USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Shelburne > History and tradition of Shelburne, Massachusetts > Part 26
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At the annual town meeting in February, 1946, Shelburne appropriated a sum not to exceed one thou- sand dollars "to properly celebrate the return of the men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States in World War II, provided the Town of Buckland appropriated a like sum for the same purpose." The Town of Buckland was duplicating that vote at the same time, and committees were ap- pointed : Harry M. Chamberlain, Robert E. Scott, and Donald C. Young for Shelburne, and John W. Law- less, Mrs. Maywood Miller, and Harry P. Shaw for Buckland. It became evident during the spring that most of the veterans would be home by early summer ; so the celebration was set for July 3 and 4. The pro- gram was as follows:
PROGRAM
Welcoming home the men and women of Buckland and Shelburne who served in the armed forces of the United States in World War II.
July 3-4, 1946 Shelburne Falls, Mass.
July 3
7:30-9 p. m. Bridge Street, concert by Shelburne Falls Military band.
8 p. m. to 12 midnight, Reception and Dance, for our honored guests, the veterans of World War II, Cowell gymnasium.
9 p. m. to 12 midnight, Block Dance, Bridge Street.
9 p. m. to 12 midnight, Lawn party, rear of Legion Hall, Water Street, sponsored by Shelburne Falls post No. 135, American Legion.
12 midnight. Bonfire, below the dam.
July 4
10:30 a. m. Street parade. Composition of Parade : Marshal, Color Guard, Shelburne Falls Military Band, our honored guest, veterans of World War II, floats, Charlemont High School Drum Corps, patriotic and fraternal organizations.
12 noon to 12:30 p. m. Concert by the Shelburne Falls Military Band and exhibition drill by the Charle- mont high school drum corps.
12:30 p. m. Address of the day by Alan Healy, Williams College.
1 p. m. Awarding of parade prizes
1 to 2:30 p. m. Sports events
3 p. m. Baseball game, Old Timers vs. Shelburne Falls post, American Legion
5:30 p. m. Concert by Shelburne Falls Military Band.
6 to 7 p. m. Gymkhana
9:30 p. m. Fireworks display.
MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED SERVICES
The list published by the Western Franklin County Veterans' Center shows the names of two hundred and five men and seven women from Shelburne who were in Service between December 7, 1941, and August 20, 1945. Every effort was made to have the list com- plete, and apparently those efforts were remarkably successful, as only one omission has been called to the compilers' attention in the two and one-half years between the first publication of the list and the writ- ing of this account. It should be noted, however, that some are included who were not legal residents of Shelburne . at the time of entering Service. Most of these had spent their boyhood here and still had par- ents living here, and sentiment and reason both dictate that they be included. Also a few were added who came to the town and settled here immediately after their discharge. Accurate checking for legal residence may not be possible for some years yet.
The list follows, with rank at time of discharge: ARMY
Ainsworth, Earl A., Cpl., CWS
Alden, William D., Sgt., DEML
* Allis, Gilbert, S/Sgt., AAF Anderson, Marvin O., Pvt., Inf.
Austin, Ruby E., Pfc., ASF
Bailey, Clark, Sgt., AC
Ballard, Donald E., Sgt., FA
Ballard, Howard G., Cpl., AC
Barnes, Benjamin W., Pvt., Inf.
