From the Grayslake Historical Society Archives: American Legion Post 659

Artifacts at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St., have stories to tell.

One of those stories is the Grayslake American Legion Post 659 decorative lighted globe that is displayed in a case in the annex of the museum where other large items from the Grayslake Historical Society collection are on display for public view. The colorful globe, which reminds one of the globes atop gas station pumps of the past, is mounted on a steel frame and electrified. It is inscribed with the American Legion logo and Grayslake Legion Post 659.

Long-time Legion members recall the globe was used for officer installation ceremonies on the second floor of the old Grayslake Village Hall on Hawley Street where the museum is now located. The lighted globe was on a table for the officer installation in the hall's meeting room where the Legion members met regularly.

According to Grayslake: A Historical Portrait, the American Legion Post in Grayslake was given a temporary charter on June 24, 1920 with 78 members. The original charter became effective on Sept. 11, 1928. It was named the James Catalano Post after Grayslake's only casualty during World War I. The name was changed to Grayslake Post 659 on Nov. 26, 1945.

One of the highlights of the newly-named post was hosting a parade in July 1948 that honored local legionnaire Douglas Getchell, who had been elected department commander for Illinois. It was reported that more than 10,000 people attended the parade.

With a booming membership of more than 300, the post built a new building in 1955 on Seymour Avenue. However, membership dropped dramatically in the 1960s, and the post sold the building in 1971 for $35,000 to the Grayslake Community Park District. In February 1973 the building was remodeled and a teen center was added in the basement. The building became known as the American Legion Memorial Building that housed the Grayslake Community Park District. In the 2000s the village purchased the property to make way for a new village hall and police department complex complete with a parking lot.

Throughout the years, the Legion has participated in community betterment programs on the local, regional and state levels. Funds have been used to assist the community for Boys' State and Girls' State nominees and local school awards. Donations have been made to Scouting, blind bowling activities, the Grayslake Historical Society, cancer research, youth organizations and providing flags for veterans' graves. Volunteers have worked for various programs for the blind, at the veterans hospital in North Chicago and Winchester House in Libertyville.

Many of these service project activities continue with poppy sales on Memorial Day weekends and Veteran's Day weekends, sponsorship of Legion baseball, providing a color guard in all Grayslake parades, support of Boy's State and Girl's State programs and activities, visiting disabled veterans in the VA hospital in North Chicago and providing entertainment for them.

Post members also provide services for deceased local veterans, either at the funeral home or gravesite, or where needed.

The post meets every other month at the Grayslake Park District building at 240 Commerce Drive. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

Hours at the museum are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and during the Farmers' Market on Wednesday evenings and during other downtown Grayslake events.

—Contributed by the Grayslake Historical Society.