CARIBOU, Maine — A small group affiliated with American Legion Post 15 in Caribou are working to restore the 68-year-old building before the national organization’s centennial celebration in August of 2019.
The building has been a fixture in Caribou since 1950, giving residents and community organizations a place to socialize, host parties, weddings, and baby showers. In addition, the post hosts bingo on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Legion member Cuppy Johndro said she was inspired to fix up the building when someone posted a “little red sign” on the wall indicating that the organization’s centennial was rapidly approaching. From there, a group of about five members have been working diligently to give the upper floor of the building a complete makeover.
Caribou Legion Commander Wayne Little said the committee has been active for about three months, and that members are tackling each aspect of renovation one step at a time.
“We’re painting the walls,” he said, “and if we can raise enough money, we want to redo the floor.”
Johndro added that, in an effort to make the committee’s work as efficient as possible, their goal is to focus on one small aspect of the project, and then fundraise for the next phase.
“We don’t want to overwhelm ourselves with needing $20,000 and then not even being able to start until we hit that goal,” she said. “So our goal is to get enough for a small project, complete it, and then fundraise for another.”
Their current goal involves painting the walls a patriotic red with blue borders, and then moving onto the floor. Little said the tiled floor has hardwood underneath, which the members would like to resurface. If the hardwood is beyond remedy, then Johndro said the group will use vinyl linoleum.
Little said the next step will be to add new ceiling tiles, after which they hope to receive a grant from Walmart that would help fund new toilets, handicap accessibility handles, banisters, and larger screens for bingo night.
Johndro said that grant writing is just a part of the fundraising process, which also includes hosting raffles and selling chocolates. The group also plans on making an appearance during the city’s annual Thursday on Sweden Street event, in which a portion of the street that includes the Legion is closed off for bi-monthly festivities throughout the summer.
The committee is off to a good start, as Sherwin Williams recently donated 26 gallons of paint for the project.
Becky Dixon, a member of the group who has been selling lottery tickets and hosting bingo, said it’s nice to be able to renovate the building.
“It’s exciting to be doing this,” said Dixon. “We’re getting good feedback from our bingo players. They think it’s great, and we have fun working together.”
Other members of the group referred to Becky Dixon as their “supervisor.”
“I can’t paint,” she said. “I get more paint on the floor and myself than anything else. So I just go around and clean up messes and do whatever is needed.”
“She sells a lot of lottery tickets,” Johndro added.
Jack Dixon, another member of the group who has been part of the American Legion for 23 years, said they’ve all enjoyed fixing the building.
“It’s way long overdue,” he said. “Eventually, we’ll get the lights done and the whole nine yards. I’ve got a project going where I’m trying to get a new roof on this place. It’s flat, but this place needs a slanted roof. I’m going to start the project, let’s put it that way. I have a few people looking at it to see what it’s going to cost.”
He added that he has a good relationship with the Amish, who may be able to help, in addition to a “friend in steel construction” who could also assist.
Another Legion member, Bill Francis, who also is president of the Caribou Kiwanis, stopped by last Friday afternoon to donate $150 for the group’s efforts, and commended the Legion for supporting Kiwanis throughout the years.
“The Legion is very good to us,” Francis said. “They’ve let us use the hall for our Keystone Cops event for a number of years, and they’re gracious enough to never charge us, so we want to help and contribute as well.”
The Kiwanis president said he’s happy to help, and is supportive of the group’s efforts to restore the building.
“It’s been overdue,” he said. “We need buildings like this in our community.”
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- Cuppy Johndro, a member of the Caribou Legion who is leading a project to renovate the Post 15 building in time for the national American Legion’s August 2019 centennial, gives Kiwanis President Bill Francis a hug after he donated $150 to the group’s efforts. Those pictured here are, from left, Francis, Johndro, Caribou Legion Commander Wayne Little, Becky Dixon, and Jack Dixon. (Christopher Bouchard)
