The Herculaneum Amvets Post 42 has moved to a newly constructed building at 555 Joachim Ave. It’s across the street and about a quarter mile northeast of the post’s previous location at 690 Joachim Ave.
The post opened at its new home on Saturday.
John Roberts, 50, of Pevely, a Sons of Amvets member and volunteer who has helped with the construction of the new building, said the group had wanted a new home for several years but faced multiple delays in the construction process, including the pandemic.
Leonard Worley, 62, of Festus, commander of the post, said the group has had trouble getting contractors to do the work.
“A lot of things were set back because a lot of contractors after COVID didn’t have the manpower,” he said. “And everything takes longer than you think in your mind. It seems like it should go easy, step-by-step, but it never does.”
Worley said construction also took longer than expected because volunteers provided much of the work and materials.
“We had volunteer work to save money on the project. It takes longer with volunteer work, but it’s only way we could afford it.”
Jeff Buckner, 62, of Herculaneum is a Sons of Amvets member who also has volunteered his time to help with the project. He and Roberts worked together to finish the concrete flooring in the building. The two etched, stained, neutralized and applied multiple layers of sealant to get the finished floor. They also spent time cleaning and painting the facility.
The new Amvets building is a more spacious and smoke-free facility.
Worley said two other Sons of Amvets, Rick Simpson and Jimmy Bates, also were instrumental in getting the new facility up and running, often doing research and making trips to Potosi, where they could purchase construction materials more cheaply.
Worley said the project, including the purchase of land and the construction, will cost a total of about $2 million, with volunteer work and donations saving them about $500,000.
He said several local construction and equipment companies donated both time and materials to the project.
The Amvets Post had been at its previous location, which at one time housed a Foodliner grocery store, since 1997, Worley said, adding that the location had flooded about five times in the past decade. The new location is out of the flood plain.
Worley said money from flood insurance claims helped defray some of the costs of buying land and constructing the new building.
Roberts said the new 9,000-squre-foot building is much larger than the old one, which was 5,000 square feet. The parking area also is much larger.
Post members said they are unsure about what they will do with the old building, which the post owns.
Buckner said no smoking will be allowed in the new facility, adding that there was some initial blowback about prohibiting smoking in the building, but many people also expressed excitement.
“We’ve actually gotten probably over 20 new members since we announced that it’s going to be non-smoking,” he said.
The new facility, however, will feature an outdoor smoking area with new patio furniture and a television.
“We decided to try to make it a facility for everyone. So we made [the patio] as nice as we could make it for the people who wanted to smoke,” Worley said.
He said the group plans to hold events like fish fries, karaoke, live music performances and charity benefits at the new building.
It also will be available to rent for events like holiday and birthday parties, and wedding and baby showers.
Worley said he’s proud of the new facility.
“This is by far the nicest Amvets I can say I’ve been in, and I’ve been in a few around the United States.”
Worley said the Herculaneum Amvets accepts new members. The veterans service organization is open to anyone who is currently serving, or who has honorably served, in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves. Any interested veteran may call the post at 636-479-4040 or stop by in person and ask for an application.
Worley said Amvets-related groups, like the Sons of Amvets, Amvets National Ladies Auxiliary and National Amvets Riders, also will use the building. To join the Sons of Amvets or Amvets National Ladies Auxiliary, you must be at least 18 years old and the relative of an eligible member of Amvets.
Worley said he thinks the new facility will be a good gathering place for members of the close-knit town.
“It’s like family,” he said. “You may have a little skirmish here, but at the end of the day, when you’re from Herky, you’re from Herky.”
Anyone interested in renting the hall should contact Joy Conway at 636-543-4832.