Post Updates
Following a catastrophic fire on 6 March 2022, the post underwent an intensive renovation, and reopened to our community on 12 October 2024.
Below is an article written by the Lowell Sun and pictured is the Posts Building Committee who worked tirelessly for nearly three years.
Tyngsboro American Legion Rises From the Ashes
• Prudence Brighton
• PUBLISHED: September 28, 2024 at 6:37 PM EDT
Tyngsboro American Legion members stand beneath one of two signs donated by Mill City Iron Fabricators to mark the reopening of the building. From left are John Taylor, Joe Conlin, Ray Hamlin, Jim Lawler Sr., and Jim Lawler Jr. (Prudence Brighton photo)
TYNGSBORO — More than two years after fire gutted their quarters, American Legion Post 247 is back and set to reopen its doors at 90 Pawtucket Blvd. next to the former Tyngsboro Country Club.
The veterans will host a celebration on Oct. 12 to mark the occasion and are inviting the community to a grand reopening party that day.
Sitting around a table in the bright, windowed space that will be the members lounge, some members of the post’s executive committee talked about what’s happened since the fire and their hopes for the future.
“We wanted to create something that shows our vision for the future,” said Jim Lawler Jr., who was sitting next to his father, Jim Lawler Sr. The younger Lawler is a veteran of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts and his father a veteran of Vietnam.
The structure of the building has changed to support that 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 function room on the second floor with a current view of the eighth and ninth holes at TCC. But that view will soon be of walking trails, pickleball courts and other features of an open space recreation area. The new members lounge is described in promotional material 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. The proximity of the town recreation area should help.
The first floor function room was available to community groups, but the second floor function room was closed because it lacked handicapped access. The old facility predated the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act by many decades. Before the Legion acquired it in the early 1950s, it was a Chinese restaurant, according to executive committee members.
“People may not realize,” Lawler Jr. said, “but anyone can come here.” It is a private club, but members are always there and will sponsor someone who wants to come in.
“So, if someone is driving by and they’re hungry or want a beverage, they can come here and someone will sponsor them,” he said.
Veterans’ organizations, like fraternal groups and social clubs across the country, are seeing a decline in membership. The American Legion posts in Lowell and Westford have closed. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Lowell has also closed. The Tyngsboro post hopes to gain membership from those sources when the doors open again.
Some members of the Tyngsboro post have been going to the Chelmsford American Legion, but have not officially changed their membership, so they are expected to return.
The cost of rebuilding the structure will come in at about $1.5 million. Of course, insurance will pay much of that but not all of the cost is covered. Area residents have contributed. A GoFundMe page has helped with various purchases.
Members will notice granite counters throughout the main bar and function rooms. Those were a contribution in part by Rodrigo Carvalho the builder, who stepped into the project after the death of the previous builder.
The public will have a chance to see the changes beginning at noon on Saturday, Oct. 12. Raffles, games and other family fun are promised, as is a feast prepared by the post’s chef.