American Legion Post 137

A BRIEF HISTORY OF LAKESHORE AMERICAN LEGION POST 137
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA




A group of veterans working at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, met together in 1945 to form an American Legion Post. They held meetings on the base until the federal government decided there was some conflict of interest. That area was known as Yukon, so when they moved into a building across from the base, our first name was Yukon American Legion Post 137. Our Club is still doing business as Yukon Legion Club, Inc.
From Yukon, the Post moved into Cumberland Park Housing which was later razed to build Kent Campus of Florida Community College of Jacksonville. For a short time the Post met in the Boone Park Center. Ten outstanding local business men and doctors put up $200 each to purchase the city block along San Juan Ave. from Lakeshore Blvd. to Cedar Creek—four acres for $2,000. Two Camp Blanding buildings were brought in to form one large building facing Lakeshore.
Under the supervision of Robert M. Lewis, our first Life Member, a crew of volunteers erected our first Post Home. The cornerstone was laid at the dedication of our current Post home by Congressman Charles E. Bennett in 1958. An addition was built to our present home to house our business office and an executive business meeting room for the Post and Club. The business meeting room is named “The Spencer Room” after the first Commander, Albert I. Spencer, now deceased.
We won’t re-name the Post unless someone wins the Lott