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story of the Connecticut State Grange is really
the story of two State Granges. |
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First Connecticut State Grange |
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The
first state Grange in Connecticut was organized
at a meeting held at the Old Taylor Opera
House in Danbury on April 15 and 16, 1875.
Connecticut became the 33rd State Grange
organized under the National Grange of the
Order of Patrons of Husbandry with twenty
(20) Subordinate (local) Granges comprising
the fabric of this fledgling organization.
The
first 20 Granges included: Stafford
No. 1, Windsor No. 2, Lanesville (New
Milford) No. 3, Hawleyville (Newtown)
No. 4, Granby No. 5, Danbury No. 6, Roxbury
No. 7, Sherman (New Milford) No. 8, Hartland
No. 9, West Suffield No. 10, Washington
No. 11, E. Granby No. 12, Tunxis (Bloomfield)
No. 13, Bloomfield No. 14, Redding No.
15, Colebrook No. 16, Kent No. 17, Simsbury
No. 18, Housatonic No. 19 and Hope (Torrington)
No. 20. |
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Records
of the first State Grange are incomplete but it
is known that four or five meetings were held,
including both special and regular meetings.
Lida
Ive’s “The Grange in Connecticut” states
the following reasons for the demise of the first
state Grange, “Misunderstanding and poorly
defined rules and regulations led to disputes
between sections of the State; improper instruction
and understanding of the ritual; lack of proper
coordination in having a defined buying and selling
agreement between merchants and others; low dues
and little money in the Treasury were factors
that all contributed to the final failure of this
group to operate as a State Grange.”
Due
to these conditions, Grange after Grange dropped
from the State Grange’s rolls until only
two remained. Hope No. 20 of Torrington and
Tunxis No. 13 of Bloomfield.
Some minor disagreement
still exists between the two Granges today regarding
which Grange is truly the oldest. Hope Grange
continued to meet during the time between the
first and second State Granges and paid their
dues either directly to the National Grange
or through the Massachusetts State Grange, as
directed.
Tunxis, however, has the oldest Charter,
never giving it up even during a four year time
period when Tunxis did not meet. Regardless,
these two Granges became the important nucleus
of the new Sate Grange. |
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Center
inset: Harvy Godard, First Master
of the First CT State Grange; Clockwise
from top left: Sherman Kimberly, Second
and last Master of the First State
Grange and First Master of the Second
State Grange; J.H. Hale, Second State
Master; Dr. G.A. Bowen, Third State
Master; S.O. Bowen, Fourth
State Master.
CLICK
HERE TO VIEW LARGER IMAGE
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| The
Second Connecticut State Grange |
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The
second attempt at organizing a State Grange in Connecticut
met with much more success when representatives from
16 Subordinate Granges met in convention at the Academy
Building in South Glastonbury, CT on June 24, 1885.
Several Granges organized during the first State Grange
were still represented along with many new Granges.
They included: Granby, Tunxis, and Hope of the first
State Grange along with Lebanon, Advance, Cheshire,
Berlin, Union, Glastonbury, Suffield, South Windsor,
Meriden, Wapping, Manchester, North Cornwall and Wallingford. New
members joining the State Grange during 1885 and 1886
received what is known today as the Fifth Degree or
Pomona (County) Grange degree. Then in 1887, the Connecticut
State Grange conferred the first Degree of Flora (Sixth
Degree) upon candidates in December of that year. |
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| Highlights
of the Second State Grange |
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The
Patrons Group
Affordable
insurance has always been an important element of
Grange programs throughout the nation, even in the
earliest years of the Order. Connecticut was no exception.
Delegates to the 1885 session authorized the State
Grange Executive Committee to “investigate the
subject of Grange Fire Insurance and report at the
Annual Meeting.” Then at the December 1886 Session
the following report was made by the Good of the Order
Committee, “We would recommend the incorporation
of a Patrons Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company.”
