The Tyngsboro American Legion rises from the ashes

TYNGSBORO — More than two years after a fire ravaged their neighborhoods, American Legion Post 247 is back and ready to reopen its doors at 90 Pawtucket Blvd. next to the former Tyngsboro Country Club.

Veterans will host a celebration on October 12 to mark the occasion and are inviting the community to a grand reopening party that day.

Sitting around a table in the bright, glass-enclosed space that will be the members’ lounge, some members of the post’s executive committee spoke about what has happened since the fire and their hopes for the future. future.

“We wanted to create something that shows our vision for the future,” said Jim Lawler Jr., sitting next to his father, Jim Lawler Sr. The younger Lawler is a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan and his father a veteran of the Vietnam. .

The structure of the building changed to support this vision. What was a complex warren of five buildings connected by interior corridors is now two buildings connected in a T-shaped structure with new rooms and spaces.

These spaces include a handicapped accessible reception room on the second floor with a current view of the TCC’s overgrown eighth and ninth holes. But that view will soon be of walking trails, pickleball courts and other elements of an open space recreation area. The new members’ lounge is described in promotional materials as “sports bar meets martini lounge.”

Those who were regulars at the old building will have a very different experience in the new one. “We want to better integrate the community into events,” Lawler Jr. said. Proximity to the city’s recreation area should help with that.

The first floor reception room was accessible to community groups, but the second floor reception room was closed as it was not handicapped accessible. The old establishment predated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by decades. Before the Legion acquired it in the early 1950s, it was a Chinese restaurant, according to executive committee members.

“People may not realize it,” Lawler Jr. said, “but anyone can come here.” It’s a private club, but the members are still there and will sponsor anyone who wants to join.

“So if someone is passing by and they are hungry or want a drink, they can come here and someone will sponsor them,” he said.

Veterans organizations, such as fraternal groups and social clubs across the country, are seeing a decline in membership. American Legion posts in Lowell and Westford have closed. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Lowell also closed. The Tyngsboro post hopes to gain buy-in from these sources when the doors reopen.

Some members of the Tyngsboro post have joined the Chelmsford American Legion, but have not officially changed their membership, so they are expected to return.

The cost to rebuild the structure will be approximately $1.5 million. Of course, insurance will pay a large portion of this, but not all of the costs will be covered. Neighborhood residents contributed. A GoFundMe page helped with various purchases.

Members will notice granite countertops in the main bar and reception rooms. These were donated by claims adjuster Rodrigo Carvalho, who joined the project after the death of the previous claims adjuster.

The public will have the opportunity to see the changes starting Saturday, October 12 at noon. Raffles, games and other family entertainment are promised, as is a feast prepared by the station chef.