(Photo by Shelley Hanson) American Legion Post 86 members receive a $2,000 donation check from the Paden City Foundation on Veterans Day. Front row, from left, are Penny Baker of the foundation; Commander Jon Baker; and foundation member Rodney McWilliams. Back row, from left, are post members John Koerber, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam; Paul Shannon, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam; and James Baker, a Navy veteran who served during Desert Shield with his brother Jon Baker.

PADEN CITY – Members of the American Legion Post 86 in Paden City temporarily opened the doors at the group’s new headquarters on Veteran’s Day.

Commander Jon Baker said the post wanted its members and local veterans to see the newly renovated facility and to also thank volunteers and donors for their work getting the facility ready. The open house on Nov. 11 featured free food and beverages such as coffee and pop.

Baker noted one of the project’s biggest volunteers was Tim Hizer, who did 80 percent of the work inside the building. New electrical was installed by students at the Wetzel County Tech Center.

Baker said the first floor of the building is finished, but they are awaiting a final permit from the state fire marshal’s office before they can open for good.

“We’ll be able to have meetings and something for our veterans to come in and enjoy,” he said.

There are also plans to renovate the second floor where meetings and outreach for veterans will be offered. Veterans will be able to receive help filling out paperwork related to benefits.

Baker said the post hasn’t had a home base for about eight years.

“Our membership was down. We were down to about 40 members,” he said. “Currently we have over 70.”

He noted the Sons of the American Legion membership was down to zero, and now there are 20 members.

“We are making strides when it comes to our membership,” Baker said.

Members of the post’s auxiliary were also on hand for the event.

The legion is renting the building from its owner, the Paden City Development Authority, who offered the building rent free during the renovation. The authority was given the building by former Paden City resident Mike Alexander. The development authority cleaned it out and put a new roof on it.

During the open house, members of the Paden City Foundation, Rodney McWilliams and Penny Baker, stopped by and presented the post with a $2,000 donation. McWilliams said the private foundation had an especially good year earnings-wise and were giving out extra donations to organizations such as Post 86.