VFW Post 2053

People came from far and wide. Whoever could possibly leave home, even for a day or two, did. They came by horseback, wagon, and on foot. Many brought entire families and any relatives that could be pried away from home. Many came the day before the reunion opened in order to obtain a comfortable campsite. Tents were pitched all over the city campground on Wilcox Avenue across from the high school. Weather was of little concern. If rain came, these people who were here for a good time knew they could bear with good spirits anything from mother nature. They came, they stayed, and enjoyed every minute of the week. Children and youth felt free to roam wherever they wished. Men tried to out-tell one another of their great feats in the great north woods, and women loved to sit around, visiting with friends and making new ones. It was a great time for everyone.

There were baseball games, balloon ascensions, races of various kinds, rides, horse shows, nightly dances, and eating. This was an event never to be ignored, for the tables that dotted the park area were spread three times daily in in a giant potluck. These women had cooked baked, and prepared for days in preparation for this week, and now they could enjoy their labors and watch everyone else do the same. They had everything from wild turkeys to chocolate cake to eat plus drinks of all kinds. Clifford Branch told of how a young man, grown up enough to date for the first time, could come to this affair with one dollar, meet his girl friend who had brought a well filled basket of food from her home, offer to buy ice cold pop or coffee for a nickel to go with the meal, and manage to eat his fill, then have jingling money left over! It wasn’t all work and no play for these hardy pioneers.

Civil war veterans were there, in full dress uniform anxious to put on their show for friends and neighbors. They would parade around the grounds to the sound of marching music played by a band that was always an added attraction. Every eye would be on these men, some very old at the time. Adults enjoyed these parades, but it made them sad knowing that some of these men would not be back next year. Youngsters admired their strength and agility.

Usually there would be a few opening remarks by the town dignitary, a reading from the bible, then a prayer, followed by the main speaker who would choose a patriotic theme for his address. After this formal beginning, the fun would start. This was a simple yet great thing for the people. They were gathered together for a sociable time after a long time of working together for the common good of all. They liked being together, they accepted one another, they helped one another in time of trouble, they had a common bond these soldiers and sailors. Bonded by the rigors of war. Now, they were the lucky few who came back to enjoy the company of each other and their families. They would not let this time go to waste.

These veterans continued to meet, and after World War I, which came along soon afterward, it was decided to create a veterans organization that would organize to help other Veterans and their families. So began the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion organizations.

These WW I veterans were the founders of the White Cloud VFW, organized under the name of "Sergeant Bowman Post 2053" in March of 1931. The first meeting place of the post was the Odd Fellows Hall. About 1938, the post purchased the hall on the corner of Wilcox and Barton Street which had formally had several previous owners, including a Blacksmith shop and a truck assembly plant where the Hendrickson truck was designed and assembled. The truck plant later moved to Chicago where the Hendrickson Truck Co. became a serious contender in truck manufacturing.

The building was also the auditorium and stage where shows were put on by traveling entertainers. Dances were held there to the tune of famous dance bands of the 1920’s and 30’s. The famous WLS Barndance company from Chicago entertained there too. The dance floor was also used for roller skating, and rented out by the VFW for other community activities.

By the 1980’s the building was approaching 100 years of age and was condemned and burned by the fire department in 1990. Because of the deteriorating condition of the hall, activities were discontinued at the hall and the VFW membership began to fall to the point where many members transferred to the Newaygo post that had a nice new hall. Soon there were no members showing up for meetings. So, the District 12 leadership decided on drastic action. They decided to start a new post in White Cloud. It would be called the White Cloud Post # 10770. They would meet at the Fire Station and its first Commander would be Leonard Brown, an ex-police officer. Other officers were D. Lynnes, Sr. Vice Commander, P. Bird, Jr. Vice Commander, George Haines, Quartermaster, Ray Larson, Adjutant, and Carl Hult, Chaplain.

The post started out with 25 new members. After meeting with the District 12 Officers, the old Sergeant Bowman Post 2053 decided to consolidate with the new post. It was decided to use the new name White Cloud but use the numbers 2053 from the old post. So, the new "White Cloud Post 2053" was born.