The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-09
DORSET GRANGE ANNIVERSARY
Historical Sketch Covering 81 Years
Read by r. N. Campbell

Historical Sketch Covering q Years
Read by r. N. Campbell
One of the pleasantest evenings in !
the history of Dorset Grange was the
reunion, and twenty first anniversary
which was celebrated last Wednesday
night, May 3. At 1880 sixty.six grang-
ers and "a ex-grangers and friends sat |
down to bountiful supper which had
been provided by the ladies Of the or
der. An hour later Worthy Master
West called the meeting TO order, and
after a few appropriate remarks, and
just tribute TO the ten charter men,
bers who still remained in the order
called on Brother Snyder as the orig
inator of the celebration to give
short talk on those who had been
members but had passed away. The
brothers tribute was simple but sim
cere and awakened many memories
of the past. j. Il. Hamilton of Hart
ford, Conn, responded on behalf of
the guests and after thanking the
Changers for their hospitality made a
strong and earnest plea for co-opera-
ton of our people in the identifying
of our village He claimed that by
so doing the income now derived from
outsiders would be increased four
fold. That his remarks had appealed
to all was shown by the applause Mr..
Hamilton received when he had con-
cluded and resumed his seat.
Rev. Il. Hunt spoke on his desire to
some day have an orchard of his own
| I,a In IN trxr ont Of 40
ideas he had on apple culture. Other
speakers followed in rapid succession.
Judge c. b. Kent, j. II. Sheldon, Dea,
+. Simmons, w. b. Sykes Martin Pad
dock. G. N. Williams. A. w. Phelan,
Mrs II. S. Snyder Mrs. j. II. Sheldon
and c. A. Wade all made remarks
which bore on the evenings entertain
ment and which were very interest
ling. r. NJ. Campbell spoke on how
the Grange came to be formed and
Mrs. r. NJ. Campbell read paper pre-
pared. by Mr.. Campbell giving a short
history of a few thoughts suggested
while writing the same.
At eleven o'clock Worthy Master
West asked all to rise and join in sing.
ing our national anthem. For another
half hour there was an exchange of
congratulations and good fellowship
, when the lights were put out, and all
departed expressing their pleasure for
their pleasant evening
+ BY request We give the paper pre-
pared by Mr. Campbell.
i, Dorset Grange was formed February
. 10, 1890. 1t was organized by State
, Master Messer of Rochester, VT
-, Twenty-one names were enrolled as
1 charter members but before the char.
; ter was received twenty-four more had
been added making >the total forty.
five. The following were the officers
for the first year: Master. f. F. Gil
bert overseer, Martin Paddock: lee
turer, II. S. Snyder; steward, Eugene
81 Simmons; assistant steward, A. O.
!, Chapman; gate-keeper, John Manley
, Jr, treasurer, George Williams; sec
I. rotary, W. ]. Holley chaplin, Mrs H
n A. Williams. Second meeting March
G H. Third meeting, March 26 Fourth
!. meeting April 2nd when charter was
n received, and Dorset Grange No. 231
4 officially entered into existence
q Since that time our Grange has
a been active and in a quiet way a pow
4 er for good, and it has given many a
r young woman, and young man theil
!. !first incentive to improve their oppor
y tunities, and benefit by what they
. learned in the Grange. The Older
. ones too have been benefited. for they
II were enabled to exchange ideas with
each other on farm, and home ques
6 tons, and by so doing improved theil
: own farms, and homes. The gooc
- work is still going on and we sin
}, cerely hope it will do as much goot
= in the future as We know il has done
= in the past, and when the Forty Sec
= ond year is celebrated we hope tina
!, as good a record can be shown.
\ Our grange has So members Sine,
:, February, 1890 over two hundred hav,
D signed the roll. Twenty-one hav,
IL passed to the great beyond, and sixt,
nine are out in the world, and as IA
as we know are doing well. Ten o
: the charter members are still with III
and we trust they may be spared {,
join in the forty-second celebration
The following is a list of the mas
ters since the Grange was organized
1890 f. f, Gilbert; 1872, Henry Z
Kent; 1898. George Chapman; 1884,
Ezra Nichols; 1867, ]. II. Sheldon
1888 and 1900, Mrs H. S. Snyder
1902 R. NJ. Campbell; 19O3-4-5. f. G
Stone; 1906. J. H. Sheldon; 1907, r
M. Campbell; 1908, E. H. West; 1906
b. II. West; 1910 A. w. Phelan; 1911
r. II. West.
Brother Sheldon served four years
Brother Stone three and a half years
Brother Campbell two and a hal
years, Sister Snyder three, Brothe
West two and is now serving his thir
Brothers, Gilbert, Chapman, Nichol
and Phelan each served one term.
The work of the officers throughou
has been conscientious and with
few exceptions the meetings hav
been interesting. During the no
weather and on very stormy night
an occasional meeting was skipped
Still the average was kept up an
for several years we have stood YER
close to the head in this state for goo
work and attendance.
Our course has not always been
smooth one, but whatever the troubl
1t could be remedied, and we hav
gone on with renewed courage. an
have profted by our previous errors
so that today we are a strong an
prosperous grange, and are in a niue
better condition for continuing tn
good work of our order
The lecturers have always don