USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1900-1960, with genealogies > Part 11
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The Scout's program has included Winter Camping, Klondike Derbies, Camporees, and attendance at National Jamborees. Each year, beginning with 1957, members of the troops have spent a week at the Hampshire-Franklin Scout Camp in Chesterfield, Massachusetts. The camp directors name the outstanding scout for each week in the large group attending from various towns in the two counties. It is noteworthy that Troop 62 boys have been so chosen in four of the five years they have been present: Norman Deane in 1957, Roy Morgan in 1958, Calvin Clark, Jr. in 1960 and Lloyd Szulborski in 1961. The first Bernardston boy to attain the highest rank in scouting, that of Eagle Scout, was Calvin Clark, Jr. in 1961. Walter Herrick attended the National Jam- boree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1957. Donald Slocum, Larry Thurber, Norman Herrick and Philip Franklin attended the Jamboree at Colorado Springs in 1960.
An important part of the Conservation Program was the plant- ing of trees on the town "Charity Farm," on Bald Mountain Road. Under supervision of town officials and troop committee- men, the boys cleared the land and planted pine and spruces. When Fall River was diverted into new channels in certain places,
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
in the construction of Highway 91, the scouts did some tree plant- ing to prevent erosion. Another activity has been feeding of game birds. Money-raising projects through the years have been paper drives, sale of Christmas candy and First Aid kits, and serving of suppers. Some of the proceeds have been used to send certain boys to Camp Chesterfield, and to the Colorado Jamboree.
A permanent camp (cabin) was built on Snow Hill, Martindale Road, in 1956 and 1957, on land of the Bernardston Auto Ex- change. Lumber for this building was donated by Charles Her- rick, and aiding in the construction were Lowell Patch and Fred Stange. The latter deserves especial mention here; he has been of very great aid in the program of Troop 62. He was troop com- mittee chairman for three years, and gave valuable counsel and advice to scouts and Scouters. (A "Scouter," by the way, is an adult connected with scouting.) Each year a dinner meeting is held for Investiture, with advancement badges being presented by the representative of the Men's Club.
Scoutmasters: 1936, Louis Pratt; 1937, Harry J. Foley; 1941, Edwin H. Randall; 1943, John Somes; 1944, Samuel Elberfeld; 1945-1946, Lloyd Mason; 1954, Charles S. Blake, Jr .; 1955, Na- thaniel F. Ireland; 1956, Lowell Patch; 1957 to the present time, Robert C. Messer.
CUB SCOUTS
P
ACK 62 of the Cub Scouts was organized in May, 1956, under
the sponsorship of the Parent-Teacher Association of Bernard- ston Elementary School. The cubs received their charter in De- cember of the same year. During the first year, James O'Leary served as Cubmaster, Duane Bliss was his assistant and Calvin Clark was committee chairman. There were four dens, one in each part of town-north, south, center and east. Each den is under the leadership of a Den Mother and an assistant. The following served as the first Den Mothers: Barbara Bliss, Mary Merz, Patricia O'Leary and Beryl Underwood. Through the years, many others have served as Den Mothers and assistants.
Due to pressure of business, Mr. O'Leary resigned in 1957, and Everett Hurlburt served as Cubmaster until 1960. Membership has increased until, in 1961, there are six dens with Claude Ken- ney serving as Cubmaster. The Den Mothers now are: Ruby Du- chaine, Rachel Messer, Betty Nettles, Shirley Parker, Dorothy Shearer and Phyllis Streeter.
The cubs meet once a week for one hour at the homes of their
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Den Mothers. Here they learn the "Cub Promise" and "The Law of the Pack," as well as games and handicraft. They also plan a skit, hobby show or display of their work at the Pack Meeting which is held once a month at the Elementary School. Each month a different theme is presented, such as "Keeping America Beauti- ful," "Know Your State," "Indians," and "Stars." In connection with the study of the stars, the cubs were taken to the planetarium in Springfield for a lecture. On another trip, they visited the Greenfield Recorder-Gazette to see how a newspaper is printed.
