The first Legion post to be organized in Grundy County was that of the Ashing Post in Wellsburg on 16 September 1919. It was named to honor the first local boy who lost his life in France during WWI, Henry Ashing. Fifteen ex-servicemen were charter members. The first officers elected were: C. W. Ross, Commander; A. Von Tersch, Vice Commander; H. L. Luwe, Adjutant; John Doyen, Finance Officer; and Geo. H. Geerdes, Chaplain. The permanent charter was received in October 1920 and was assigned No. 213.

The lot for the Legion building was acquired in March of 1933. The building committee consisting of Dr. Fauth, C. W. Ross, S. L. Dilly, H. C. Haack, D. W. Riekena, and Joe Dimke, got to work on the plans.

On 8 August 1933 the first shovel of dirt was moved for the new building. The plans called for a 36×50-foot building with a full basement. All local labor was used and the cost of the building was about $4,000. With C. W. Ross as master of ceremonies, dedication of the new building was on 24 November 1933.

It is interesting to note that two German war veterans helped to build the new post; one, a carpenter, that helped build the hall, and the other was a painter. (names are not listed in the source material).

In 1945 the post was renamed to the Ashing-Jaspers post to honor the first from the area to pay the supreme sacrifice in WWII. Franklin Jaspers was killed in New Guinea early in the war while serving with the American army in the Pacific. The hall was the home to Ashing-Jaspers Post No. 213 until 1977 when it was sold to Evert and Lorraine Heikens. After this time it was used for several other businesses until 1999 when the current occupant, Wellsburg Insurance Agency, moved in.

(This was originally shared on 24 June 2021 on the Facebook Group – Wellsburg IOWA Historical Foundation)