HISTORY OF LEO HILL POST 44, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO.
The American Legion was formed in Paris Franc in March of 1919 by a group of World War I veterans. In September of 1919 the Congress of the United States granted the Legion a national charter.
Steamboat Springs World War I veterans organized Leo Hill Post #44 and were given a charter in August of 1920, making the Post one of the oldest continuing community organizations The Post had 40 charter members and the first officers were: Dr. F.A. McDaniel, Commander; Lloyd Gregg, Vice Commander and Art Campbell as Adjutant.
The Post was named after Leo Hill, the first Steamboat Springs soldier to be killed in World War I. Leo Hill was the son of C.F. and Mamie Hill. He joined the Army in 1917 and served with the 74th Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Division as a corporal. He was killed at the battle of Chateau Thierry on July 19, 1918.
The Ladies Auxiliary of Post #44 was organized in October of 1920 with 16 charter members. The first officers were: Mrs. Earl Brittain, President; Mrs. Art Campbell, Vic-president; Mrs. H.D. Gilliam, Treasurer and Miss Luella Welch the Secretary. The first dues for the Auxiliary were 25 cents per member.
Throughout the years, the Post and Auxiliary have been committed to organizing, leading and serving in many community activities. Many of these activities have become traditional events for Steamboat Springs. Some of these events are:
The American Legion began Memorial Day Services in 1921 with the burial of Guy Utter in the Steamboat Cemetery. Guy, who was killed at the Battle of Verdun had been buried in France, but his body was brought home by the family and buried on Memorial Day. In the late 1920’s the Memorial Day service included a parade down Lincoln Ave. This parade continued on and off until 1958 when the last parade was held. In 1948, the Legion and VFW held the first joint Memorial Day ceremony. This ceremony started with the lowering of the flag at the Courthouse, then a parade of marchers and cars down Lincoln Ave. In 1950 there were over 50 cars in the parade. Services concluded at the cemetery with military honors for the fallen.
In 1922, the American Legion organized the funding of four memorial fountains to be placed on Lincoln Ave. to honor those that served in the “Great War” These fountains were dedicated in November of 1922 and accepted for the town by Mayor Dr. F.E. Willett. These fountains were part of Steamboat’s Lincoln Ave. until the late 1930’s.
The Post’s Ladies Auxiliary held its first poppy drive on May 29, 1926, with proceeds of $114.77. This tradition continues today with both the Legion and VFW auxiliaries distributing poppies on Memorial and Veterans Day. Donations from the poppies help promote special activities of the Posts.
One of the best known events sponsored by the Post were the banquets and dances held to celebrate special occasions, like the 4th of July, Veterans Day and Ski Carnival. The first Veterans Day banquet and dance was held in November of 1922 and in 1926 a 4th of July Dance was started. By the early 1930’s these events were so popular that the Post decided that it needed its own building and in 1932 it purchased and remodeled a building called the Chieftain.
Steamboat Springs World War I veterans organized Leo Hill Post #44 and were given a charter in August of 1920, making the Post one of the oldest continuing community organizations The Post had 40 charter members and the first officers were: Dr. F.A. McDaniel, Commander; Lloyd Gregg, Vice Commander and Art Campbell as Adjutant.
The Post was named after Leo Hill, the first Steamboat Springs soldier to be killed in World War I. Leo Hill was the son of C.F. and Mamie Hill. He joined the Army in 1917 and served with the 74th Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Division as a corporal. He was killed at the battle of Chateau Thierry on July 19, 1918.
The Ladies Auxiliary of Post #44 was organized in October of 1920 with 16 charter members. The first officers were: Mrs. Earl Brittain, President; Mrs. Art Campbell, Vic-president; Mrs. H.D. Gilliam, Treasurer and Miss Luella Welch the Secretary. The first dues for the Auxiliary were 25 cents per member.
Throughout the years, the Post and Auxiliary have been committed to organizing, leading and serving in many community activities. Many of these activities have become traditional events for Steamboat Springs. Some of these events are:
The American Legion began Memorial Day Services in 1921 with the burial of Guy Utter in the Steamboat Cemetery. Guy, who was killed at the Battle of Verdun had been buried in France, but his body was brought home by the family and buried on Memorial Day. In the late 1920’s the Memorial Day service included a parade down Lincoln Ave. This parade continued on and off until 1958 when the last parade was held. In 1948, the Legion and VFW held the first joint Memorial Day ceremony. This ceremony started with the lowering of the flag at the Courthouse, then a parade of marchers and cars down Lincoln Ave. In 1950 there were over 50 cars in the parade. Services concluded at the cemetery with military honors for the fallen.
In 1922, the American Legion organized the funding of four memorial fountains to be placed on Lincoln Ave. to honor those that served in the “Great War” These fountains were dedicated in November of 1922 and accepted for the town by Mayor Dr. F.E. Willett. These fountains were part of Steamboat’s Lincoln Ave. until the late 1930’s.
The Post’s Ladies Auxiliary held its first poppy drive on May 29, 1926, with proceeds of $114.77. This tradition continues today with both the Legion and VFW auxiliaries distributing poppies on Memorial and Veterans Day. Donations from the poppies help promote special activities of the Posts.
One of the best known events sponsored by the Post were the banquets and dances held to celebrate special occasions, like the 4th of July, Veterans Day and Ski Carnival. The first Veterans Day banquet and dance was held in November of 1922 and in 1926 a 4th of July Dance was started. By the early 1930’s these events were so popular that the Post decided that it needed its own building and in 1932 it purchased and remodeled a building called the Chieftain.
