The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-04-28
DAYS OF LONG
AGO TO BE
STAGED
Cowboy Band Arranging Pro
gram for 45th Grange
vile Anniversary


sary of the founding of the city Of
Grangeville appropriate and fitting
ceremonies will be staged here on the
evenings Of Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday, May 25th, 26th and 9th. The
event will be known as the Days Of
Long Ago" and will be produced under
the auspices Of the Grangeville Cowboy
Band, which organization has spon-
sored each spring Of the past five years
an annual carnival depicting early
days in the west. This year, the histor-
! ical significance of the date Is to be
observed, and fitting ceremonies mark
ing the 45th anniversary of the city's
birth will be featured ON the programs
of the three evenings.
An interesting feature of especial
historical significance is the fact that
the Forthcoming entertainment will be
staged upon the identical spot, where,
40 years ago, Idaho county pioneers
built Grange Hall, which was the first
public building erected where the city
now stands. The construction of the
historic old Grange Hall was started
In 1876, pioneers tell us, but the build
ing was not completed until in the
spring of the year 1875, 45 years ago.
at which time the building was dedicat-
ed and opened to the public with an
old-fashioned dance and community
gathering when settlers came for miles
around to spend the day and evening
as guests of the then small and bud
ding hamlet Of Grangeville.
The basic plans of the promoters Of
the entertainment next month will be
to reproduce as nearly as possible the
scenes and incidents which marked the
dedication Of the old historic hall here
40 years ago.
Recall Historic Facts.
Pioneers Of the county who were res
idents Of Camas Prairie at that time,
including County Commissioner Geo. d
Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, Major
Frank A. Fem of Kooskia, Probate
Judge John E. Byron and others who
have been questioned regarding the
dates and incidents attendant upon the
completion of Grange Hall and other
historical data, state that the building
was originally constructed as a meet
ing house and public building primar-
lily for the members of Charity Grange
No. 10, which was organized here in
August, 1874, and of which William G.
Pearson and J. III. Robinson, honored
citizens of Camas Prairie now deceased
were elected president and secretary
respectively.
Major Fem and County Commits
sioner Smith were among the pioneers
who We're present at the dedicatory
ceremonies of Grange Hall 45 years
ago and they recall that during the
evening while the dancing was in pro-
gress the second floor of the structure
some apprehension was felt regarding
the probability of the building failing
to stand the strain, so great was the
crowd of dancers. To safeguard against
a collapse f the structure Major
Fem, Mr.. Smith and others secured
timbers and placed them temporarily
as props under the dancing floor
And so the dance went on and Joy
was unconfinedl
Major Fem, Mr. Smith and many
other pioneers will be guests at the
entertainment next month and will be
given an opportunity on the evening
when the principal commemorating
program is. scheduled to relate infor-
mally their impressions gathered at
Confined On page 81