Bevan, Vernon F., Capt., Ch C
Boyd, Henry E., Pfc., AAF Brewer, Gregg C., Sgt., Sig. C
Buker, Wayne A., M/Sgt., ASF
Burnap, Courtney N., WO (j.g.), AG
Burnap, Gaius C., T/Sgt., AAF Burnham, John, Sgt., FA
Carey, James J., Cpl., DML
Cetto, Anthony D., Tec. 4, CE Chamberlain, J. Douglas, Tec. 5, AC Chandler, Harvey, Pfc., AC
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Chase, Malcolm, Pvt., MC Churchill, Donald A., Pvt., MP Cromack, Theodore, Pvt., AAF Cummings, Stanley L., Lt., REC Davenport, John R., 1st. Lt., AAF Ferrari, Pierino J., T/4, SC Field, Edgar R., Jr., S/Sgt., AC Finck, Harold C., Cpl., CAC Galbo, Samuel J., Maj., MC Gilbert, Gerard MI., Pfc., Inf. Goff, Robert W., Capt., Sc (Inf.) Gould, Howard D., Capt., CHC (AC)
Gratton, Phillip R., Pvt., IRTC Gray, Frederick P., Capt., QMC Hamel, Raymond A., Pfc., Inf. Hartwell, Donald, Cpl., AAA Hartwell, Edwin, Pvt., MD Hartwell, Ernest C., Pfc., Inf.
Hoffer, John F., Lt., AAF Hollien, Richard R., Sgt., Inf.
Jenkins, Nelson, Pfc., Inf. Jepson, Earl M., T/4, ARMD Jepson, Edgar W., S/Sgt., AC
Jepson, Raymond L., T/4, FA
Johnson, Frederick R., Pfc., MD
Johnson, Henry A., Jr., T/5, SC Johnson, Stanley W., S/Sgt., FA Karcher, Charles L., Cpl., CAC Lankhorst, Jacobus J., Pvt., Inf. Lankhorst, John J., Sgt., ATC
Ledger, Harry W., CWO
Legate, H. Ellsworth, Pvt., RTC
Long, Gordon A., Pvt., Inf.
Lovering, Richard N., Pfc., ARMD
McBride, Donald M., S/Sgt., Inf.
McBride, Irving M., Sgt., AAF
McQuade, William A., 1st. Lt., ORD
Manning, Farley A., Maj., AAF
March, Allen C., 1/Sgt., FA
March, Francis B., M/Sgt., Inf. Marsh, Earl H., Pvt., FA Marshall, Frank L., Jr., Capt., AC Matthews, Wendell C., Capt., MIC
Merrill, William, T/5, FA Mills, Harold W., AC, AC
Mills, Howard A., S/Sgt., FS
Mills, Leonard H., Sgt., SS
Mitchell, Richard F., Pfc., Inf.
Perkins, Arthur E., T/5, ORD
Perreault, Francis W., T/5, CE Phillips, Winsor L., Sgt., AAF Powers, Myron L., T/Sgt., AC
Rau, John E., Pfc., CAC Richardson, Alfred H., T/5, MD Richardson, Donald F., Cpl., AC Richardson, Verne T., T/5, FA Richmond, Earl L., S/Sgt., AGD Roach, Charlie A., Pvt., ERC
Rush, Lewis E., Capt., DC Samorjski, Thaddeus, Pfc., Inf. Schack, Francis, Pfc. Seward, Arthur E., Pfc., MD Shields, Carl F., T/4, QMC Shields, Edward D., T/5, FA Sigda, Theodore, Capt., Inf. Slocum, Russell L., Sgt., DML Smith, Charles A., T/3, DML Smith, Howard P., Cpl., Inf. Sommer, Everett M., Pfc., QMC Spencer, Kenneth L., Pfc., Inf. St. Jacques, Ernest H., T/4, AGD Stacy, Reuben L., T/5, MD Strong, George A., S/Sgt., AAF Suprenant, Henry B., T/5, Inf. Sutherland, Kenneth I., 1st. Lt., AAF
Tedesco, Philip, Jr., 1st. Sgt., ORD Thornton, Ernest G., Sgt., AC Tomulevich, Anthony J., AUS
Truesdell, Harold C., T/4, MC
Truesdell, Neal F., Pfc., MP
Truesdell, Wayne H., Sgt., CE *Trumble, George R., Sgt., CAC Upton, Donald G., Pvt., MC Vanotti, Rinaldo, Pvt., Inf.
