Bellwood Organizations
LAVERNE SCHMIT POST NO 327 AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion Post 327 received its charter in 1947. It was named
after Laverne Schmit, who served in the Navy and was killed in a plane crash near Bermuda
on Jan. 10, 1943. His body was returned on Nov. 21, 1947 and laid to rest in St.
Peter's Cemetery near Bellwood.
The following officers were elected: Carl E. Carson, commander; Frank Markus, vice
commander; Roe Clark, adjutant; Calvin Sorensen, finance officer; Dr. J. M. McNally,
service officer; Rev. D. B. O'Conner, chaplain; and Fred Mansfield, membership chairman.
The following Veterans were charter members: Carl Carson, Frank Benedict, Leo Bock, Marlin
Scholz, Walter Hoshor, Anthony Hiller, Paul Hiller, Ludwig Rohrich, Otto Selzer, Floyd
Napier, Otto Seizer, Jr., Fred Dvorak. Jr., Albert Hunt, Raymond Hough, J. W. Eschliman,
Roy Bock, Howard Loveless, Bernard Adams, Walter Peters, Harold Bock, Fredrick Mansfield,
Ebeart Kamenske, Frank Markus, Frank Beard, J. M. McNally, Wm. Fischer, George Smith,
Wilton Gunderson, Francis Besch, Maurice Sylvester, Orsie Adams, Jr., Allen Baer, Leo
Schmit, Audrey Kreizinger, Matt Supancheck, Leo Nicolas, Robert Schmit, Bernard
Meysenburg, Harold Kroesing, Roe Clark, Leo Adamy, Leonard Adamy, Harry West, Jr., Harry
McDonald.
The following Commanders were elected: Carl Carson 1918, Frank Beard 1949, Cal Sorensen
1950, Leo Bock 1951, Gordon Zeller 1952, Melvin Hiller 1953, Adolph Kosch 1954, Marlin
Scholz 1955, Audrey Kreizinger 1956, Ebeart Kamenske 1957, Otto Selzer, Jr. 1958, Gordon
Zeller 1959, Frank Markus 1960, Raymond Hough 1961, Otto Selzer 1962, James Cockson 1972,
Edwin Mastny 1973, Anthony Hiller 1975, Steve Smith 1978, Jerome Didier 1979.
We had 32 senior members and two junior members. Continuous charter
members for the past 30 years are: Lillian Benedict, Opal Benedict, Viola Stack,
Marguerite Hiller, Meraldeen Hough, Delores Kreizinger, Ella Markus, Claryce Seizer,
Lucille Selzer, Mary Margaret Zeller, and Linda Hiller.
Mr. Conrad Meister, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Village of
Bellwood, called for a town meeting November 12, 1912, for the purpose of organizing a
fire department. The meeting was held at the office of the Farmers Grain Company. Charter
members of the organization were as follows: 0. A. Brandenburgh, John P. Delaney, John B.
Reemts, Roy Classen, Elles Roberts, Jas Hall, Jr., H. A. Taylor, Dayton J. Smith, John M.
Sauser, Phillip G. Smith, A. T. Curtis, Daniel E. Burkey, Will S. Andrews, Henry A.
Whitney, Chad J. Rumler, John W. Grant, Thurman Fox, Peter Powers, Jr., Matt J. Sauser,
John H. Thomas, and Virgil H. Graves. John Grant was elected the first Chief, Dan Burkey,
Asst. Chief, John Delaney, John Thomas, and Peter Powers, Jr., trustees. On Jan. 6,
1913, a resolution was read and passed to request the Village Board of Trustees to
purchase a 34 inch bell from W. S. Nott Co. of Minneapolis for use as a fire alarm. The
bell can be found today on the tower at the north end of the center park on Main Street.
Present active members in the department are as follows: Jack Selzer, Gene Moyer, Ray
Hough, Everette Hough, Robert Trofholz, Jerome Didier, and Robert Bell, Jr. Jack Romshek,
Joe Romshek, Ray Kouma, Charles Oborny, Garland Mais, Ralph Romshek, and Harry Wilson.
Robert Wilson, Jim Cockson, Don Peters, Tom Hough, Chris Brandenburgh, Bill Hough, and
Jerry Oborny. Dave Hough, Gary Navrkal, John Kula, Dan Hough, Doug Romshek, Jim Sylvester
and Jerry Hiller.
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