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Show United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Fillmore American Legion Hall Millard County, Utah Name of Property County and State the American Legion Veterans of World War I. Patriotism ran high in those days. So I called a meeting of our Post 61 and presented my plan to them and they agreed it was worth trying.12 Although, some members were pressing for a brick structure, the legionnaires eventually agreed to begin selling logs for $5.00 each to cover the logs plus "cement foundations, flooring, windows, doors, roofing . . . and the many items needed for the completion of the Hall."13 Meanwhile, the post also had to secure a piece of land for the new building. A portion of the public square seemed the best choice and Frank Stewart took a proposal to the Fillmore City Council, which agreed to lease a portion of the public square to the American Legion. Stewart emphasized the importance of the building as a memorial for "the men who gave their lives and the men who served in the war for world liberty."14 On January 24, 1924, the City Council minutes record that "A motion was made and seconded that the Mayor and City Council grant a lease for the entire life of the American Legion for the purpose of a memorial home."15 The sale of logs started immediately after the acquisition of the land. Frank Stewart described the process as follows: The first sale I made was to James A. Kelly for $25.00 - one for each member of this family. That started the ball rolling. In the first week I sold over $1,285.00 for logs. All our members were selling - many citizens were selling. I guess it was the greatest selling team Millard County ever had. The LDS Church was very helpful. I was invited to explain from the pulpit and all the towns - Scipio - Holden - Meadow and Kanosh all helped. Enthusiasm ran HIGH. It seemed that everyone wanted logs [and] in addition many contributed labor which was gladly accepted.16 The logs were ordered in the spring of 1924. The construction was a collaborative effort. Elmer Davies and Basil Moulton hauled the gravel and dug the basement. Some sources attribute the design of the building to P. A. Paulson, a local high school teacher and member of the legion's building committee.17 However, there is general agreement that the plans and execution of the design were the work of Fillmore master carpenter, Martin Hanson and his sons. Eramus Martin Hanson was a Danish immigrant who began as a farmer in Millard County. Hanson and his sons (Martin Henry, Lorenzo, Peter, Arden D., Nephi and Millard) became prolific and highly-skilled carpenters and contractors in the first half of the twentieth century.18 Hanson and his sons built the log walls sometime in the second half of 1924. An article in the Millard County Progress described the design as "fashioned after the large log structures in Yellowstone National Park" and noted that "the donors name will be branded upon the logs."19 Minutes of meetings for Post 61 provide the names of other local craftsman as well as a timeline of the construction. In February 1925, each legion member was asked to subscribe for $10.00 to help with the completion of the building. Around the same time payments were made to Martin Hanson, Nick Day, and Leo Jackson for installing the trusses and rafters. In April 1925, Post 61 had the building insured for $3,000. On April 18, 1925, the minutes report that the roof had been shingled by legion members. In October 1925, Will and Lew Critchley completed the chinking of the logs and McBride Lumber Company supplied the flooring. By the end of November 1925, the windows and doors were installed by Marion H. Seguine.20 The first meeting was held in the log building on December 12, 1925. 12 Frank L. Stewart, [Letter, circa 1975]. Available at the Utah State Historic Preservation Office. Ibid. 14 Millard County Progress, January 25, 1924: 1. 15 The lease currently specifies that the American Legion continue to use and maintain the building or ownership will revert to the city. 16 Stewart letter. 17 Powell, [4]. P. A. Paulson's name appears with the variant spellings: Poulson and Paulsen. The other committee members were Frank L. Stewart, William Shaw and Arnell Jackson. 18 Nephi, Millard and Arden David all died within a decade of the completion of the American Legion building and had relatively short careers. The surviving brothers continued working as contractors for many years. 19 Millard County Progress, January 25, 1924: 1. The branding did not occur and there is no surviving written record of the donors. 20 Minutes of the American Legion Post 61. Available from the American Legion Post 61. 8 13 |