Waste, Charles H., Capt., MAC Watkins, Thomas P., Capt., AC
Wells, Walter A., Cpl., AC
Whalen, Austin, Capt., CE, AUS Williams, Joseph N., Capt., Inf.
*Williams, Robert B., T/Sgt., AAF Wood, Frank T., Lt. Col., AAF Wright, Sterling K., Capt., AE
NAVY
Ayers, William H., AMM1/c
Ball, Kenneth O., Cox.
Bardwell, Edward A., ARM3/c, USNR
Batchelder, W. Bennett, Bkr1/c Benjamin, B. Allen, Lt.
Binder, Frederick A., Lt.
Binder, Howard P., RT1/c
Brown, Arthur W., AMM1/c
Brown, Frederick J., CSK
Brown, George F., USN
Brown, Lawrence F., S1/c
Brown, Lowell A., ROTC Brown, Robert H., S1/c Buker, William H., Jr., Lt. (j.g.)
Burnham, Antoinette, T2/c
Burnham, Catherine A., Lt. (j.g.)
Burnham, Mark, AvCAD
Burton, Robert W., Lt. Comdr. Carey, Edward, AMM2/c
*Chamberlain, Russell D., Y2/c Cress, Allen J., WT2/c Crosier, Howard D., Mus2/c Cummings, Shailer R., Lt.
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Cunningham, A. William, S2/c Dane, Francis M., Ens. Davenport, Joan, PhMI2/c Dinsmore, George D., Sr., MIMI1/c Dinsmore, George D., Jr., SC2/c Downer, Alton F., Lt. (j.g.) Dubois, James E., AERM2/c Duplissey, Frederick J., Lt. (CH) Dyer, David L., AMMI1/c
Emerson, Bernard J., S2/c Emerson, Charles W., S1/c
*Farrell, Albert H., Ens. Field, Frank M., MIMI2/c Fisher, Warren J., S1/c Fitzroy, Evelyn N., Y3/c
Gerry, Parker E., S2/c Gould. Arthur J., RMI Guerin, Arnold C., USN Guyette, Frederick, S1/c
Hartwell, Robert H., S1/c Hellyar, Glenn E., CY (T) Henderson, Kenneth W., AMI1/c
Hill, William J., Phm3/c Holcomb, Richard L., BMI2/c(T)
Johnson, Carl G., Jr., Y3/c Johnson, Robert A., S2/c Jones, Chester D., SSMIL3/c
Lee, Bert E., AMIM1/c Lincoln, Robert B., F1/c
Lyman, Dexter B., F1/c
McIlvene, Walter L., S3/c March, Arthur J., Lt. (j.g.) Miller, Henry A., Lt. (j.g.)
Miller, Philip A., Jr., AMMH Vc, USN
Miller, Wilfred E., Jr., MoMMI2/c
Morton, Frederick H., GM2/c
Needham, George F., S1/c Partridge, Herman, EM2/c Peck, Winfield D., ETM2/c Rancourt, Martin J., MOMIMI1/c
Rice, James A., MIMI2/c Riley, William R., Lt. (j.g.) Robert, Charles L., CWO
Samorjski, Henry, AETM2/c Scott, Robert E., Jr., Lt. (j.g.) Severance, Nelson E., S2/c Shields, Daniel W., AMIMI1/c Sinclair, Robert H., AEM3/c Smith, Phillip R., Cox. Spencer, John, S2/c Spencer, Roy, Jr., S2/c Spencer, Stanley M., ART1/c Stafford, Clinton W., SF3/c Stevens, Dennis C., CY Stone, Francis N., SOM2/c *Swan, Robert W., MM3/c Terrill, Merton W., S1/c
Tetreaut, Earl F., S2/c Tognarelli, Russell F., MM3/c
Upton, Duncan G., Jr., AMIMI2/c
Wakefield, Leonard, MM2/c Wells, Rodney C., S1/c
Whitman, Howard A., SG3/c
Williams, Russell S., S1/c
Young, James R., AS
MARINES
Downer, Sylvia C., S/Sgt.
