By Art O’Leary, local historian
World War I began in Europe in August 1914. The U.S. – the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) – did not play a significant role in combat until the summer and fall of the following year. When the fighting stopped with the Armistice of November 11, 1918, there were well over 1 million Americans in France. This force became the Army of Occupation. Most of these troops did not return to the states until the spring and summer of 1919.
A group of 20 officers who served in the AEF is credited with planning the American Legion. The goal was to improve troop morale, and Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Teddy’s son, proposed a veterans’ organization. The first organizational meeting took place in Paris in April 1919. This was followed by a second organizational caucus held in St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1919. And the idea took root, and the legion flourished and survived. Today the Legion has nearly 3 million members and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Vicksburg’s Roy Canavan American Legion Post #213 received its temporary charter on November 6, 1919. Soon after organization, the post became inactive, but it was reactivated 4 years later and received its permanent charter on July 9, 1928.
For many years, the Post met in the Vicksburg Hotel. After WWII, the group decided to purchase land and construct a building. Three acres were acquired on the south side of Highway Street from Legion member Joe Ramsey. He had a gravel pit near the present site of Sawmill Creek Apartments for which he had paid $150 and a cow. He sold it to the Legion for $150, minus the cow. Subsequently, the Village of Vicksburg acquired the Legion’s creek-side acreage to use as a site for its water treatment plant.
The members had building plans, but fundraising was slow in the 1950s. Eventually the Post purchased a vacant grocery store in Fulton. After several years, the structure was moved to the Legion’s property. The building was refurbished, an addition was added, and the Post opened in 1962.
Unfortunately, the site was not ideal for gatherings: Simpson Paper used nearby property to discharge effluent, creating awful odors and a breeding ground for mosquitos. These conditions made summer outdoor activities challenging.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the Legion Post limped along. The building included a bar and the group held fish fries and steak fries to raise money. Membership declined and there were fewer members to do the work. The building needed maintenance and the smell from Simpson Paper only got worse. In the 1980s, Simpson Paper purchased the property and demolished the building.
The Vicksburg Historical Society houses some of the old records. The Roy Canavan Post is still active. There are no regular meetings, but the Legion is responsible for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Part II will appear in June: Information about Roy Canavan, the Post’s namesake.
