Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-11-13
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
}. W. BARROW. Chatham. N. r..
Editor Of the Nep York state Grange
RerieD
THE GRANGE HALL.
An Indicator Of Permanency and g
Real Community Asset.

some even go into debt for 1t and be-
lieve that such a debt is a worthy in
centive to labor and economy. In the
first place, every grange needs a pub
lie meeting place. Some oranges there
are that seem compelled, under the cir
cumstances which surround them, to
meet in the homes of members, but no
grange SO meeting together can do it's
best work 1t is largely limited In
doing any initiatory work, and it has
little standing in its community
Viewed from the standpoint of mon
ey making or economy, it will be found
that a well equipped grange hall is a
money maker in almost any village
where public meetings are frequently
held. If there is no other public hall,
all the more reason why the grange
should own one. | say well equip
ped" and that is what every grange
hall should be. 1t were better to have
no hall than to have one furnished
with articles contributed from the cast
off furniture of some of it's members,
albeit this may not be without value,
but 1t will be inharmonious and is
sometimes exceedingly incongruous
Buy furniture with the idea of its be-
ing permanent, for that it will likely
be whether you so decide or not, for it
is extremely difficult to make a change
after furniture is once placed, either
from the standpoint of economy or
mere convenience.
A substantial, well built. well fur
nished grange hall is a real asset in
any community. Besides being a source
of income, it is a source of pleasure
not only to the grange, but to the COM
munity, and all will point to it with
pride and look upon it as the center of
things that pertain to neighborhood in
terests, where. under conditions pre-
scribed by the grange, neighbors may
meet in any approved capacity. In
short, 1t Is civic center in fact and in
name.
1t goes without saying that a well
equipped hall should be a well kept
hall, and as such it will have moral
influence upon those who assemble
in it and in fact upon the community
where it is located The aesthetic in
fuence of a clean floor and windows,
well cared for carpets and rugs. tidy
kitchen and cupboards, may seem lit
tie, but it is immeasurable These
things cannot be too much emphasized.
They certainly cannot be overlooked
by men and women who i'll their own
homes give them proper attention.
AS to the plan of a convenient grange
hall, | shall say but little because cir
cumstances will determine plans, and
circumstances will differ widely
Probably the average grange hall has
an assembly room for the meeting of
the grange on the second floor The
hall will be fitted with a commodious
stage or platform at one end. 1t will
have necessary curtains and fixtures.
At the other end will be the ante
rooms. Below stairs there will be
hall commodious enough to be used
for ordinary public purposes. for the
rental of which a reasonable sum shall
be asked. Adjoining this hall there
will be good sized kitchen. with cup
boards, and it will be equipped with
necessary utensils. Heat and ventila-
ton will be well provided for through
out the building. If not increasing the
expense too much basement or cellar
under the structure is advisable.
Having your hall completed, by all
means dedicate 1t according to the
prescribed ceremony of the grange. 1t
is impressive and beautiful. 1t is a
browning act in which all members
who have contributed to the erection
Of the hall will rejoice. and, as these
exercises are often public, they will
impress those outside your gates most
favorably. In Ohio there was a grange
Of forty members when the new hall
project was first discussed. A little
less than four years passed and the
hall was completed. and at its first
meeting seventy new members were
received Its total membership is now
over $50. This simply to show that
outsiders are impressed by such sub
stantial evidences of success in grange
endeavor.
Since beginning this article l have
run across the IOllOWlnS paragraph rel
alive to another grange in Ohio which
so harmonizes with the thought have
tried to bring out that | reproduce it,
The writer says:
"Since building our hall we have
trebled our membership. and our hall
is the community center for the whole
neighborhood. We now have plenty of
young people joining the grange and
others being reinstated. and still 9th
ers who had not been to grange meet
ings for years are coming regularly.
Our hall is crowded to the doors at
every monthly community meeting In
these meetings people other than
grangers are invited to participate.
They soon want to become members.
The whole community now looks for
trya 81.