Gerry, Harper T., Pfc. Grogan, Robert E., Pfc.
Hartwell, Harry D., Pfc.
McCloud, Wallace W., Gn. Sgt.
O'Neil, William E., Sgt.
Potter, Ralph R., T/Sgt.
Wood, Donald G., Jr., Capt.
Young, Donald E., Cpl.
COAST GUARD
Avery, Rexford H., BM1/c
Lankhorst, Abraham L., Jr., S1/c Lankhorst, Lawrence, RdM3/c McGreevy, Herbert H., S1/c
MARITIME SERVICE Blassberg, Eugene A., Eng. 2/c Davis, Kenneth S., Ens. Pilkington, Albert I., Capt.
RED CROSS Lyman, Doris E.
Six of these men died for their country.
Gilbert I. Allis, a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force, was reported missing with his plane and its crew on June 18, 1945. It was flying "over the hump" from Burma to drop supplies to an air-raid warning station in China. No trace has been found of plane or crew.
Russell D. Chamberlain, yeoman second class, was lost when his ship, the destroyer Jacob Jones, was torpedoed off the Atlantic Coast on February 28, 1942.
Albert H. Farrell, an officer in the Merchant Ma- rine with an Ensign's commission in the Naval Reserve Corps, was reported missing on October 14, 1942, with the munitions ship La Salle off the West Coast of South America. The ship was with a convoy routed to the Mediterranean by way of the Panama Canal, the West Coast of South America, the East Coast of Africa, and the Suez Canal to avoid the German sub- marines in the Atlantic. There has been no trace of ship or crew.
Robert W. Swan, machinist's mate second class, was killed on a submarine chaser in the English Channel March 23, 1945, when a shell of the gun he was serving exploded prematurely.
George R. Trumble, sergeant in the Coast Artillery
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(Regular Army), was taken prisoner by the Japanese when the Philippines were captured. He was lost October 24, 1944, when the Japanese prison ship on which he was being transported to Japan was tor- pedoed by an American submarine.
Robert B. Williams, technical sergeant in the Army Air Force, was lost on March 6, 1944, when the bombing plane of which he was the engineer was shot down over the English Channel. Returning from a mission over Germany, the plane was partly dis- abled in combat and had to drop out of formation. It was due to Williams' skill that the plane could get as far as the friendly waters off the English Coast where several of his crew were picked up by Dutch and English fishing vessels; but Williams himself, probably exhausted by his efforts, went down.
It may be appropriate to mention in this section the services of former members of Arms Academy, even though the Academy serves not only Shelburne but a community of ten towns. Five hundred and thirty- eight former pupils and teachers are known at the time of this writing to have been in uniform between Pearl Harbor Day and the surrender of Japan. Of these, seventeen gave up their lives, including Cham- berlain, Farrell, Swan, and Williams. A brief and simple, but very impressive, memorial service was con- ducted at the school each time a death was reported. These seventeen names, with those of the two who died in the First World War, are now on the walls of the Academy building, on a handsome bronze tablet given by the classes of 1946 and 1947, who were still in school when the war ended. This tablet, when presented to the school, was unveiled by the two little sisters of Russell Chamberlain, the first from the Academy and the first from Shelburne, to die for his nation in this conflict.
It would be impossible, even if space permitted, to make a complete list of the seven hundred and more men, women, boys and girls who performed the mani- fold duties of the Civilian Defense Organization. To show the scope of the work, however, the names below are taken from the organization chart in the Report Center. In each instance the first name is that of the chairman, followed by his deputies, if any.
