Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-07

Today. Monmouth Grange looks
back fifty years. Fifty years of, life.
of change. of progress; it is fitting
that In the observance of its golden
anniversary there should be given a
review of the history of half CEN
fury. Monmouth Grange. No. 80, was
organized and its officers obligated,
Oct. 3. 1874. in the old schoolrouse
in South Monmouth by Nelson Ham.
then.s Master>s2f y the State Grange.
There were sixteen charter members.
viz: Mark Getchell, Matthias Ben
ner. Earl Judkins. Morrill, Chesley,
Rufus Lane. Sanderson Getchell.
Oliver Hinkley, Melville Butler, John
Stafford, Dana Frederick, William
Gowell, Hannah Hinkley. Lucinda
Chesley. Sarah Judkins, Adeline Lane
and Rebeca Benner, Of this number
but one is living, Sarah Judkins,
aged "a years. The first officers were
Master, Elder Mark Getchell, as he
was designated, being n Free
Baptist minfstef.. He was the oldest
of charter members. 81 years old:
.overseer, Matthias Benner: Lecturer,
oliver Hinkley; Steward. Lufus
Lane; Chaplain, John Stafford: As
sistant Steward. Sanderson Getchell:
Cate keeper. Earl Judkins; Treasur-
err. Dana Frederick; Secretary, Nell
Butler who was the youngest mem
Der, 81 years of age; Ceres, Hannah
Hinkley; Pomona, Adeline Lane;
Flora, Lucinda Chesley; L. A. Ste
ward, Sarah Judkins. .
The second meeting was held on
Monmouth Ridge. in the upper par.
of n carriage shop owned by Earl
Judkins. Here the Grange, was le-
Gated for about a year. The first
candidate for membership after or
SANITATION was George Lewellyn SAT:
ford.
In December. 1874, the first cleo
ton Of officers was held. resulting in
the election of Master Matthias Ben
rer and Oliver Hinkley as Overseer.
Then came the installation of officers
by the Master of the Wales Grange,
T. Worcester Ham,
While the Grange was located on
the Ridge, the question of buying
groceries at wholesale to be sold TO
the members was agitated and in the
spring the first articles purchased
were tea, coffee. and Oil. Earl judi
kins acted as clerk. In June II was
voted to buy hogshead of molasses
We will pass over the discourage
ments In the life Of The Grange
while the meetings were held on the
Ridge, the long distances for some Of
tn mmbrs to travel. the cold, poorly
lighted upper room Of the carriage
shop. the lack of proper furnishings
and conveniences. 1t Is enough 10
say that II soon became evident tina:
some move must be made to hold the
interest of the mmbers and II was
decided to change the place Of meet {.
ing to Monmouth Center. Headouar.
tiers were therefore established in the
old Town Hall.
In December. 1875. which nearly
proved the undoing' of the Grange be-
cause OF the difficulties in the use Of
building so .p1biic in character.
However. in spite Of difficulties and
In February. 1877. IL was voted to
build combined hal! and store. In
august OF that year the present
home of the Grange was So far adj
vanced that meetings were held in
the attic of the new hall: and on
Tuesday. Oct. Q, 1871. forty-seven
years ago the new hall was dedicated.
The building was owned by a stock
company composed Of members, IT
the order. and COS: originally about
$4,000. he third aoor hall was an
.ishec for the Masonic order. The
first floor hal! was designed for a
store and was used as such for some
time. until 1t was finally fitted up for
a dining hall.
In 1S0S Monmouth Grange was in
corporated and the. shares owned by,
individual members were purchased
at about one-half the original price.
making the cost Of the building to
the Grange about 5000. This was
paid in five years. After a few years
Improvements and repairs on the
building were needed inside and out.
The question Of raising the neces-
sary money appalled, even the stout
hearted. but the work was done, at
the cost OF about $140O. which teft