The
resolution was adopted and the insurance company was
organized on April 6, 1887 at the United States Hotel
in Hartford, under the name “Patrons’ Mutual
Fire Insurance Company of Connecticut.” This
company remains in existence today under the name “The
Patrons Group.” Its headquarters are still located
in Glastonbury, CT but the company’s reach extends
well beyond the state’s borders into many northeastern/New
England states. The Connecticut State Grange no longer
manages the company but both organizations still maintain
close ties. |
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First
Grange Hall Dedicated
Lebanon
Grange No. 21 holds the honor of having dedicated
the first hall in Connecticut built specifically
for the purpose of housing a Grange chapter.
In August of 1884, Lebanon Grange authorized
the construction of a hall and store for the
cost of $1,725.00. The hall was finally ready
for dedication on November 12, 1885.
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Storrs
Agricultural School/University of Connecticut (UConn)
Long
before the University of Connecticut became a national
powerhouse in Men’s and Women’s Basketball,
its predecessor, the Storrs Agricultural School struggled
to establish itself as an institution of higher learning
in Connecticut.
The
school came into being as a “Land Grant College” in
1881, just four years before the second Connecticut
State Grange was organized. It’s prominence
in agricultural education in Connecticut wasn’t
established without struggle.
On
July 2, 1862, the United States Congress established “An
act donating public lands to the several States and
Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit
of agriculture and the mechanic arts.” Along
with this act, $7,500 was ordered paid by the Connecticut
General Assembly to the president and and fellows
of Yale College which operated the college’s
Sheffield Scientific School.
From
1863 through 1886 (24 years) only seven (7) students
received agricultural degrees from Yale. These seven
degrees cost $25,700 each, an astounding figure even
in the 19th century! The Latin and higher mathematics
requirements of the program are attributed to the
reason why more students did not apply for the Yale/Sheffield
agricultural program. Mrs. Ives history of this period
reads, “I think that we would all agree that
the Connecticut State Grange had a real cause for
the agitation they stirred up over this situation.
After a long and somewhat bitter fight, you who have
followed this history know it was successfully wrested
from New Haven and placed through the proper channels
of Legislature in the Storrs Agricultural School,
but not before injunctions were made and funds held
up.
Testimony
to the State Grange’s importance in developing
the University of Connecticut was given by UConn President
Dr. Albert N. Jorgensen (a Grange member) at the 1950
session of the Connecticut State Grange:
“I
have come to the conclusion that about which I feel
quite strongly and that is the State of Connecticut
and the people of Connecticut owe this organization
a debt of gratitude that I think will extend for many,
many generations. The debt of gratitude stems from
positions taken on the number of big questions of
considerable import – several in the field of
education. At least four contributions will go down
in history. (1) Originally, the Land Grant Institution
in this State was a private institution. Through the
Grange’s initiative by legislation this Land
Grant Institution is now a public institution – what
is now known as the University of Connecticut. (2)
In 1922 there was an attempt to liquidate the Land
Grant institution. The State Grange stepped in and
saved the day. (3) In 1937, through reorganization
of government, an attempt was made to remove independence
from the Land Grange College and remove the institution’s
Board of Trustees and place the institution under
some other agency. The State Grange and Farm Bureau
kept that from taking place. (4) Much more recently
there was an attempt to take away from the University
its independence and to take away the institution’s
Board of Trustees again. The State Grange and Farm
Bureau teamed up and made their positions known in
no uncertain terms. I myself am personally indebted
to the State Grange Legislative Committee which, under
the very able leadership of A. Ward Spaulding, left
no doubt about the position the Grange was taking
on this question.”
From
the beginning, Connecticut’s members recognized
the need for a quality educational system in the state.
A resolution from the 1885 session reads “Whereas,
The Storrs’ Agricultural School, having successfully
passed the experimental period of four years, Resolved,
that the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, realizing
the importance of education for the farm, commend
this institution as worthy of our patronage and protection.” |
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Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station
In
1886, the U.S. Congress appropriated $15,000 annually
to each state for the establishment and maintenance
of Agricultural Experiment Stations. The Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station was established in
1887 as the nation’s first station and remains
today as America’s oldest. One of the Station’s
most important contributions to agriculture was the
development of hybrid corn, which revolutionized the
farming of corn throughout the country.
