The Dunstable Grange

Originally published in Dunstable News, Aug 19, 2004 

In case you're wondering exactly what the Grange is, here's a little background and history, much of which was shared by Ann Butterfield, who was recently recognized for 65 years of service in the Grange.

Granges were originally organized starting in the late-1860's in agricultural communities across the United States as a way of bringing farmers, who were by nature widely distributed and independent in their operations, together in cooperative efforts, particularly when dealing with farm supply merchants, railroads, and warehouse companies. It was a kind of farmer's union, sometimes referred to as the "Friend of the Farmer." Early Grange leaders realized that social interaction was especially important in rural communities. So, for nearly 130 years, Grange halls have existed as community centers where residents gather for educational events, dances, potlucks, town meetings, political rallies and other meetings.

The Dunstable Grange was first organized in January of 1874 as one of the first Granges in Massachusetts, but after a while membership declined, as Granges all across the country were collapsing under the pressure of rapid growth. The Dunstable Grange was re-organized in October of 1921 and has been holding the Annual Dunstable Grange Fair since 1926. As times have changed, the Grange has taken on more of a community service focus, but still maintains many of the original, such as having a friendly competion each year at the fair, in which members of the community can show off their expertise and talents in many kinds of domestic and agricultural arts.

The Grange has provided a strong focus for community gatherings at the Town Hall for many years, with meetings and pot luck dinners held in the Grange Room downstairs, and with dances, minstrel shows, lectures, and other gatherings upstairs in the Grand Hall auditorium, until that room was needed for other purposes around 40 years ago. Many members of our community have very fond memories of the Grange events in the Grand Hall auditorium, which explains all the joy we sense around the restoration of the hall to its original use as a place for the community to have fun.

Today, the Dunstable Grange is still going strong, and holds regular meetings in the Grange Room at the Town Hall every second Friday of the month. More than eighty members gathered in the Grand Hall last week for a Service Recognition Awards night, in which seven members of the Grange were honored for 25, 50, 60, and even 65 years of service to the community as members of the Grange.

The Dunstable Grange is a group of men, women and children who serve our community in many ways, both big and small, from granting an annual scholarship to a graduating senior from Dunstable each year, to providing refreshments at the Memorial Day Parade. They also contribute to a number of national charities and organizations. Clearly, if you join the Grange, you'll be hanging out with a good group of people.