chairman for Stevenson Post 30^th Anniversary Meeting which was held October 13^th 1949.

Was Chairman of Stevenson Post 35^th Anniversary Meeting which was held October 8^th, 1953.

Now Chairman on a Committee that is working on obtaining photos of all Past Commanders of Stevenson Post to be put in a large Memorial frame in our Legion Home.

Worked with a Committee of five in 1947 that was working in the name of Chester Veterans Council did the work of restoring John Morton monument and its immediate surroundings, the cost of which was about two thousand dollars.  The same committee continued on to complete a renovating job on the whole of old St. Paul’s Cemetery at 3^rd & Market Streets, Chester.  This was completed on July 3^rd 1947 after a total of about five thousand dollars had been spent.  The committee raised this money to do this work.

Was on Tide-O-Toys Committee in 1951 and 1952 when Stevenson Post collected, packed and shipped overseas more than fifty thousand Toys in two years.  We topped the Nation in this project.