100 Years at the Heart of Kennett Square: The Legacy of the American Legion Post 491 Building
In the heart of Kennett Square stands a building that has been the center of community events for a century. The American Legion William W. Fahey Post No. 491, located at 208 E. State Street, turns 100 this year—a milestone that honors not just veterans, but the generations of families, friends, and neighbors who have gathered within its walls.
Built by the Community, for the Community
The Ladies Auxiliary to Post 491, organized in 1921 and chartered in 1928 under the leadership of Mrs. Horace Sinclair, Sr., played a crucial role in raising funds for a permanent home. A separate corporation, the Home Association, was formed to oversee the construction plans to construct a building for gathering in community.
Through tireless community effort, $70,000 in bonds were sold, and the cornerstone of the building we see now was laid in 1925. A year later in 1926, the building was complete. The total cost—including the lot—was close to $75,000, a remarkable achievement for a small town in the 1920s.
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