Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-11-16
liz %
MMM/
NMMW
Conducted by Charles NJ. Gardner. Editor
OF the National Grange. Westfield. Mass.
GRANGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Some Things That Have Been Done
by the Influence Of Oranges In
Local Affairs.

town, was the means OF getting a
town improvement movement under
way that has proved of incalculable
benefit to the place. Realizing that
such an undertaking would be most
successful through the cooperation of
all the citizens, the Grange thought
best not to go ahead with an improve
ment project on it's own account, but
! instead ii chose a committee which
conferred with the churches and with
other local organizations, to secure
the formation of strong civic move
ment for the general improvement of
local conditions. The Grange effort
met, an instant response and the move
ment thus set under way has proved
tremendously beneficial in that COM
munity 1t was simply a case of
Grange leadership towards worth
while ends
In one small town the state inspec-
! tor required the installing of an as
bestos curtain in the town hall, which
was also the meeting place of the
Grange. Anxious to make the cost as
small as possible, the town fathers
! purchased the plainest kind of an un-
adorned asbestos curtain, which com
piled with the requirements OF the
law all right, but which was by no
means thing of beSity. According
ly the Grange took the matter up,
raised the needed money and had
| painted on the curtain a handsome To-
cal woodland scene, thereby changing
the entire interior appearance OF the
hall. Moreover everyone who looks
at the curtain gets a new revelation
of the beauties of their own town, and
thus is local pride increased and real
home loyalty promoted. Simply a
case of Grange leadership towards
worthwhile ends.
Securing halls Of their own is al
ways in progress by enterprising
oranges and frequently the erection OF
neat and attractive Grange hall not
only supplies much-needed convent
ence but improves local community
appearance as well. One such case
has just occurred in New England
country town, where the Grange, in
working out its hall problem, bought
an old wreck of a building. that for
nearly a generation had disfigured
the otherwise beautiful town center
removed II from the lot and then put
up their Grange home. So genuine
and heartfelt was the gratitude of the
citizens that many of them, not
Grange members, came forward with
money contributions for the new hall
1t will never do for anyone to speak
unkindly Of the Grange in that COM
munity because it has tremendously
same time it was providing itself with
the greatly-needed hall Simply a
case of Grange leadership towards
worthwhile ends.
In one town weekly band concerts
have been feature that has furnished
much pleasure for all the people. The
Grange took the lead, in the early
spring by making a proposition to the
local Civic league, that il the latter
would raise the money for a summer
series of band concerts, the Grange
would get the funds and erect a
grand stand before July /. The chal.
lenge was accepted and the Grange at
once got busy, by arranging a mock
trial, of humorous character, which
was put on in the town hall before
nearly all the people of the town. The
result was a handsome start towards
the fund that later built the band
Standard brought the band concerts.
Simply a case of Grange leadership
towards worthwhile ends.