| AUGUST 17, 2012 -- We are taking a little different direction with the column this month by asking if you remember a special couple who played a part in our history. They were Jerome and Emma Keech of Pomperaug Grange #185 (located in Southbury). Jerry and Emma were on the staff of the Southbury Training School and lived there. They were folks who had a great fondness for young people- not only those of the school, but of the Grange as well. Emma worked with the Junior Grange and Pomona young people. Cynthia Finch, our present State Lady Assistant Steward, tells me that as a teenager she looked to Jerry and Emma for help and guidance and felt they were mentors for the Grange youth.
They were a hard-working couple for their community, the church, other organizations as well as the Grange.
As Jerry worked his way through the “chairs” toward State Master, I was fortunate to serve as Lady Assistant Steward when he was Assistant Steward and must share with you a most unforgettable moment working with him. It was the first time we did the Sixth Degree and held at Governor’s Footgaurd Hall in Hartford, a huge cavern of a building which left much to be desired. The degree was just getting underway, the lights were out (as they were supposed to be) but someone backstage had made the mistake of throwing all of the switches including the exit lights over the doors leaving us in a darkness of pitch blackness to which our eyes couldn’t get accustomed. We knew we had no choice but to “go.” We were responsible for taking the marching candidates with us. I held tight to Jerry’s arm so we wouldn’t get separated and as we slowly started off I heard a stage whisper from Jerry saying one word - “PRAY!” It seemed an endless time until he gave the signal to stop. I believe he had the instinct of a homing pigeon because when the lights came up by some miracle we were only a few feet away from where we were supposed to be. To this day I can’t sit through the start of the Sixth Degree without thinking how lucky we were that year to have had Jerry Keech as our Assistant Steward and to learn the valuable lesson of how to NOT let such a situation happen again.
Jerry was installed as State Master in October of 1965 with the potential of being a fine leader. His committees were all in place (each having been fed by Emma who was famous for her good cooking). A new feature was being introduced which called for each town to carry on a program of bicycle inspections. Things were looking good and then in April of 1966 fate intervened and Jerry was called to the Great Grange Above. It was one of our saddest periods as Kingsley Beecher found himself so suddenly entrusted with the reins of our organization. At that time a close and firm friendship between Emma Keech and Betty Beecher began which lasted the rest of their lives.
Do remember Jerry and Emma! |