OVER-ALL CHAIRMAN : Harry P. Shaw
Vice-Chairman: Earl R. Lovering, followed by Elmer S. Hallett
PROTECTION DIVISION :
Chief Air Raid Warden: William Hunter, fol- lowed by John O. Woodsome
Deputy Wardens: Ralph W. Wells, Kenneth W. Smith, Edward A. Milne, Harry M. Chamber- lain, Earl H. Purinton
Police : William Needham, H. L. Warfield, Albert H. Farrell
Fire Department : Roy S. Turton, Howard Booker, George E. Peters
Black-out Officers: Francis E. Streeter, Roland Rolfe, Leon F. Roberts, William G. Trow
Communications: Clifford W. Woods
Engineers (including wrecking and street services) :
Thomas R. Toy, Kendall S. Woods, Fred Bowen, Deane R. Davis
Gas Decontamination : Eldon R. Seward, Deane R. Davis
MEDICAL DIVISION :
Chairmen: Dr. John B. Temple, Dr. John S. Outhouse
First Aid and Ambulances: Colin B. Richmond
First Aid Parties: Roswell Miller
Emergency Hospitals: Mrs. Merritt Ware and Mrs. Arthur Eldridge
Supply Depot : Drs. Temple and Outhouse
(All nurses in the locality, trained or practical were listed and subject to call)
SERVICE AND SUPPLY DIVISION : Carleton P. Davenport
Fuel: Raymond J. Messer
Transportation: Richard Bruffee
Food: Raymond J. Messer
Public Utilities: Harry L. Hurd
Manufactured Goods: John O. Woodsome
EVACUATION DIVISION : William H. Buker, Frank E. Innis, Lloyd Bushnell, Mrs. Harry M. Chamber- lain, Ralph L. Wilder, R. Tower
Housing and Supplies: Carleton P. Davenport
Welfare: Elgin Gould
Women: Mrs. Harry P. Kendrick
Red Cross Officers: William H. Buker, Frank Innis Canteen: Thomas W. Watkins, Mrs. Walter O. Loomis, Mrs. Chester E. Hale
PLANNING AND TECHNICAL DIVISION : Henry A. Suprenant, Kenneth W. Smith
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION : William T. Patch, Miss Ruth Elmer
PUBLIC INFORMATION DIVISION : E. Roylance Field, Frederick G. Clark
CONSUMERS' ACTIVITIES DIVISION : Miss Hazel Kins- man, Mrs. Deane R. Davis
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE DIVISION : Mrs. E. W.
Benjamin, Mrs. Thomas Shaw, Mrs. Merritt Ware, Mrs. Thomas W. Watkins
WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES DIVISION: Mrs. Jay G. Ken- drick, Mrs. Walter J. Smith
SALVAGE DIVISION : Frederick G. Clark, Francis Wheeler
Reference has been made to fund-raising campaigns for war purposes. Here again it is impossible to sepa- rate the amounts raised in Shelburne and Buckland
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respectively, as Shelburne Falls contributed and re- ported as a unit, and in some instances the two entire towns did the same. All figures are from December 7, 1941 to August 20, 1945.
The total sale of war bonds and war savings stamps was $684,299 for both towns. These figures are re- ported by the post office (slightly over one-half) and the two banks. Some purchases were also made in Greenfield, but on the other hand some purchases were made in Shelburne Falls by residents of other towns.
For the Red Cross the total of four annual drives in Shelburne Falls (both sides of the river) was $6,159.65 and for Shelburne Center $1,672.53.
The United Service Organizations credits Shelburne
Falls (both sides) with contributions totaling $578.84, and Shelburne Center with $127.98.
On Memorial Day of 1949 the local Post of the American Legion dedicated a bronze tablet in honor of the men and women of Shelburne and Buckland who served in the two World Wars and in memory of those who died; two men in the first and thirteen in the second. A boulder of native quartz, in its nat- ural rough condition except where it was hewn smooth to receive the tablet, was the mount. It was placed on the Bridge of Flowers midway between the banks of the river and unveiled with appropriate services by the Post. Dedicated at the same time and imme- diately in front of the tablet was a steel flag pole, the gift of the New England Power Company.