At Old Home Day, the cubs sell refreshments to raise money for current expenses and have also conducted an "Old Fashioned Country Store" and a bottle drive.
SENIOR CLUB
I' N MAY, 1914, Mrs. Henry Parker entertained a "company of seniors" at her home on what is now Old Brattleboro Road. At that gathering the idea was conceived of forming a permanent club for the elderly citizens of Bernardston and vicinity to be called the Senior Club. This became a reality in July, 1914. The Rev. Mary Whitney, wife of the Rev. Herbert Whitney of the Uni- tarian Church, felt that there was a lack of social activity for peo- ple of advanced age in this locality, and was instrumental, along with Mrs. Parker and William H. Mayo, in starting this club.
The first officers were: Scribe, Mrs. Whitney; Treasurer, Charles Parker; Executive Committee, William H. Mayo, Alfred M. Stratton, Sylvester Slate, with the Scribe and Treasurer. The average attendance of these meetings was forty.
The aims of this club, composed of members of seventy years or over, are clearly set forth in the following preamble to its con- stitution:
"The objects of this club shall be to increase the happiness and usefulness of its members by friendly consultation; to think often of each other and have aspirations for mutual welfare; to seek these aims by occasional assemblages as occasion may allow; to exchange visits and readings and to remember the birthdays of its members; to impart cheer and solace to age; to increase forti- tude and hope in advancing years; to cultivate thankful memories of the past and bright visions of the future; to increase mutual sympathy and interest in each other's welfare; and to help in a higher realization of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man."
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
In 1921, the children of Reuben Park presented him with a chair and cane in observance of his 101st birthday. Later, the chair was to be presented to the oldest woman in the club and the cane to the oldest man.
The Senior Club is still active with an average attendance of twenty-five, but at present there is no age limit. Meetings are held once a month from May through October; each church in turn acting as host. At each gathering a chairman is appointed for the next meeting when members' birthdays are observed and varied programs are presented, followed by a social hour and refresh- ments.
BERNARDSTON SPORTSMAN'S CLUB
T HE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB was formed February 8, 1959 with ninety-four members. The first officers were: President, Ralph Olsen; Vice-President, Russell Deane; Secretary, Percy Deane; and Treasurer, Robert Messer.
Meetings are usually held the second Tuesday in the month and the entertainment often includes movies on nature and on club activities.
Money making projects include two suppers each year, one in the spring held at the Bernardston Elementary School Cafeteria and the other in the fall at the Pioneer Valley Regional School Cafeteria. Door prizes are given away at the fall meeting and chances are sold on sporting equipment to supplement the treasury.
The club obtains fish from the federal government for stocking town streams and has liberated white hare, pheasant and trout, purchased with treasury funds.
The purpose of the club is to improve hunting and fishing in the area by stocking the ever diminishing supply of fish and game and to improve relations between property owners and sportsmen.
BERNARDSTON TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
HE TOWN MEETING of 1958 was very poorly attended, and T little interest was shown in its financial affairs. This situation was deplored by many people, and after discussion among the citizens of the town, a general meeting was called on March 12, 1958, under the leadership of Edwin Dyer and Harry Seager, to see if the townspeople would be interested in forming a Taxpayers Association. Through such an organization, the voters could be
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
better informed about town government and the town budget, which was then about $270,000. The response was enthusiastic, and it was agreed to form an association. A committee was chosen under the leadership of Commander Arthur Hodges to prepare plans for organization. On May 16, a second meeting was held at which by-laws were accepted and a board of directors elected, con- sisting of: President, Commander Hodges; Vice-President, Edwin Dyer; Secretary, Mrs. George Slocum; Treasurer, George H. Davis. One hundred and fifty-nine people joined the association in its first year.
Since its inception, the Taxpayers Association has stimulated much more interest in and knowledge of town government, and has encouraged Bernardston citizens to take a more active part in its fiscal affairs.
