THE "HARRY HIGGINS" POST:  Former post historian and charter member Day Mason....wrote that in August of 1919, Major J. B. Blue, who had returned to Ashland, was contacted by New York officials to organize a post here. He had been in command of the Ohio National Guard here when it had been federalized. At a first meeting held at the old armory, a frame building on West Main Street north of Quarry Street, 17 men signed the charter.  They chose "Harry Higgins" as the name to honor, a man who had joined Company 'E' while working in Ashland and who was killed on Armistice Day.  His body was returned to his native Crestline where he is buried. 
     A Sunday meeting was at the opera house on Sept. 12, 1919, and 42 more men signed up.  The Chamber of Commerce rooms then located above the Ashland Hardware at 42 W. Main St., offered their place as a meeting place.  Dues were established at $1 per year and an initiation fee of $1 was assessed.
     After a Sept. 19 meeting, a goal of 115 members was set and J.B. Blue and William Chalmers were elected to be delegates to the state convention in Columbus.  
     On Armistice Day, 1919, Mayor Davis requested that an American flag be displayed at every home and business place, and that factory whistles should blow and church bells be rung at 11 a.m.  By 1920, membership had reached 180 and the dues were raised to $3. The American Legion Weekly, now the American Legion Magazine, began publication. This also was the first year of the National Essay contest for high school students which continues today.
      One of the first money raising projects was a boxing match at the opera house. Matches continued at the opera house and later at the present armory. A total of $5,000 was collected for furnishings in the back room of the Farmers' (now the Huntington) Bank building, the new post home. However, quarters were cramped, and rent was high. When J. Locke Mason was elected Commander in 1925, he worked out a deal to move headquarters to the third floor of the Opera House building, which was known as "Firemen's Hall." Rent was $10 monthly and the volunteer fire department was allowed to continue using the hall for their annual ball.
     Here they remained for 20 years until the building was condemned by the State Fire Marshall's office.  The decision was made to purchase the former M.A. Bowman home which stood where the Van Hove parking lot is today.  Early in 1941, when Harry Eaton was the commander, who later was a state commander, the post moved into its new home.
     Following World War II, there was some doubt as to whether the age difference between the veterans of the two wars would be a barrier to the future of the American Legion. However, this did not become a factor.
     With a growing enrollment, the decision was made to move into the former Scott Plumbing and Heating Co. at 1338 Claremont Ave., "just south of the city limits" in 1953.
     In 1949, Albert Michael became the first World War II veteran to be elected commander.  By 1957, the largest paid membership of 639 was reached.
     It is difficult to list all the contributions and programs of Post 88 in its long history.  Among them are serving as an auxiliary to the State Highway Patrol, sending delegates to Boys' State, providing flags for schools and public buildings, sponsoring a Junior Baseball program, furnishing color guards for parades and military burials, organizing an American Legion band, supporting a bowling team and a Boy Scout troop, and participating in numerous foreword moving city projects.
     Mason concludes his remarks with the following:  "Harry Higgins Post should continue to grow with the city for many years to come, and who knows what may happen in the future to assure that The American Legion will continue as a potent organization in the service of God and country."