Veterans in the Grundy County town of Reinbeck organized American Legion Post No. 242 on September 29, 1919, in the local Masonic Hall. Forty-two charter members established the group, which quickly became active in the community. In 1924, the post purchased flags to line the town’s Main Street. In 1929, the Legion contributed $4,000 for construction of an athletic field. In 1944, a fundraising drive began to construct a memorial building. After ten years, present Veteran’s Memorial Building was constructed and dedicated in 1954.
Postal service was established in the Harrison County town of Dunlap in August 1867. The current post office building was constructed in 1962, with dedication ceremonies held Saturday, September 29. Following the dedication service, an open house and tour of the post office was held.
The Church of Christ was organized by seven families in 1858 in the Fayette County town of Arlington. The first church building was constructed at a cost of $2,000 seven years later, with a bell added for $500 in 1876. When a new building was constructed in 1896, the bell was moved to the new facility, which still is active in the community today.
In 1974, members of the local women’s club formed a committee to investigate the possibility of opening a library in the Benton County town of Atkins. The club sponsored a number of fundraisers to purchase equipment and materials, while residents stepped up to donate books for the new library. The first library officially opened on March 25, 1975, in the basement of the Atkins Telephone Company. After 14 years, the library moved across the street to a standalone location; it remains there today.
Residents of the Monroe County town of Lovilia were taken by surprise on June 30, 1976, when two men robbed the local branch of the State Bank of Bussey at gunpoint. The event was captured in detail in the Lovilia History Book published two years later:
One of the most exciting events to ever happen in Lovilia was a real live bank robbery in 1976. It was broad daylight, about 11:15 a.m. on June 30, 1976, when two men entered the Lovilia branch of the State Bank of Bussey. One man pulled a gun on bank manager Ed Beary, and the robbers took $1,400.
By the time the two robbers had fled and escaped through the wooded area behind the school. Sheriff and patrol cars, flashing lights, sirens and uniformed law officers soon appeared on the scene and a stunned crowd of people stood by.
The next 24 hour were filled with continued excitement. The search was underway for the culprits. Plane spotters were in the sky, falling over this area. Rumors were running wild and all possible connections were checked. Doors that previously had not been locked were secured that night; few people were on the streets after dark.
The book notes law enforcement officers arrested the two robbers in a barn near Marysville the following morning; the gun was found and money recovered.
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