A movement is afoot to save a real gem of local history. Advocated by Middle Township Mayor Timothy Donohue and legionnaires from American Legion Post 198 is the proposal to have the county Open Space program purchase the Thurston Elmer Wood post at the corner of Hand Avenue and Dias Creek Road. After that, a museum about veterans is envisioned, as is relocation of the monument to Marine Lance Cpl. George Dramis, the last Marine slain in the attack on the barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 30, 1984.
More important for the people of Middle Township, this land would continue to be a focal point for the Memorial Day celebration. That annual keystone of patriotism has enjoyed resurgence in recent years as veterans are recognized at the ceremony, and school children read their essays about patriotism. In short, there cannot be too much of these sorts of events to instill the importance of God and love of country in a generation deprived of both.
That simple white building is not just a place where the annual solemnity is marked, it is much more.
Few today remember Col. Edmund O. Howell. He was one of the guiding lights not only of Post 198 but also of the American Legion in Cape May County and, perhaps, nationwide. I remember the affable gentleman who rode the train into Court House always dressed like the banker and gentleman he was.
According to his obituary, Aug. 30, 1966 in the Cape May County Gazette, Howell, 80, “was active in national politics and military and banking circles since World War I.” He lived in Swainton in a home on Route 9 just north of Conover’s Lane.
He was instrumental in nominating Woodrow Wilson as governor. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1916 that nominated Wilson for a second term as president. He fought in two world wars, winning a Silver Star for conspicuous bravery in attacking a machine gun nest in 1918. For service in Italy in World War II, he was awarded the Legion of Merit as well as the Order of the British Empire and Commander of the Crown of Italy.
Howell, at the time a major, was a delegate to the first veterans meeting in 1919 in Paris that led to the formation of the American Legion. He was also instrumental in organizing the first five American Legion posts in Cape May County. He served as county commander and post commander of Thurston Elmer Wood Post 198.
Unrelated, but of interest, was his service as Court House postmaster from 1947 to 1953. He also served on the county Board of Taxation. Howell helped organize the Stone Harbor National Bank in 1928 and was a director and later its president. His wife, the former Florence King of Philadelphia, fell ill on their 55th anniversary and predeceased him. There were no children. He was buried in Cranberry’s Brainard Cemetery.
Howell’s life was one that can be held up as an example to all young people of what one person from a small town can do on the worldwide and national levels. He lived in Avalon when discharged from service June 30, 1919. And to think, he was one of Post 198’s founders.
The post’s ground was acquired May 26, 1947, from Raymond Burke for $550. The original structure was 32 feet by 74 feet. Russell Weatherby chaired the building committee. He designed, supervised and personally did much of the construction with Ralph Evans, whose son with the same name was a freeholder, and George Schwartz as chief assistants. In 1969 the building was assessed at $19,500, the land for $2,100.
The post was named after Thurston Elmer Wood who was born in Court House, Sept. 14, 1896. His father was Capt. A.N. Wood of the Navy, and his mother, Edith Elmer Wood was a descendant of an old Court House family, according to post records.
Wood graduated from West Point Aug. 30, 1917 and commissioned a second lieutenant of field artillery. He was promoted to captain, field artillery July 3, 1918. Capt. Wood was killed in battle July 21, 1918 in front of Vierzy Ainse, France, and was buried on the Montromboeuf Farm near where he fell. His body was ultimately returned to the U.S. and he was reinterred in the Naval Cemetery at Annapolis, Md.
Wood was cited for gallantry three times and recommended for the Distinguished Service Medal by his brigade commander. A French Croix de Guerre was presented posthumously.
Through the decades, in addition to being a place for American Legion meetings, the building has housed scout meetings, church services, and wedding receptions as well as a polling place.
Asking for county Open Space funds is no guarantee of receiving them. What would help build a case for the project is for a groundswell of sentiment to be put on record to preserve the place as a tribute to Wood, Howell, and hundreds of other Middle Township and county veterans who served in the nation’s wars. The mayor would be pleased to receive those supporting documents to secure the future of that humble white building that has meant so much to so many over the years. It is our history. We must preserve it.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
