St. Michael-Albertville's Veterans About to Be Homeless

St. Michael-Albertville's veterans will lose their primary gathering space at the end of this month.

The St. Michael American Legion Post 567, which has been operating on Main Street for nearly 30 years, will be closing its doors Saturday, Jan. 29.

The current location has been in use since 1981, according to Ron Kohorst, the current financial manager and club officer for St. Michael. It has served the community well since then, and since its founding in March of 1946. 

Residents can still view the minutes of the very first meeting and find out a lot about the history of the place by talking to many of the members, who have participated since the 1950s.

The current building has housed many events, including the annual fish fry, Santa party, bingo, anniversary parties, countless meetings and even wedding receptions.

It is also home to a local watering hole that is a favorite of the community's, complete with pull tab sales that help support the mission of the American Legion in offering scholarships and charitable funding for local needs.

 The St. Michael American Legion board started to find a new location around three years ago, and has had multiple closing dates come and go since then. Moving always depended on the sale of the current Main Street location.

It has been a tough row to hoe for sales of any property in the current financial climate, Kohorst said. There have been a number of locations the Legion had in mind but, for different business and logistical reasons, it just hasn't worked out. 

Kohorst added people have asked why they don't just stay in the current location, but pointed out how the place is not handicapped accessible and that the building is in disrepair, and not large enough for the population. Plus, the board felt that since the face of the town was changing, they would better serve the community in a more accessible location.

 The building will ultimately be destroyed in order to make more space for a parking lot for the new drug store. Prior to that, everything in the Legion must go,  and the club must be out of the building by Feb. 6.

To meet that date, the Legion is starting an online auction through Auction Masters of Osseo, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 18.

There is bingo at 7 p.m. Monday (Jan. 24)  for some last-minute fundraising. 

Kohorst said he and the board are "very upset that there is a possibility that the Legion will be 'homeless' for a month or so until they can settle on a new place." A lot of people count on the business of the Legion, he added, and while they'll likely find some temporary place for meetings, it isn't good to go so long without a location that produces income, especially with several major fundraisers coming up in February and March (Friday Fish Fry) and the bartenders and pull-tab monitors losing employment for that time. 

 Any donations or location suggestions are welcome. Call Kohorst at 763-497-2001.There will  be a last week of drink specials, events and fun leading up to the weekend of Jan. 28 and 29. That final weekend, the band Roadkillwill be playing each night. The weekend will offer a  last chance at meeting up with old friends and reminiscing about all the good times had at 14 Main Street South.