Many
attempts have been made over the years by the State
of Connecticut to reduce or eliminate funding to the
Station but the Connecticut State Grange has been
there each time to help lead the charge in opposition. |
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National
Grange Sessions in Connecticut
The
Connecticut State Grange has had the honor of
hosting the National Grange Convention on three
separate occasions and is planning for its fourth
in 2008.
The
first session in Connecticut (all held in Hartford)
was in November of 1907. A class of 2,490 candidates
received the Seventh (National) Degree at that
session.
Connecticut
hosted the 68th Annual Session in November of
1934. Crowds at this session literally stopped
traffic in downtown Hartford, especially on
the day of the Seventh Degree at Bushnell Memoriall
Hall across from the State Capitol.
Nearly
13,000 Patrons received the Degree of Ceres
that day! The third visit of the National Grange
was in November of 1972 at the Hartford Hilton
Hotel which overlooked scenic Bushnell Park
and the State Capitol building.
Connecticut will host the 2008 National Grange Session, with it's home base the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell. It is certain that the National
Delegates and members from across the country
will enjoy their stay in the Nutmeg State! For more information on the National Grange Convention in Connecticut, please visit the Convention website - www.nationalgrange2008.com.
People’s
State Forest
In
1930, the State Grange became aware of the Connecticut
Forestry Department’s efforts to develop “The
People’s Forest” in Barkhamsted.
The park was being developed through the funding
of individuals and associations, with more land
available.
The
delegates to the 45th annual session of that
year authorized the purchased of a plot of land
in the park to be known as “The Grange
Plot.” The donation was made and the “The
Grange Plot” at People’s State Forest
came into being. People’s State Forest
was the site of the State Grange’s observance
of the U.S. bicentennial in 1976, which was
attended by then National Master John Scott. |
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(Top
and Middle) "ON THEIR WAY TO
BUSHNELL MEMORIAL HALL to receive
the Seventh Degree after registering
at the State Capitol, Saturday morning,
Nov. 17."
(Bottom) "A VIEW OF THE THRONGS waiting in front
of Bushnell Memorial for the 11 o'clock class of the
Seventh Degree, given Friday, November 16."
Credit:
Hartford Courant, December 2, 1934.
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“Get
Connecticut Out of the Mud”
“In
the spring of 1930 when the sun was high and the
mud deep, many a Connecticut rural road was impossible
to negotiate either by motor or horse drawn vehicle.
The man in town could not drive into the rural
areas to conduct his business nor could the farmer
or rural dweller likewise reach the towns and
cities for days sometimes, having to await the
action of the elements, either to freeze the mud
or dry it up. In either case the result was ruts,
holes, and turn outs which were troublesome and
costly to meet.
It
was on one of these days, which was an annual
occurance, early in 1930, that I stepped to the
phone to ask the then first selectman why he had
not fulfilled his promise to me that the worst
mud holes on my own road would be filled to make
the road at least passable.
The
reception that I received from the man on the
other end of the phone was anything but cordial.
He hung up on me three times, the last time his
parting words were unprintable.
I
learned later that he and another official of
the town had been out with a horse drawn vehicle
inspecting roads and had been stuck for more than
two hours. He had just returned when I made my
call. You can see now why I can’t say what
he said before he slammed up the receiver.”
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State Master Louis G. Tolles
Shortly after this experience, Brother Tolles sent letters to Pomona
and Subordinate Masters throughout the state requesting a meeting
in the Hall of the House of Representatives in Hartford to address
this issue. Unfortunately, the State Master didn’t have the
blessing of the State Executive Committee, “because I kicked
this thing off all by myself without conferring with my Executive
Committee, when we did meet their faces were long enough to eat oats
out of a churn. However, when they saw the popularity of it all,
they being good sports, I guess forgave me and pitched in and helped
through to the end like good soldiers. By this time, the newspapers
had begun to spread the news of our doings, some favorable and some
rather dubious, and others just hostile.”
