Memories of Life in Downers Grove

Veterans of Foreign Wars Century Post #503

From a post history written for the post's 75th anniversary celebration in 2007 and provided by Ralph E. Gray:

The post was started through the efforts of Harold Smith and Robert Arnolde in the spring of 1932. They would contact any veteran from World War I. They managed to get a small group interested, including James Black, who had experience organizing posts for the VFW. He in turn acquainted them with William Klein, who was at that time connected with the State Department of the VFW assigned to help organize VFW posts in the area. The group met at various times and places to discuss starting a post. Being that the organization of the post took place during the Depression finding eligible veterans who had the couple of dollars needed for initiation fees was difficult. After much work and this group's diligent efforts, they managed to get the required number of veterans together to form a post.

The original post meetings were held in the Downers Grove Laundry office that later became the Fairview Hardware Store. Norman Storla was the Laundry's manager at that time and offered it as a meeting place. At one of the original meetings a post name needed to be chosen to VFW department headquarters could issue a formal post number. Many suggestions were made before someone mentioned that Downers Grove was having their 100th year anniversary. In honor of this anniversary, "Century" was selected as the post name. This name is still with us. The department issued the number "503."

Institution and installation was held in May 1932 at the Masonic Hall at Curtiss and Washington streets. Henry Marquardt and his staff of officers from the VFW Department of Illinois instituted the post and installed the first officers. Robert Arnolde was installed as the first Commander of Downers Grove Century Post 503 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Through the efforts of Storla, the membership rented an office on Burlington Street east of Fairview Avenue to hold post meetings. They affectionately called this place the "hut." For these early meetings, they had difficulty getting members to attend. For incentive, Harold Smith would bring bread, limburger cheese, dry onions and lunch meats. Someone managed to bring some home brew to wash it down.

When Downers Grove celebrated their centennial, the post borrowed a team of horses and a hay rack from the Wheaton post and created a float depicting a battle scene in France, showing a machine gun nest and wounded soldiers with a first-aid man caring for them. The post was presented with a trophy from the parade committee that was proudly displayed in the front window of the "hut" for about two weeks before someone broke the window and stole the trophy. This saddened all.

In June 1932, the Downers Grove Ladies' Auxiliary to Century Post 503 was instituted with sixteen charter members. This organization was a strong and driving force during the early years of the post. It was through their fundraising efforts that allowed the post to purchase a set of handmade colors that made all of the men proud. The auxiliary was a very important part of post life for many years and aided in many fundraisers that helped the men purchase things they needed. The original auxiliary disbanded in 1994. In December 2004, a new Ladies' Auxiliary was formed with thirty-five charter members, the first Ladies' Auxiliary to be formed in Illinois in thirteen years.

The post has had many homes over the years. After the "hut," Orson Downer, a member of the founding family of Downers Grove, helped secure a spacious meeting place on the second floor of 1041 Burlington. This was the post home for many years. In late 1954, the building at 5101 Belmont Road was purchased. This building was built as the Kaiser Frazer garage and once served as a furniture store. This building serves as the home of Century Post 503 today.

Charter members of Century Post 503 were: Robert A. Arnolde, Marlon Biedron, Francis W. Block, William Bunger, Carl Dietschweiler, James S. Furlong, Earnest E. Flowers, Frank C. Gregory, Harry Graham, Oscar G. Hunt, Sam R. Huwitz, Alfred Handschug, William Herion, William F. Jolitz, Frank J. Kies, George Karl, John Katowski, Johne Lessing, Marlin D. Moran, Maricus D. Madsen, Elmer Monroe, Louis Pierobon, Harold M. Smith, A.J. Starnes, Norman A. Storla, Thomas J. Snider, Guy Truckey, Adolph Ulfig, Andrew J. White, Wilmer L. Whitney, Edwin G. Wayman, and Hugo H. Wenzlaff.