Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-11
THE GRANGE
Conducted by J. W. BARROW,
Press Correspondent Neu York state
Grange
AN IDEAL GRANGE HALL.
It's Size, General Plan and Equip
ment Described.

Especial Correspondence
Since years of experience have de-
veloped the real home work of the
grange the up to date grange hall must
conform to the demands of such prog
ress. For years it has been conceded
to be of benefit if the subordinate
grange had in it's own name and CON
troll n place called home" Because
of the grange combining its membership
to those chiefly interested in agricul-
tural pursuits this home naturally To-
Gates itself out in the country. That
it may represent the grange to the
passerby the surrounding grounds
should be ample for sheds for horses,
with a good variety of trees and a
lawn to accommodate gatherings Of
people as occasion may require. The
entire outside premises should be kept
in an inviting condition.
AS to the grange hall itself, the out
side design should be in harmony with
the uses for which it is built, and this
suggests harmonzing of both church
and schoolhoAse architecture. To meet
all requirements the building should be
at least "a by 90 feet on the ground,
with eighteen foot posts on the sides.
This will permit the lower part of the
building to be eight feet from floor to
ceiling and leave nine foot sides for
the upper room, which, with an arched
ceiling from n system of collar joists,
will give q good effect The lower part
of the hall should be divided to accom-
modate hallway. entrance, kitchen,
stairway and large assembly room,
which Is also suitable for a banquet
hall, and. inasmuch as children under
fourteen years of age must now be pro-
proper place for them, and during the
lecturers hour they can sit with their
parents in the grange. This large room
below being warm and light. is very
convenient for all members in which
TO hang their wraps on hook rails
around the outer walls. Still further,
this large lower room can be used for
all common entertainments, and espe-
cially is it suitable for this when it has
platform or stage at one end with
suitable scenery.
The upper story of the building
should be divided into stair landing,
anteroom, property closet, a nursery
and the grange hall proper. While the
lower rooms should have naked floors,
the stairway and all floors above
should be carAeted and the grange hall
should have finished and decorated
walls and be as well furnished as the
sitting room of a we'll to do farmers
home. AnneXes for libraries and court
scenes should also be provided. Such
a grange building will cost about $1,000
to 1920.
a grange contemplating the building
of a hall or home of this kind can start
with the following subscription list
1--WE, the undersigned members of
- grange, agree to give the
amounts of hand labor, team labor,
material and money set opposite our
respective names for the purpose of
building grange hall at such place
and time and in accordance with such
plans as the grange may specify"
Such subscription will give Il start
which, in the hands of good building
committee, can be made to 90 q long
way toward securing the desired OBJ
ject. 1t is generally necessary to lend
a few hundred dollars to finish and
furnish, all of which can be paid off
with suppers and entertainments of
various kinds.
1t will be noted that in planning the
rooms the children and babes are pro-
vided for. This is to encourage the
mothers to go to the grange The
children woven into the lecturers hour
programme, make the ideal entertain
ment Where the children are thus
wy cared for the parents win become
interested. GEORGE b. HORTON.