THE BERNARDSTON MUTUAL SOCIETY FOR DETECTING THIEVES
T HE SOCIETY came into existence at a meeting of a number of citizens of Bernardston, "in the county of Franklin and Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, held agreeable to previous notice, at H. W. Cushman's Tavern, in said Bernardston, on the ninth day of January, A.D. 1832, for the purpose of associating them- selves together for the mutual detection and bringing to justice of thieves and for finding and restoring to the owner all goods which shall be feloniously taken from any member of this Society." Job Goodale was called to the chair and the constitution and by-laws were adopted. Article XIV, an interesting part of the constitution, reads as follows: "This Society will take notice of all kinds of petty thieving and pilfering, such as stealing from Gardens, Orchards and Hen-Roosts, and other articles of small value; also incen- diaries; and will take energetic and vigilant measures and make such searches as shall be deemed expedient by the Board of Direc- tors in order to bring such thieves, pilferers or incendiaries to justice." The meeting of January 9, 1832, was the first, although a preliminary meeting was held November 19, 1831. There were twenty charter members; possibly seven more, who had not paid their dollar, as only $20 was taken into the treasury on that date.
The first officers were: President, Job Goodale; Secretary, Henry W. Cushman; Treasurer, L. C. Newcomb. From 1832 to 1895 no records are available.
Meetings were held annually from 1895, with the exception of
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
1921 to 1924, when one session was held and meetings were again discontinued until 1933. In November, 1938, the Montague So- ciety invited Bernardston members to meet with them. At a meet- ing at the home of Harold Denison, Montague was invited to meet at the Northfield Hotel on November 25, 1941. The two or- ganizations enjoyed a meeting and good time on that date.
The last meeting, recorded on January 13, 1942, was held at Eck Inn in North Bernardston and seven new members joined the society. On that evening, a fine supper was enjoyed and a "white elephant" sale with A. G. Gallup, Auctioneer, netted $14.90 for the treasury. Carolyn Shores measured everyone's waist at one penny an inch, which resulted in $22.19 for the Red Cross.
For more than a century, this society served its purpose, even far beyond the call of duty and had the distinction of mixing business with pleasure. The annual meeting and banquet became a highlight of local society. Ray E. Franklin is now president of the Bernardston Mutual Society for the Detection of Thieves, and expresses the hope that, one day, the group may function again.
Should the Society reconvene, there is a president, there is money in the treasury, there is a constitution and there are by-laws on record to guide the activities of the group.
THE BERNARDSTON Y.M.C.A. AS DESCRIBED BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS
T HE BERNARDSTON Y.M.C.A. was organized in 1910 by the Rev. Eugene M. Frary, Pastor of the Congregational Church. Cer- tainly no one gave more of his talents and time to a more motley crew than we.
Since Bernardston was essentially a farming community, the only recreational outlet for the boys was either playing pool at the local barbershop across the street from the Baptist Church, (and parental consent was not always forthcoming), or watching the trains at the station, which totaled twelve per day. Any "prob- lem" teenagers simply had a hoe, rake, shovel or ax handed them during the appropriate season, and their problems were solved- but quickly.
This is where the Y.M.C.A. entered the picture. Meetings were held each Wednesday night over the Library. Furnishings were a "grand" piano of Civil War vintage, a wrestling mat and a pool table. We rapidly acquired the usual quota of banged heads, pulled muscles, and one broken leg. In those days there were no
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
heat lamps, no rubbing tables, and no trainers to help alleviate or prevent legion bumps and bruises.
Came the summer of 1912 and all available horse flesh was taken from the farms and their harness-worn frames beautifully decked out in Blue and White, "our colors." We rode as a group in the gala parade commemorating the one hundred-fiftieth anni- versary of the incorporation of the town. It was the middle of the week and no doubt the animals as well as their riders enjoyed the day off! The highlight of the activities was a dance featuring the popular numbers of the day, such as "Pink Lady" and "Moonlight Bay" which still evoke nostalgic memories.
