Post 160 has a long history with the Mount Greylock War Memorial in Adams built to honor the state's war dead. The Legion makes a trek up the mountain each Memorial Day weekend.
ADAMS, Mass. — The American Legion is celebrating its 100th year in 2019 and Adams Post 160 is honoring that history with a display at its former post home.
Led by post historian John Bordeau, the local branch has been collecting photographs and documents from its members and archives to feature in the main lobby at Town Hall. It's a perfect place for the exhibit as the Town Hall served the American Legion for several decades before moving to their current location on Forest Park Avenue.
The images on the wall depict images from World War I through today and include a photo of John F. Kennedy's 1959 visit to the Adams Legion and another of a gathering of more than 10,000 people for a World War II memorial service. They represent 100 years of service and sacrifice by local men and women from every branch of the military. The local Legion's Centennial Committee consists of members Dave Stoddard, Stan Gajda, Keith Lawson, Paul Hutchinson, and Conrad Sidway.
Committee head Bordeau, 76, served in the Air Force from 1960 to 1964 and has been a Legion member for 21 years. He spoke about his service and what the project means to him.
"I signed up I think a week after I turned 17. I signed up before I even graduated from high school. I had to have my parents sign for me," he recalled. "When I first joined the Legion, it was mostly World War II veterans. The way guys from my era were treated when they got back (from Vietnam) I think kept them from wanting to join. Although I served in that era I was not in Vietnam but it was tough for those guys. Getting all these pictures together has been good to remember why we all did this."
Gajda, 76, comes from a military family and has a unique perspective on what it means to serve.
"My father was killed in WWII. His name is actually on the town memorial. I went into the Air Force in 1961 for five years active but I never had to go to Vietnam because I was an only surviving son. I was stationed in France and ended up getting married there. I had three kids and two of them were military and the other one was a protester," he said. "I was working for Tog Manufacturing at one time and we went down to Rhode Island to see them launch a sub. My son was in school at [University of Rhode Island] and he was there with the protesters saying, 'Hi, Dad.'"
His two other kids are both retired military and Legion members and his grandson Gabriel is a couple weeks away from joining the Navy.
The American Legion, like many other service and social organizations, has seen a steady decline in membership over the past few decades. The Legion has seen its nationwide numbers dwindle from over 3 million 25 years ago to under 2 million today. Post 160's numbers are in line with those nationally.
"I think when I joined we had over 300 members and now it's probably around 200. And I'm surprised how well we are doing actually. I'm part of the firing squad at the funerals and we were losing 25-30 World War II and Korean War veterans every year. We're not seeing a lot of young guys replacing them," Bordeau said. "Ninety percent of the guys were World War II when I joined. Then little by little, we got Vietnam guys. Now I think over half the members are National Guard. Which we're very fortunate to have. We wouldn't have the post without them."
Adams Post 160 held its first official meeting as a chartered American Legion post on Sept. 5, 1919. It received at permanent charter on Sept. 3, 1920.
Bordeau said they might be planning some more events to mark the 1920 date.
"We're not there yet. We are meeting every two weeks and the guys throw out an idea and we try to work it out," he said. "We've talked to the Susan B. Anthony people to maybe have a float in their parade like we did for the Fall Foliage in North Adams. People seemed to really enjoy that."
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Greylock Glen Outdoor Center 90% Complete
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Greylock Glen Outdoor Center is about 90 percent finished with an anticipated completion date in August.
Matthew Sturz of owner's project manager Colliers International updated the Selectmen on the project's progress via Zoom on Wednesday.
"We'll work with the town to determine exactly the logistics of that," he said in response to questions about the opening. "I think that there's certainly interest in getting the facility open as soon as it can open. But we do need to conclude the construction activities ... it's not federally advisable to have construction activity going on with the public."
The completion will depend on getting a certificate of occupancy for the 10,000-square foot facility.
The $8.3 million project is running eight months behind the expected schedule, Sturz said, largely because of permitting with the state Department of Environmental Protection that required an extensive environmental review of endangered species, working with National Grid to determine how solar will be integrated into the project, and the need for a water system for both potable water and fire suppression.
"Transformers and all manner of electrical switchgear is being significantly impacted by supply chain issues throughout the construction industry," said Sturz. "So coordinating those items up front took a little bit longer than anticipated."
A 350,000-gallon water tank is being constructed on the grounds to provide water with completion expected by July or August.
Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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The Selectmen on Wednesday night voted to award the bid to Mackin Construction Co. Inc. of Greenfield, which plans to invest $11 million to build out 20 or more one- and two-bedroom apartments in the three-story classroom wing that parallels Columbia Street.
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The Selectmen two weeks ago had requested the utility appear before the board after receiving numerous complaints over flickering lights, including in Town Hall.
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