THE KOREAN "POLICE ACTION"
This grim episode in our country's history differed from most of our previous wars in two respects only. One is that the name which heads this chapter was used in diplomatic papers and government documents instead of the real one.
The other is that the actual impact on the daily life of the town and of the nation was practically negligible. We knew that a deadly struggle was going on under the most difficult conditions and with no certainty of success, and as our boys were drafted we hoped that they would be sent anywhere except to Korea. On the other hand we ourselves were in no danger of attack and had to make no elaborate prep- arations for such a contingency. The production of civilian goods was again so near normal that we were not being rationed in food, shoes, gasoline or other items, and we had long since become accustomed to the draft. We had already had enough and more than enough of war; all fervor was gone and it cost us an effort to remember our patriotism and our sense of duty.
It would be impossible at this time to list all the Shelburne men - and women - who were in the Armed Services between June 25, 1950 and January 31, 1955. They were in many Army posts and Naval bases in this country, and those abroad were scattered from Iceland to the South Pacific. Fortunately, none of them outside Korea or the adjacent waters was subject to the dangers of combat or even the rigors of a campaign.
As for Shelburne men who are known to have been in the actual "theater of operations," the compilers of this book are publishing the following names in full knowledge that neither this list nor any other can be complete at this time. The local Veterans' Service Center is accumulating photostatic copies of the dis- charge papers of local ex-servicemen as rapidly as it can, and the papers of these men on file there at this date show that they were in that area during the offi- cial period of hostilities. The absence of other names is not due to neglect.
Howard W. Barnes
*Walter H. Billiel, Cpl.
Donald G. Davenport, Sgt. (T)
David J. Giard, Jr., 1st. Lt.
Chester F. Ladd, Jr., Sgt. (P) William H. Lee, A D 1
Harold F. Lively, Sgt. (T)
Kenneth W. Lively, Cpl. (T)
Laurence J. White, Cpl.
Grover C. Miller William H. Patch Ralph D. Phillips Kenneth M. Plumb Leland F. Plumb, Sgt. (T)
Robert T. Smead, Sgt.
William S. Stone Arden C. Tower, Cpl.
* Walter H. Billiel was killed in action in Korea on Decem- ber 1, 1950.
THE habit of forming an organization to meet any and every community need - financial, cultural, social, or even to satisfy a deep-seated desire to belong to something -- is very American. Indeed, it is one of the folk customs noted by an early commentator on the American scene. In this, too, Shelburne remains true to our national tradition. Organizations of all
kinds and sizes, and for almost every conceivable pur- pose, have flourished throughout our history. Those formed to meet a temporary need or interest have had a short existence or have changed their purpose. Oth- ers have had their ups and downs, with changing times and membership, or under varied leadership, but have continued to be a living part of the town.
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MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS (Chronologically )
1861 - SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY
In 1861 a group of women of Shelburne organized and met to knit and sew for the soldiers of the 10th and 52nd Regiments. Members included Mrs. W. W. Carpenter and Mrs. E. Smead.
This group once made and sent five boxes of hospi- tal clothing and other comforts valued at over $200. On Dec. 21, 1863, they held a fair, raising $125 for soldiers in war.
1869 - GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OZRO MIILLER POST NO. 93
DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D. C.
This post, organized June 15, 1869, in Shelburne Falls, took its name from Major Ozro Miller, a Shelburne Falls man who died July 15, 1862 in Libby Prison, where he was imprisoned after he fell wounded in the Battle of Malvern Hill. It drew its member- ship from this and surrounding towns. The post met in Union Hall in the early years until Memorial Hall was built, with G.A.R. rooms for veterans of the Civil War.
Supporting the National G.A.R., this unit worked for Veterans' Rights, Employment Bureaus, and State and National pensions for veterans and dependents of veterans who were killed in war, searched out un- marked graves, and erected markers. The G.A.R. worked for soldiers' and sailors' homes and hospitals.
