American Legion foreclosure leaves hole in community

Government moves to take over Wessington Springs property for failure to pay mortgage

When a tornado hit the American Legion Willman-Fee Post 14 in Wessington Springs in 2014, it was the start of a tumultuous decade for the organization.

The Legion community rallied to build a new building, taking out a loan from the Small Business Administration. But now, that has proven to be a step too far.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota has filed a lawsuit against the post, seeking to foreclose on the property and sell it off. The original loan of $691,500 matured on June 9, 2045, and required the post to make monthly payments of $2,904. But no payment has been made since Nov. 10, 2022, the government alleges.

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