The Post renamed the building the “Legionnaire”, but locals just called the “Legion Hut”. This building located on the Southeast corner of Lincoln and Third Street became a meeting place and social center for many of the other Steamboat organizations and Saturday night dances.
In 1954, the Post sold the “Legionnaire” and purchased the Dinus Building on the corner of 5th and Lincoln across from the Courthouse. The Post then contracted the lower floor of this building to the town of Steamboat for a community center and the town library. The Post maintained office and meeting space on the second floor along with renting out office space to Routt County and CDOT. The Post sold this building to the City in 1965. The Post then purchased a building on the corner of 10th and Lincoln, just down from the Pilot Office and later rented this building to the Steamboat Pilot.
In 1978, the Post sold this building, and began working with the City to build a new Community Center in Lincoln Park. The Post made a sizeable donation for the construction of the new community center in exchange for a 99 year lease for office and meeting space in the building. When the City decided to build a new community center west of town, the Post participated in the planning and also paid for the wood flooring for the event rooms of this building. The City in order to meet its obligations of the 99 year lease also included office space and a meeting room the Post.
The Post has also played a major role in the 4th of July events. Starting in 1922 the Post Color Guard has led every 4th of July parade. In 1948, the Post joined with the VFW to start a mounted Color Guard. Starting in 1930, the Post organized all of the 4th of July events, this included the parade, rodeo and usually three nights of dancing. The Post later added a fireworks display which highlighted the 4th of July evening. The Post turned the rodeo and parade over to the City in the Mid 1960’s, but continued the firework display until 1997 when it to was turned over to the City.
The Post and Auxiliary have always been committed to youth programs. The Boys and Girl State programs have been a major focus since the early 1950’s. This program allows boys and girls in their Junior year in high school to attend a week long program focused on democracy. During the program, Steamboat youth along with their peers from across the State, learn about local, state and national government and the importance of participation and citizenship.
Other youth programs the Post has promoted over the years include: Legion Baseball teams, of which the 2013 team won the Legion Class B state championship. Assisted the local 4-H in establishing a youth shooting sports program. From 1996 to 2000, the Post maintained a scholarship program which assisted 20 children of local veterans with their college education.
Since the 1920’s the Post has maintained a Honor Guard to provide military honors at the funerals of local veterans. Since 1948, this Honor Guard has been made up of both American Legion and VFW Post members. The Post also does flag ceremonies at various local events.
Today, the Post remains active in several community events. The Post helps the local elementary schools with Veterans Day programs, meets with senior veterans at the assisted living center and provides monthly Bingo games during the winter months. The Post also worked with the Chamber Resort Association to start a program to identify local veteran owned business and give them special promotion on the Chamber business web site. The Post also continues to identify local youth that are currently serving in the armed forces and present their parents with a blue star banner. The Post is also working with the local museum to start a local military history collection
In 1954, the Post sold the “Legionnaire” and purchased the Dinus Building on the corner of 5th and Lincoln across from the Courthouse. The Post then contracted the lower floor of this building to the town of Steamboat for a community center and the town library. The Post maintained office and meeting space on the second floor along with renting out office space to Routt County and CDOT. The Post sold this building to the City in 1965. The Post then purchased a building on the corner of 10th and Lincoln, just down from the Pilot Office and later rented this building to the Steamboat Pilot.
In 1978, the Post sold this building, and began working with the City to build a new Community Center in Lincoln Park. The Post made a sizeable donation for the construction of the new community center in exchange for a 99 year lease for office and meeting space in the building. When the City decided to build a new community center west of town, the Post participated in the planning and also paid for the wood flooring for the event rooms of this building. The City in order to meet its obligations of the 99 year lease also included office space and a meeting room the Post.
The Post has also played a major role in the 4th of July events. Starting in 1922 the Post Color Guard has led every 4th of July parade. In 1948, the Post joined with the VFW to start a mounted Color Guard. Starting in 1930, the Post organized all of the 4th of July events, this included the parade, rodeo and usually three nights of dancing. The Post later added a fireworks display which highlighted the 4th of July evening. The Post turned the rodeo and parade over to the City in the Mid 1960’s, but continued the firework display until 1997 when it to was turned over to the City.
The Post and Auxiliary have always been committed to youth programs. The Boys and Girl State programs have been a major focus since the early 1950’s. This program allows boys and girls in their Junior year in high school to attend a week long program focused on democracy. During the program, Steamboat youth along with their peers from across the State, learn about local, state and national government and the importance of participation and citizenship.
Other youth programs the Post has promoted over the years include: Legion Baseball teams, of which the 2013 team won the Legion Class B state championship. Assisted the local 4-H in establishing a youth shooting sports program. From 1996 to 2000, the Post maintained a scholarship program which assisted 20 children of local veterans with their college education.
Since the 1920’s the Post has maintained a Honor Guard to provide military honors at the funerals of local veterans. Since 1948, this Honor Guard has been made up of both American Legion and VFW Post members. The Post also does flag ceremonies at various local events.
Today, the Post remains active in several community events. The Post helps the local elementary schools with Veterans Day programs, meets with senior veterans at the assisted living center and provides monthly Bingo games during the winter months. The Post also worked with the Chamber Resort Association to start a program to identify local veteran owned business and give them special promotion on the Chamber business web site. The Post also continues to identify local youth that are currently serving in the armed forces and present their parents with a blue star banner. The Post is also working with the local museum to start a local military history collection