In 1883 this National G.A.R. was instrumental in calling May 30th Memorial Day, not Decoration Day. They urged attendance at church on the Sunday previ- ous to Memorial Day in memory of departed comrades. In 1879 the post numbered forty-two members.
A beautifully-bound book belonging to the G.A.R., and containing the records of Civil War veterans is kept in the Shelburne town vault.
1872 - MILITIA
Before the Civil War, Shelburne Falls had a well- drilled military organization known as Co. H, 10th Massachusetts Regiment.
The Greenleaf Guard (Co. E, 2nd. Massachusetts Regiment) was composed of sixty-two members who organized in September 1872 and was named in honor of Colonel H. S. Greenleaf. They were Civil War veterans and others who were too young to enter service in the Civil War. They were well drilled and had an armory. They sponsored an annual Ball at Armory Hall during the 1870's.
1889 - SONS OF UNION VETERANS' HEADQUARTERS
H. S. GREENLEAF CAMP No. 99
This organization was composed of sons and grand- sons of Civil War veterans. They took their name from Colonel H. S. Greenleaf of Shelburne, who was a dear friend of Ozro Miller, and in command of the 52nd Massachusetts Regiment in the War of the Rebellion.
They were organized May 16, 1889 with twenty members and were active until Sept. 30, 1945, when they disbanded with nineteen members.
1876 - OZRO MILLER WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS NO. 56
Probably few people are aware that the Auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic had its origin in Shelburne Falls. The Ladies' Loyal Post G.A.R. was the mother organization of the W.R.C. of the United States.
In 1875 scars left by the Civil War still were many and unhealed. Widows and orphans of veterans were still suffering from the loss of those stricken down on Southern battlefields. Many were the calls on the G.A.R. for assistance.
The local post found itself with less funds than expenses. The wives and daughters of Ozro Miller Post gave a fair to raise money for the local post. Funds from the fair put the post financially back to normal. From this successful venture the women were convinced that a permanent organization might be created and maintained for the purpose of relief work among the families of living and dead soldiers of the Civil War.
On March 17, 1876 eleven women organized the Ladies' Loyal Post, G.A.R. Charter members were Mrs. Susan Gillett, Mrs. Ellen Wilder, Mrs. Walter Young, Mrs. George Pierce, Mrs. Charles Taylor, Mrs. Hepsie I. Perkins, Miss Mary Lafontain, Mrs. Edward Ritchie, Mrs. Edward Austin, Mrs. Herbert Rowley and Mrs. George Jones. Mrs. Walter Young was the first president of this newly organized society. After a little the members became dissatisfied with its title and the name was changed to Jessie Rupert Post, Matrons of the Republic. Jessie Rupert, in whose honor this title was adopted, was the much-loved Army nurse whose home was in Easthampton. She joined the 34th Massachusetts Regiment in the Shenan- doah Valley, and was thereafter known as the daugh- ter of that regiment.
From 1876 to 1885 Jessie Rupert Post was useful and enthusiastic and Orange and Athol applied to the local post for charters. These were granted, and the first extension of the society was accomplished, with
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little realization at that time of how widespread it was destined to become. The three posts attracted general attention in G.A.R. circles, and the project of form- ing a State organization was broached with ready response. Ladies' Aid Societies had been formed mean- while in all sections of Massachusetts, and delegates were sent to Fitchburg with the purpose of forming a State organization.
Mrs. Luana Gillett and Mrs. C. E. Hemenway were delegates from here. The ritual of Jessie Rupert Post, which had been written by Mrs. Gillett in col- laboration with Mr. Gillett, was adopted at this con- vention.
In its early years assistance was extended to the families of veterans locally, financial aid given to Ozro Miller Post, and articles of clothing sent to Soldiers' Homes.
In 1896 the Post, Corps, and Sons of Veterans raised a fund to purchase land where Memorial Hall now stands. In 1916 there were fifty-six members. At present there are twenty-five members. The meetings have been held in the G.A.R. rooms in Memorial Hall.
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