Post 89 is named in honor of Harry R. Bartlett. Harry was the son of Charles and Minnie J. Bartlett of Hemmingway Avenue, proprietors of the summer business, Mansfield Grove House at Momauguin for many years. He was 23 years old at the time of his death, and the first US service member from East Haven to lose his life in the war. As a young man, Harry had graduated from Union School on Thompson Avenue in 1908, and Hillhouse High School in 1913. He went on to be employed by L. Candee & Co as a receiving clerk prior to entering into to the Army.
Harry enlisted into the cavalry and reported to Niantic in July of 1917, and left for France in October of the same year. He was assigned to Company D of the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, later changed to the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion. The Harry R Bartlett Post 89 subsequently was chartered in February of 1922, and incorporated in April of 1924. In that time period, the original membership of 15 had increased to over 100. The current site of Post 89, 574 Thompson Avenue, was purchased for an American Legion building to be erected. Architects Shiner and Appel were secured, with plans for a building with “a touch of the foreign” battlements in its design.
Harry R Bartlett, described as best natured, without fear, and daring, was survived by his parents, and brothers Charles and Donald, and a sister Jessie.
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