Ellston Building
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I took this week’s photo in Ellston on July 23, 2010 after the exterior of the building had been completed. A similar photo appears in the Mount Ayr Record-News dated July 8, 2010. The building is located right on Main Street.
The Ellston Centennial Book has a fairly detailed history of the American Legion Post named after Emmett Liles who was killed in Bellecourt, France on September 29, 1918. The body of Liles was moved from a cemetery in France to the Pumptown Cemetery in 1921.
An organizational meeting was held on December 13, 1920 and in early 1921 the proper papers were filed for formal organization. The first officers were: Erwin Dickson, Commander; Hubert Roush, Vice Commander; Cyril (Ike) Treichler, Adjutant; Harold Clough, Treasurer; and Raymond Hunt, Sergeant of Arms.
The real estate office of Bill Price was the first home for the new post, but soon moved to the Short building. The members later rented the J. M. Miller hall for their meetings and the American Legion Auxiliary was organized on September 12, 1921.
Today, Ellston American Legion Post 0541 has about 38 members, the auxiliary has about 32 members, and the Sons of the American Legion about 16 members. Wayne Wenzel is the Post Commander and Bob Creveling is Adjutant. The Ellston post belongs to the 5th District, an area of fourteen counties.
In 2018, Post 0541 obtained a beer and food permit. They are open for coffee on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings the year around. Supper can be had on Thursday and Friday evenings with a menu offered in the summer and specials served the other months. Also, during the summer, a buffet breakfast is offered once a month. Many of the members are “snowbirds” so things slow down in the winter.
I knew the sister of Emmett Liles. Her name was Beatrice and lived in Osceola until her passing about 1998. She was 99 when she passed. I met her through her grandson, Doug.
Congratulations to the Ellston American Legion Post on the tenth anniversary of their new building and their service to our community.