Following
the meeting at the Capitol, the Connecticut Rural
Roads Improvement Association Incorporated was formed
with State Master Tolles as its president. As a result,
the State Legislature passed the “Town Aid Bill” allocating
$3,000,000 to be allotted from the Highway Fund for
division equally among the 169 Connecticut towns for
improvement of roads. The allottment was increased
over the years following the initial act of the Legislature,
with the fund being distributed to towns based on
need rather than in 169 equal portions. |
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A
Tribute to Agriculture
In
1934, Brother Albert Marsh, of Burritt Grange
in New Britain went before the State Executive
Committee to present his idea for a tribute
to agriculture.
For its construction, he volunteered
his own collection of stones from each of the
169 towns in Connecticut and the, then, 48 states
in the Union.
The idea was greeted with enthusiasm
and the completed memorial was dedicated at
the May 16, 1937 Grange Sunday held on the campus
of the State College in Storrs and attended
by National Master Louis J. Taber and Dr. A.
N. Jorgensen, President of the College. |
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The "Little
Stone House" dedicated in 1937,
located on Northeagleville Road, across
from Swan Lake.
(Photo by Peter Morenus)
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New
England Grange Building
For
many years after its inception, Grange leaders
in New England hoped to have a centrally located
Grange building in the region for use as a meeting
place for members and for New England Grange
activities.
National
High Priest of Demeter Charles Gardner shared
this desire and spear-headed the drive to construct
the New England Grange Building on the grounds
of the Eastern States Exposition (often referred
to today as the “Big E”) in West
Springfield, Massachusetts. |
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The
New England Grange Building. |
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The
building is located along the Avenue of the States
in the heart of the Exposition grounds. The Avenue
of the States features replicas of current or colonial
era Statehouses from each of the six New England states.
The Grange is the only organization featured on the
avenue this way.
Lida
Ives' history describes the building: “It is
truly a Grange Hall, with a spacious basement where
meals would be served in any real Grange Hall, but
is here used for Grange Exhibits during the Exposition.
On the Ground Floor, one enters a spacious auditorium
which is reported to seat about 400, with the usual
stage. A beautiful fireplace graces one side of this
room which is more often used as a living (reception)
room for the building. The Second Floor is encircled
on three sides by a balcony, two sides of which are
lined with the individual New England State Rooms.
The Connecticut Room is located to the left as you
mount the easy stairs leading to this balcony. It
is a beautiful room, panelled with natural woods and
octagon in shape. On the floor rests a green rug with
the typical sheaf of wheat upon it. Natural Maple
Windsor chairs, settee and two small tables comprise
the furniture in it. Two spacious cupboards or full
length closets fill in two of the corners, while another
holds a door which opens out upon the balcony over
the front entrance.”
The
Connecticut State Grange continues to contribute to
the maintenance of this building each year along with
the other five New England states with each state’s
portion being determined by membership in each state.
Connecticut’s members faithfully volunteer time
each September to ensure that visitors to the Fair
will find Connecticut Grange members ready to greet
them in the Connecticut Room. The Building was dedicated
on September 21, 1938. This day will live in infamy
as the day the "Great Hurricane of 1938" ravaged
New England and the east coast. The storm struck the
Eastern States Exposition grounds shortly after the
dedication was completed and the Patrons in attendance
had gone home to wait out the storm. Amazingly the
new Grange Hall withstood the storm suffering little
damage while the storm managed to level the rest of
the Fairgrounds... a great testimony to the craftsmanship
and fortitude of the organization!
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Grange
Hall
As
a testament to the Connecticut State Grange’s
contributions to the University of Connecticut, a
hall was dedicated on the campus. It is appropriately
named “Grange Hall.” There was a mounting
housing shortage on the Storrs campus in 1940 that
was causing a great deal of concern to President Jorgensen.
Earlier that year, the State Grange had established
a scholarship at UConn which drew donations from each
of the Pomona and Subordinate Granges in the state.
During a coversation with State Master Sherman Ives,
President Jorgensen asked how many members there were
in Connecticut. He was told that there were 20,000.
He then proposed the idea of each Grange member in
the state donating $1 each with the college matching
the 20,000 one dollar donations for the construction
of a residence hall on campus to be called “Grange
Hall.”
