Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-26
Wayne Grange History.

The following are extracts from the
history of Wayne Grange written by
Rfrs. T. c. Thompson and read at the
10Th anniversary.
At or near the year 1915 some few of
Wayne's most euterDFiSing ana pfuSFes..
siFe farmers feeling real need q
something to tie or bring them closer To-
gether, met talked. exchanged IDEAS.
then arriving at conclusion, ofahchei
forth, organized an order OF + OF II.
At the beginning they met around
among the members generally holding
meetings in the home kitchen for the
want of better accommodations.
After time money was obtained ana
they purchased what is known a s the
brick block on Main street, now owned
aud occupied by the Dexter heirs, the
upper part of this was converted into a
hail, while on the lower floor they
opened Il cooperative store managed by
the patrons OF the inner history We
know but little. of those who We're once
members it is believed are but five per
sons living today. Then are Mrs. Junia
Bishop Samuel Rishop,t Mr.. and Mrs
". b. Frost and .AA,bn er Wing, al resi-
ing paraphernalia nave become lost or
In 1902 some few conceived an idea
that Wayne should have grange or It's
own SO the late Hon. Sewall PettengiIl,
L. NJ. Norris and others equally interest
cd met and after discussing the sitoa-
ton they decided to organize. An inv
tation was sent to our late brother,
Hon. r. d. Leayitt of Turner, d call
was issued inviting all who We're inter-
ested TO meet at Lincoln Han on Ger
tain date to organize and in time, Feb;
o. 1852, Wayne Grange was re-orsanlzed
with % charter members, taking the old
name and number No 151. After holds
hail. they decided to buy and build a
home for themselves and today the
Grange celebrates its 10th anniversary
IN it's own home free ana clear from
debt or ineumbranee of any kind. OF
the % charter members, 10 of the orig
inal nifmher have their names on oar
rolls
During the 10 years six different mas
tiers have occupied the chair: l.. NJ. Nor
rls at first, one years~J. r. Cram, one
year; G. w Norris, three years; j. NJ.
year; J. e. Norris two years. our pres
ent master, j. NJ. Colt, for 1917, We Elk
peet from our long association with nun
10 fill the chair as faithfully and accept
ably as have each one of his predeces-
sors.
The total number of membership from
it's inception has been 123 present num-
her TO- We have suffered the loss by
Seath of u members. five of them being
charter members; by various other
causes our numbers have been reduced
1y 81 names dropped from the roll our
membership increase has been or slo%
hut gradual growth with the present
for each year since organization, not
including the original 20 charter meth-
bers, besides now We have quite mum
her of new applications from desirable
persons awaiting to join us.
Wayne Grange has ever been intensely
interested in all other things pertaining
to our schools on several occasions we
have engaged persons prominent in edit
cational circles to give lectures and nd :
vice in our hall, no charge being made
for admission. II has been said and
truthfully 50, by many, even those not
concerned i'm our order, that by the high
moral standard maintained by Wayne
Grange il has been a source of much
satisfaction to our townspe ople.