In 1914, we organized a baseball team to compete in the Frank- lin County Y.M.C.A. League. Naturally no team could compete without proper garb, or so we thought, and we decided that uni- forms were a "must." The town was canvassed for contributions toward the goal. Shortly afterward, the postmaster confronted the group with a C.O.D. of $48.50, which in those days was a young fortune. However, after some desperate last minute scrambling, the money was obtained and delivery duly made. We justified the generosity of the donors (Mr. I. B. Snow in particular, who bailed us out at the last minute) by winning the championship. The cup is still in Cushman Library.
It is a far cry from Pasadena in 1960, where this is being writ- ten, to Bernardston in 1912. But it is considered a privilege to pay tribute to Mr. Frary for his efforts in our behalf, and for his for- bearance with occasional profanity which slipped out during our struggles on the ballfield. His influence has been felt by all of us through the years.
Chapter IX
BERNARDSTON'S PART IN THE WARS
THE WORLD WARS
W ORLD WAR I began on July 28, 1914. Great powers of the world believed that the threat of force was the only method through which they might get what they wanted. But, whenever a country yielded to these threats, it was certain to start building its military strength in order that it would not have to yield a second time. No one knew when the fuse of battle might be lit. Everyone feared it and armed to the hilt to avoid it. In fact, it has been said the "Fear of War" became a leading cause of World War I. It took but two pistol shots in Sarajevo, Austria, on June 28, 1914, to plunge humanity into the greatest struggle the world had ever seen and in which almost eight million soldiers lost their lives.
Bernardston's sons, eager as in former times to defend the cause of liberty, and already cited by the town for their devotion and patriotism were:
Barber, Myron E.
Joslyn, Myron M.
Bunevich, John
Marshall, Thomas
Clark, Harry R.
Messer, John H.
Cronyn, Theodore
Messer, Raymond J.
Cushman, Burt A.
Nelson, Herbert R.
Davis, Leslie E.
Parker, Ernest B.
Eastman, Howard M.
Parks, Raymond L.
Flagg, Almon J.
Pratt, Fred F.
Gauthier, Donald F.
Slate, Everett J., Jr.
Goodnow, Harold W.
Stanclift, C. Webster
Grant, Elbert P.
Hills, Frank B.
Hodskins, Dr. Edward B.
Student Army Training Corps Slate, George L. Wilder, Franklin
Little more than twenty years after the Treaty of Versailles, the world was again at war. This second conflict which many his- torians regard as part of the great struggle which began in 1914, was called World War II. The first conflict, while principally a
122
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
political war, was a struggle for empire and power. World War II was a struggle to keep alive the spirit of liberty, testing two basic philosophies of life-Democracy and Fascism.
Once again, Bernardston's sons and daughters rallied to the colors and distinguished themselves gallantly on land, sea and in the air as defenders of the American way of life. A roll of those who served follows:
Barber, Leland M.
Barber, Stephen G.
Bardsley, Fredrick R.
Evertson, William H.
Bardwell, Ernest E.
Field, William E., Jr.
Barnard, Charles S.
Fitzherbert, Natalie
Barnard, George L.
Foster, Frank R. Franklin, Ray J.
Barton, Kenneth C.
Griswold, Sidney W.
Begg, Robert B.
Griswold, Thomas H.
Blanchard, Alfred N.
Grover, Clifford B.
Brown, Arthur F.
Hale, Donald B.
* Brown, Darwin H.
Hale, Harold A.
Butterfield, Lawrence H.
Hastings, Harold
Cairns, Hugh E.
Herrick, Charles W.
Clark, Leonard H.
Herrick, Roy S.
Crosier, Raymond B.
Jillson, Clarence E.
Crowell, Jerrold S.
Johnson, Robert A.
Crowell, Roy A.
Judd, Theodore W.
Cummings, Joseph J., Jr. Davis, Edward Day, Harlan
Kmiec, Joseph J.
Knowlton, Edward C.
Deane, Clarence M.
LaPlante, Ernest B., Jr.
Deane, Percy F.
Lenois, Carl R.
* Deane, Perley F.
Lenois, Leon H.
Denison, Alan E.
Longway, Charles D.