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Connecticut
Granger
During
1943, the support for the war effort was varied
and substantial. The greatest achievement during
this time was the raising of $487,000 worth
of War Bonds during the Third War Loan Drive.
In recognition of this achievement, the War
Department named one of its flying fortresses, “Connecticut
Granger.” |
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Above
is a photo of the "Connecticut
Granger" Flying Fortress named
for members of the Connecticut State
Grange for their efforts in selling
war bonds during World War II in 1943.
The photo appeared on the cover of the
first issue of the Connecticut Granger newspaper in 1960. |
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Today's
Connecticut State Grange |
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Camp
Berger
One
of the first of its kind in the nation, Camp
Berger was established by the Connecticut
State Grange in 1956 as a summer camp for
Connecticut’s large Junior Grange membership.
Over
the years the doors have been opened to all
children ages 7-14. Located on scenic Park
Pond in Winchester Center, CT, Camp Berger
offers an exceptional camping experience at
prices that make it one of the best summer
camping values in the state.
For more information
about Camp Berger, please visit their website
at: www.campberger.org |
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Above
is a photo of the crowd at the Dedication
Ceremony of Camp Berger, 1956. |
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Connecticut
Agricultural Fair
In
1967, the Connecticut State Grange established
its own statewide fair on the Durham Fairgrounds
in Durham, CT. The event was been held every
year since then, growing in size and popularity
with each edition, culminating in its 39th year.
The Connecticut Agricultural
Fair was held on the fairgrounds in Goshen, Connecticut and was made possible entirely by the never-ending
support of over 300 volunteers and every Grange
in the state. Agriculture took center stage
with some of the state’s finest agricultural
exhibits and contests along with plenty of national
and local entertainment along with fine food
and much more to round out the Fair’s
offerings. The fair was always held on the last
full weekend of July.
Sadly, the Board of Directors voted in the fall of 2007 to disband the Fair permanently, effective November 1, 2007, and just one year shy of its 40th Anniversary. |
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Inside
the Dairy Barn at the Connecticut Agricultural
Fair. |
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Department
of Agriculture
State
budget cuts have been an annual tradition in Connecticut.
Among the many targets has been the state Department
of Agriculture. One attempt in the 1990’s was
thwarted by the State Grange and other organizations
by an aggressive letter writing campaign and lobbying
program by the State Grange Legislative Committee. Severe
budget shortfalls in 2003 caused the department to
be put on the block yet again. Plans currently call
for this department to be combined with the State’s
Department of Consumer Protection. The Connecticut
State Grange is working to preserve the department
but realizes that it may not be possible in the end.
In that event, the Grange is also working to ensure
that the new combined department would still provide
the services and support once provided by a fully-funded,
stand alone Department of Agriculture. |
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Connecticut
Farmland Trust / Working Lands Alliance Connecticut
has lost over 21% of its farmland since 1984 at a
rate of nearly 9,000 acres per year. This alarming
trend resulted in the establishment of the Working
Lands Alliance and its non-profit organization, the
Connecticut Farmland Trust. As a member of these organizations,
the Connecticut State Grange is working to help raise
funds for the CFT to fulfill its mission to purchase
development rights to farmland across the state, preserving
the beauty of Connecticut’s open spaces for
generations to come. |
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Community
Service The
greatest misconception about today’s Grange
is that it’s for farmers. While agriculture
is still at the heart of the organization, it’s
not a “bunch of farmers” anymore. Today’s
Grange works to improve conditions for rural and urban
Americans. The centerpiece of Grange activity today
is community service. In Connecticut, each Grange
determines what is needed in their individual communities
and try to fill the void. The projects are many and
vaired. They include: the Candy Cane Express holiday
train ride for children with cancer, purchasing dictionaries
for school children, preserving a Post Office and
its zip code for a small community, collecting food
for shelters, creating Memory Books and collecting
needed items for the State Grange’s Foster Children’s
project, purchasing defibrillators for local police/fire
departments, and so much more! |
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Legislation The
Connecticut State Grange Legislative Committee is
extremely active and very well-known in the halls
of the State Capitol in Hartford. Delegates from each
Grange meet in session each October to deliberate
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