Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-12-14

Prosperous BODY NOW HAS ONE OF
THE BEST HOMES IN THE STATE.

PROSPEROUS BODY NOW HAS ONE OF
THE BEST HOMES IN THE STATE.
Norway Grange had . jubilant time
Thursday when It's new hall was formally
dedicated according to announcement.
This grange has long needed more COM
modious and convenient quarters, and
the time being ripe the work of con-
struoting 1t has been completed this
year.
Norway Grange, No. 45, Patrons OF
Husbandry, was organized at the school
house at Norway Lake, Dot "a, 1874. 1t
had % charter members, Of whom % are
now dead, others have moved away, and
there remain only two of the charter
members who are now members of the
grange, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles w. Ryer-
son, the former the first master of the
grange.
For some time after Its organization
the grange held its meetings in the house
of R. s. Freeman, where there is good
sized hall in the second story. As the
grange grew, one room after another
was added to the space used, until 1t was
necessary to look for better accommoda-
tons, and in 1877 building In Norway
village, at the corner of Main and Bridge
Streets, was fitted up for the use of the
grange, with Q hall on the third floor.
This hall has been occupied until the
present time, though as before stated, it
has long been insufficient for the needs
of the grange.
Some years since the lot on which the
new hall has been erected was purchas-
ed, and last spring the old building was
sold and the money put into the build
ing fund, which has been added to in
variety of ways. The new hall was put
up, and is partially paid for. Undoubt-
eddy the interest and zeal of the men,
bers will assure that the debt which re-
mains shall be taken care of in short
time.
The new building is of basement and
two stories, built Of wood, and is q fine
looking structure. The entrance is on
Whitman Street, only short distance |
off Main Street. Outside dimensions Of
the building are SO Z 76 feet. On the
first floor are the dining room and
kitchen, with ample ante-rooms and |
n
other conveniences make the kitchen
comfortable place in which to work,
and an arrangement Of shelves between
the dining room and kitchen, with doors
opening each way, makes the serving OF
meals very convenient.
The hall is on the second floor, with
large stage at the front, and ante-rooms
and toilet rooms, etc., at the rear. The
floors are all maple, and the finish is of
hard pine. The building is heated by a
furnace in the basement, and is lighted
by electricity. Taken altogether, 1t IL
one OF the best grange homes in Maine,
and one in which Norway Grange must
rejoice. The building committee was
John A. Roberts, 81. j. Bangs and W.
C. Pierce.
State Master Stetson of Greene was
present for the exercises Of Thursday.
The formal dedication service was in
closed session in the forenoon.
At noon bountiful dinner was served,
the invited guests including those who
had contributed In money or otherwise
toward the building.
An open meeting was held in the hall,
opening at 2P. NJ, with F. P. Towne,
master of Norway Grange, presiding.
Besides the speaking, entertainment
features of the programme were songs
by F. S. Pike, Mrs. Frank Kimball, Mrs
Kimball and Mrs. Bradbury, readings by
A. E. Morse, and piano music by Miss
Annie Whtehouse.
G. w. Ryerson, the first master of
Norway Grange, and one of the two re-
charter members, was the first
speaker. He gave some interesting
of the life of the grange,
the various quarters 1t had occupied, the
dsfavor with which the organization
and its members were at first regarded,
and the general esteem in which they
are now held.
State Master Stetson congratulated the
grange upon its new home, and gave
good talk on grange principles, saying
that it is not necessarily the large grange
which is the most prosperous one, but
the grange where the right spirit is
shown.
Rev. j. a. Little, chaplain of the State
Grange, congratulated Norway Grange
upon overcoming all the difficulties in
the building of new home, and placed
the grange hall side by side with the
church and the school house as repre-
senting one of the great powers for good
in the country.
Brother Parker of the Lewiston Sun
had a word of congratulation to offer.
L. C. Bateman of Lewiston spoke
briefly and eloquently, especially telling
his hearers that the keynote Of the dis
cussions at the National Grange which
he recently attended was cooperation,
and that cooperation must be the key
note of the future work of the grange.
h. D. Smith of Norway Grange closed
the speaking with a brief talk, largely