Denison, Elizabeth
Magoon, Delmar P. Magoon, Frederick D.
Denison, Hulbert G.
Martin, Robert
Denison, John A.
McGann, Donald S.
Deveney, John R.
Messer, Robert C.
Donaldson, Paul J.
Messer, William S.
Duprey, Norman J.
Michaud, Lewis
* Killed in Action,
Kratz, Robert H.
Denison, Francis E.
Dyer, Edwin W. F., Jr. Eckhoff, Christian
Barnard, Irma L.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Milowski, Charles W.
Smith, Elliot H.
Milowski, Walter J.
Snow, Arah E.
Minott, Foster L.
Snow, Edward B., Jr.
Monty, Melvin E.
Sobiech, Anthony P.
Nelson, Cola R.
Spencer, Walter B.
Nelson, Ronald
Stillwell, Warren L.
Newton, Albert T.
Stone, Fred S.
Olden, Ralph N.
Streeter, Ernest R.
Olsen, Ralph W.
Sullivan, Philip J., Sr.
Park, Donald D.
Sullivan, Timothy D., Jr.
Park, Stanley L.
Thomas, Frank P.
Pappas, Stanford C.
Thurber, Emerson G.
Peterson, Carl A.
Truesdell, Bradford F.
Petrin, William E.
Tyler, Malcolm C.
Pickhardt, Charles F.
Underwood, William D.
Pratt, George H.
Varney, Frederick E.
Raymond, Elbert C.
Warden, Edward K.
Richardson, Franklin O.
Wessman, Robert F.
Richardson, Harley A.
Wiemers, Junior S.
Schaufus, Robert A.
Wilde, Milton A.
Sedgley, James
Wilson, Frederick W.
Shedd, Allan
Wood, Ira J.
Shores, William H.
Wood, Robert E.
Slate, Theodore H.
"We who saw Europe liberated know that the Communistic fear that men will cling to freedom is well founded. It is possible that this truth may be the reason for what appears to be an aggressive intent on the part of the Communists to tear down all govern- mental structures based upon individual freedom. If the men and women of America face this issue as squarely and bravely as their soldiers faced the terrors of battle in World War II, we should have no fear of the outcome."
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Swelling the ranks of War Veterans are the following towns- people, who, by reason of residence outside of Bernardston during the war years, were not listed on either of the preceding rolls:
WORLD WAR I-1917-1918
Bickford, Raymond L.
Hadley, Collin L.
Hodges, Arthur T.
Payne, Harold J.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Pearson, Paul Perry, James L. Perry, Lowell E.
Stange, Fred J. Tyler, Arthur L. Wiemers, Herman A.
WORLD WAR II-1941-1945
Aldrich, Stanley E.
Griswold, Ronald E.
Aleksiewicz, Theodore P.
Harris, Richard D.
Allen, Raymond, Jr.
Harwood, Guy D.
Amidon, Winthrop L.
Haskell, Clifford H.
Baker, Bettie Joyce
Haskell, Donald D.
Barber, Doris L.
Hodges, Arthur T.
Barrett, Richard E.
Howe, Carl J.
Blake, Charles S., Jr.
Hume, William H., Jr.
Bliss, Duane B.
Johnson, Frederic E.
Brown, Vernon W.
Keenan, Paul J.
Burdick, Ralph E.
Kenney, George H., Jr.
Canedy, Edward N.
Lenois, Donald R.
Canedy, Florence
McCrea, James C.
Carpenter, Miner H.
Marble, E. Douglas
Cascone, Michele
Marble, James H.
Chase, George F.
Merz, Karl F.
Churchill, Neil
Nebelski, John
Clark, Harland
Neff, Charles K.
Couture, Alvah
Nettles, Thomas R.
Cranson, Merle
Newhall, Donald A.
Crown, Merrill C.
O'Leary, James A.
Davis, George B.
Parker, Frederick G.
Deneault, Eugene L.
Purrington, Harry D.
Derrig, Gordon E.
