Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-06-12
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
wv. BARROW. Chatham. N. Y,
Editor Of the Neto York Stdte Grange
Review
THE GRANGE HALL.
Center Of All Social Good Things and a
Neighborhood Asset.

Neiehborhood Asset.
Is the pride Of the neighborhood, and
1t is usually one of the best buildings
for miles around. 1t is an object of
pride and is looked upon as the neigh
borhood center Of all social good things.
Such a building may be a great bless
ing to a neighborhood. 1t may become
a civic center, a sort of advanced
school for the study of things of i'm
portance to all the community. In
view of its Importance such a hall
ought to be just as large, just as con-
venient, lust as well adapted to lodge
purposes and general USE just as well
heated and ventilated and kept just
as clean and tidy, just as harmonious
ly painted or tinted or otherwise col
ored, as the builders means will pos
sibly permit. 1t will be a neighbor-
hood asset and will have just as much
to do with improving realty values as
the new schoolhouse or the church. 1t
should be furnished with chairs or
seats or cushioned stools; but, whatev'
er you do select, decide beforehand that
that will be the permanent furniture
for, whether you do so decide or not.
the chances are q hundred to one that
they will be the permanent furniture,
for unless your hall is a great eXcep-
ton, having once begun to use GER
tain article, you will find it extremely
inconvenient to make a change even
If it is an undressed board. In fitting
up a hall go the limit, and it will pay
you. AS an instance, the Patrons Of
Milwaukee recently remodeled their
hall, put in a kitchen, sinks, lavatory,
range, cupboards, rest rooms, toilet for
gentlemen and improved the main hall,
and they now have it in use almost ev-
cry night in the week for lodge pur-
poses, and, of course, the grangers use
| it when they see fit. 1t paid them
The hall is now q source of income.
Another instance-a new hall built
several years ago furnished with scrap
furniture, an old rusty stove. donations
from the entire neighborhoOd of use
less furniture and from various lodges,
and there was not enough of anything
to make a decent appearance An in
vestment of $3.50 would have made
things look 100 per cent better. Five
hundred dollars would have provided
carpet and nice seats and stations
But it was the only thing in the village
and the management thought it would
do. 1t drew good money, but the ten
ants We're not satisfied. AS a result il
is now empty, and new hall Will
good accommodation has all the pat
ronage.
But there is something more to hay
ing a nice hall in addition to its being
a money maker. The moral influence
of q neat clean hall. with we'll kept
floors, stairways. kitchen and cup
boards, will repay you for the eX
pense and trouble. The pay will be
in the pride it gives and the common
dation you receive for the neat appear
ance of your property and in the aes
thetic influence it has upon the young
people who meet within your walls
Children cannot see dirt and careless
housekeeping without developing un
tidy tendencies.
In oranges where a social or an en-
tertainment will net SO or $50 there
! is every reason to believe that a wei
equipped kitchen, good dishes.
range. good tables and seating are en-
tirely within your financial reach, anC
a janitor who will keep the hall wei
swept and busted is not only possible
but he is a real necessity. Try it an'
= watch results.-Pacific Grange Bulle
tin.