American Legion Collection

Thirty-six members officially formed the American Legion Archie Wood Post No. 7 on July 31, 1919 in Clarksville, Tennessee. The namesake for the club was Archie Wood, the first Montgomery County soldier to die in World War I. Wood, a member of the Co. 112th Infantry, died on November 7, 1918 in the Belleau Woods of the Meuse-Argonne.

A clubroom opened at 128 Franklin Street for members. On September 14-15, 1922, the local American Legion chapter hosted the fourth annual Tennessee Convention. During the following year, members organized the Buddy Paper Sale, in coordination with the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, to raise money for the welfare fund. This annual event happened on the Sunday before Christmas.

The Archie Wood Post No. 7 moved first to 101 Franklin Street in 1924 and then to 108 North Third Street in 1928. Members repurposed the club room as a kitchen to assist the American Red Cross with relief work for the victims of the 1937 flood. They also aided in rescue work and delivered water from Nashville to Clarksville residents.

At the outbreak of World War II, legionnaires operated a county salvage drive to collect scrap metal and paper for the wartime plants. The organization also added a draft board to its clubroom. The Archie Wood Post No. 7 officially incorporated the name of Frank Adkins in 1946. Lt. Col. Adkins, son of Montgomery County Court Register Grover Cleveland Adkins, served as a pilot during World War II. He perished in a plane crash in February 1945.

The Archie Wood – Frank Adkins Post No. 7 purchased the former USO building on Main Street and moved their clubrooms to that space in 1946. The new building featured a lounge, coffee bar, and dining hall. The latter area also functioned as a dance hall and banquet hall for special occasions.

Legionnaires participated in a number of service projects, including Memorial Day grave decorating, the Buddy Paper Sales, and toy drive. On Memorial Day each year, Post No. 7 decorated veterans’ graves in Montgomery County. The program started with just 12 graves in 1920 and gradually grew to 300 by 1952. Members of the American Legion Auxiliary, a women’s patriotic service organization, crafted wreaths with poppies and evergreens. Legionnaires supplied small American flags to place on each grave with the wreaths.

In 1949, the American Legion Post No. 7 organized an annual Christmas toy drive. Local residents were encouraged to donate old toys to the Post building. Legionnaires worked with male students in the Manual Arts Department at Clarksville High School to repair the used toys. Then, at Christmas time, they distributed the toys to needy children in Montgomery County.

Post No. 7 hosted a yearly minstrel show featuring blackface performers. Legion minstrel shows were commonplace starting in the 1930s. It is unknown how long Post No. 7 legionnaires participated in these shows.

The Archie Wood – Frank Adkins Post No. 7 was an organization for white ex-servicemen. A separate chapter, known as the Lonnell Williams Post No. 143, was organized on February 19, 1923 for African American ex-servicemen. Although Post No. 7 excluded African American legionnaires, the organization employed black staff members. Jerry “Sonny” Roach worked as the chief cook for Post No. 7 and was in charge of the kitchen in the ca. 1950s. Other African American kitchen staff included Norman Crotzer, dishwasher, and William Milan, short order cook.