September 23 2011 History

American Legion Post #48
Chesnee, SC

September 23, 2011 Older Post Members Meeting to Gather Post History

A Brief History of Post #48

            Post #48 was initially chartered by the national American Legion December 22, 1936. The Post was granted a Certificate of Incorporation by the State of South Carolina on September 5, 1950. Clifford E Edwards (Mayor of Chesnee) was the Post Commander at that time. The land on which the Post building resides was acquired on October 9, 1950. This land is slightly south of the Chesnee city limits. The Permanent Charter from the national American Legion was granted August 27, 1951. The mortgage enabling the Post to construct the current building was approved May 1, 1959. Paul Tillotson was the Post Commander at this time. The mortgage was held by Piedmont Federal Savings & Loan Association of Gaffney, SC. The construction on the building took place during late 1960 into early 1961. Many members of the Post at that time participated in this construction. For example, Wilford Willingham, a World War II veteran, helped wire the building.

            The helicopter displayed at the south end of the building was installed September 18, 2004. The pistol range on the west side of the building was started in the late 1980’s. Mike Gable and Jack Wiggins built the shed that still shades shooters at the range. The pistol range has improved immensely in the last 3 years under the supervision of Range Committee Chairman Larry Chase. The Naval display consists of a Mark 14A torpedo, a powder charge launched depth charge – north of the torpedo, and an air launched hedgehog, just south of the torpedo all of which was installed on October 22, 2010. This equipment was donated to Post #48 through a friend of long time post member Tommy Walker, Harvey J Visnaw a retired U. S. Navy veteran who is now deceased. The formal dedication of this equipment took place with a ceremony on May 14, 2011. The guest of honor for this event was Harvey Visnaw’s daughter Betty Visnaw Davis.

            Post Commander Cliff Jones was awarded Top Commander in SC American Legion District 8 on April 18, 2011. This award was granted for being the only Post in District to achieve our membership goal as greater than 100%.

            Post #48 currently has 7 World War II veterans as members: Benard Cantrell, Clellan Harris, Frank Hyatt, Connell Scruggs, Walter C Thrift, Boyce Wall, and Wilford Willingham. We salute these members of the “Greatest Generation”.

            The members of Post #48 also salute the below who have served honorably as members of this post for an extended period of time: Tommy Walker 57 years, Clellan Harris 46 years, F M Cash 40 years, and Harland Mossberg 35 years. This represents continuous years as members of the Post.

            Post #48 normally meets at 7:00 PM on the 2nd Thursday of each month, except July when we do not meet, and December when we meet on a Saturday prior to Christmas as our Christmas meeting. Veterans with service during a war-time period are eligible to be members.