Racine, Arthur
Duchaine, Allen
Shearer, Stanley E.
Field, Delvy M.
Slocum, George C.
Fleming, Howard F.
Vlach, Rudolph
Fogg, John F.
Watson, John R.
Foss, Wayland A.
Whitney, Burton F.
Gaines, Frederick E.
Wood, George H.
KOREAN WAR-1950-1953
Barber, Louie A. Cascone, Michele Clark, Raymond E. Curtis, Frederick G.
Cutter, Alvin Dwight, David A. Grover, Rodney
Howe, Carl J.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Hume, William H., Jr.
Randall, Clarence A.
La Valley, Albert G.
Tuttle, George E.
Messer, David G.
Watson, John R.
Nerbonne, Richard W.
Whitney, Burton F.
Oberacker, Donald P.
Wiemers, Donald A.
Phillips, Richard H.
Wood, Harold E.
Pratt, Alan A.
Wyatt, Dale E.
Racine, Arthur
THE AMERICAN LEGION
T THE AMERICAN LEGION was first organized in Bernardston by a group of World War I veterans in 1926. The post was named Bernardston Post No. 233. Fifteen members met in the Town Hall and were granted a charter February 20, 1926. The charter is now hanging in the present Legion Home. Post No. 233 was not too active and was disbanded during the depression.
The present Deane-Brown Post No. 362 was organized in 1946 with fifteen members forming the temporary charter. The first officers were: Commander, Laurie Harris, Jr .; First Vice-Com- mander, Paul Donaldson; Second Vice-Commander, Theodore Judd; Adjutant, Robert May; Service Officer, Edward Snow, Jr .; Historian, Robert Gaines; Sergeant at arms, Harold Hale; Finance Officer, Clarence Deane; Chaplain, Rev. Francis Schlater. The post got its name from two Bernardston men, Perley F. Deane, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Deane, and Darwin H. Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nelson, who gave their lives while serving in the Pacific with the United States Marines during World War II.
The permanent charter was granted in June, 1950 with fifty- three members. For ten years the meetings were held in the Town Hall. In 1955, the Legion purchased the Green School from the town for one dollar. Through the combined efforts of its mem- bers, the building was remodeled to form the present Legion Home. The post was incorporated in 1956. The Legion members are truly proud of their very active Auxiliary and Junior Auxil- iary Units.
The activities of the post are varied. Due to the nature of the organization, it naturally is prominent in all functions of the town, such as Memorial Day services. It is concerned with the wel- fare of all veterans both at home and in the hospitals. Strong sup- port is also given to any town function which the Legion deems beneficial to the people of the community. The post is directly
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
responsible for the development of the athletic field and the drinking fountain at Cushman Park.
Each year the post has sent a Bernardston boy to Boys' State. This is an annual project of the American Legion Department of Massachusetts, held at the University of Massachusetts and enables a boy to learn the mechanics of democratic government by partici- pation.
For many years the Bernardston Minstrel Shows have been sponsored by the American Legion, primarily the only source of income. The Legion is fortunate in being successful from a finan- cial and a public acceptance standpoint. This is an annual show, always open to the citizens of the town for display of their talents.
Through the combined efforts of the members and other in- terested citizens, the temporary Honor Roll at the Town Hall was removed to Cushman Park. In 1961, the post was responsible for an article in the Town Warrant to replace the Honor Roll with a permanent monument and to put a plaque, with the names of World War II and the Korean War veterans, in the Town Hall. This was unanimously voted at the annual town meeting. For this, the Deane-Brown Post No. 362 salutes the voters and is proud to be a part of the Town of Bernardston.
THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY Post No. 233 was organized T in 1927 with twelve members. The officers were as follows: President, Evelyn Miller; Vice-President, Alice Day; Secretary- Treasurer, Mary Turner; Sergeant at Arms, Ruth Wilder; His- torian, Marion Flagg. The chief project was the helping of vet- erans at Leeds Hospital. Food sales were held to raise money, magazines and jellies were collected and Christmas kits made. After a short time this Post became inactive.
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