By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Westborough – With the decision to have the town’s American Legion Stowell-Parker Post 163 move out of its 7 Parkman St. location, an important part of Westborough’s history is coming to sad, but inevitable end.
The building, known as the Spurr House, was built in 1849 and is behind the Forbes Municipal Building. It is actually owned by the town but has been home to the Legion since its charter was formed Dec. 26, 1946. But with membership decreasing steadily over the years, and the fact that the group itself only used the building a few days a month, it just made sense for the town to close it down, John Matson, a Legion member said.
“We have about 60 members ‘on paper’ but really only a few active ones,” he added.
On a recent morning Matson, along with Phil Kittredge, started the process of cleaning the building out. Some of the materials were to be sent a local auction house while other pieces were designated for a yard sale that will be held later this month.
Kittredge, who is one of the town’s unofficial historians, agreed to help the Legion assess its possessions.
“There’s not a lot of valuable things here, “he noted, “but there are some military items that collectors may be interested in.”
The goal, Matson said, was for the building to be emptied of all Legion items by Thanksgiving.
The post was originally named the Stowell Post, after a soldier who was killed in World War I. In 1946 it was renamed the Stowell-Parker Post, to honor the sacrifice of two brothers, Yeoman Second Class (YN2) Reed Barnard Parker and his brother, Seaman First Class (SN1c) Roy Abbott Parker, who were killed in the same incident in World War II.
Town Manager Jim Malloy said the town has no imminent plans to do anything with the building just yet.
“The Municipal Building Committee has discussed the potential of demolishing the building and improving the parking lot at the Forbes Municipal Building which is a real issue that we need to address at some point,’ he said. “[That] would allow the town to square off the parking lot and redesign parking lanes and spaces and increase the number of spaces available.”
Although the Legion is moving out of the Spurr House the group will still continue on, Matson said, thanks to the “graciousness” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9013.
“They have given us permission to use their facility,” Matson said. “They have been great about offering assistance.”
Denny Drewry is the VFW’s quartermaster as well as a member of the American Legion. He is also a member of the Board of Selectmen. As such, he is able to bring a unique perspective to the situation, which is, he noted, ensuring veterans have a place to go to not only socialize but to also receive the help that they may need.
Under his direction, the VFW has recently undergone improvements to the building, which is located at 9A Milk St., to help make it more comfortable for those who go there. But ideally, what they hope to do, Drewry said, is to either expand the current building, which is only 60 by 80 feet or build a new facility.
“We know this will take time,” he acknowledged. “But this is not for us who are veterans now. It is for future veterans.”
Drewry also hopes it will become known as a place where members of the community can utilize it for functions.
“We do have some small events now,” he said. “Recently a member had a birthday party for a non-member here.”
“We want people to know it is here for them to use. We want to provide it as a resource for the community as well as veterans,” he added.
For more information call Drewry at 508-688-7637.
