AMERICAN LEGION POST 90: THE BEGINNING
The year was 1946, a WWI Veteran named Mr. A. A. Shuler decided that the community was in need of an American Legion post because of all the veterans around and the need to serve the community. His interest in the Legion began in Ellorie, S.C. visiting a post down there. Mr. A. A. Shuler, Mr. Sam Steele and Mr. H.G Fulmer, went to the American Legion headquarters on Pickins Street and filed for a charter. The post number given was 90 in South Congaree July 26, 1946.
Mr. Shuler’s sons, Owen and Lynn were also helpful with the beginning by recruiting veterans in the area. They first started meeting in an old wooden building in South Congaree. Mr. A.A. Shuler was elected as the first Commander of American Legion Post 90. The building was shared with a group known as United Neighbors. It was located off, (Hwy 215 then) in a field across from the now Congaree Elementary School. The one room building was without a kitchen but was added on later. A potbellied stove was used to heat the building.
Many servicemen were killed in Europe and buried there. Years later, their bodies were removed and brought home for burial. Mr. Lynn Shuler said that they formed a squad of 12 WWII veterans to help give those servicemen an honorable burial here in their hometown. James Taylor and his brother Horace Taylor were Navy men and knew how to fold the flag. Davis Durham knew how to play the bugle and provided taps. The other 9 Honor Guards were: Lynn Shuler, Henry Browder, A.A. Shuler, George Steele, Sam Steele, Virley Seay, Louis Hite, David Preister and Clayton Durham. A total of 9 burials were presented by American Legion Post 90 for their families.
Needing to meet in a larger building because of the larger number of veterans wanting to join, Mr. AA Shuler approached Mrs. Harold Walker, wife of Harold Walker Plumbing and Pipefitting who owned a piece of land on highway 215 in South Congaree. In 1959, Mrs. Walker agreed to deed a section of land to build an American Legion post home for the veterans in the area.
Three men went to the bank and signed a note to build the Legion Home we are in today are, A.A. Shuler, Davis Durham and Sam Steele. The note was for $6,000 and payments were $80.00 per month.
Contractor, John Homer Spires was chosen to build the post home with the help of members of Post 90. Thus a plan was drawn up to build the post home with the talented skills of the members which included Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters, Block layers and plenty of labor. Even the septic tank was block laid and the drain dug by hand. Everyone did something to contribute to the building of the new post home. Mr. Harold Walker donated the materials for the plumbing while Lynn Shuler, Owen Shuler and Earl Williams did the plumbing itself. S.W Steele provided most of the electrical service.
Two block BBQ pits were laid behind the building and used often. Each 4th of July, a BBQ was held to help pay for the expenses of the building. During each meeting a fur lined pot was passed around to collect enough money to pay the electric bill as funds were always low. That fur lined pot is now located in our display case which holds many past memories of Post 90 and including The American Legion Regional Baseball Championships. Mr. Owen (coach) Shuler and Henry Browder were very instrumental in the success of getting the baseball team to and from each game wherever it was to be played. Mr. Owen Shuler, (Marlboro as the team called him) paid for most of the team’s meals when traveling out of his own pocket.