Sunday night – The Beacon Light Grange

Nice slow day again.. much needed. Diane and I used the time to finish washing the windows and to put up the down stairs storm windows.
All in a l, Diane and I washed 540 panes of glass in the last two days.. and we haven’t done the windows in the front.. or the insides of the windows. This old house is a ton of work come season change..

Around 3 we took a break to host the members of the Beacon Light Grange. The grange is a service organization founded 147 years ago.. I found a definition on the National Grange web site:

The

National Grange is the nation’s oldest national agricultural organization, with

grassroots units established in 2,700 local communities in 40 states.  Its

200,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety

of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation

designed to assure a strong and viable Rural America. It was formed in the years

following the American Civil War to unite private citizens in improving the economic

and social position of the nation’s farm population.   Over the past 143

years, it has evolved to include non-farm rural families and communities.

The Beacon Light Grange was founded in 1949 and met in our house until about 1970.. They called it the Beacon Light Grange because of the airplane beacon that used to be on the firetower up on Robins Mountain behind the house.

We’d invited the Grange to meet in our house at our friend Jane’s suggestion.  She’s a new member. She figured the others would like to see the plavce after such a long time.  7 members of the Grange showed up . Blanche.. one of the founders (she’s 81).. Alice (used to work at our insurance agents) , Betty. Ann (our good friend Brad’s grandma) , Jane, Durselina the Grange Master, her husband Mike, and Betty. They were all so nice. We sat and tlaked for about 2 hours about the Grange,and about the house. Blanche told us she thought the place was used for a church for awhile.. we learned that there was once some sort of alter upstairs.. and that one of the stairwells up front was blcoked. We heard that there were two wood stoves up stairs.   Thye told us about square dances thta were held here all the time.. and Nickel a Dip dinners. It was great hearing about all the old times here. We took soem of the grangers on a tour of the house..

Blanche even had written a poem to commemorate their visit.   I recoreded as much as I could, then my batteries ran out..


here’s the full text.. I types it in from Blanche’s copy

The Old Grange Hall

This lovely old building which you have renovated to a beautiful home
Originally belonged to the Church of England with it’s charming loft and dome.
Later years it was deeded for use as a school to the Town of Richmond with the stipulation-
When not in public use, the property reverts to the original owner -the farm owned by the Bombardiers.
From 1949-about 1970 the Beacon Light Grange used the building with admiration and glee-
We had more Nickle-A-Dip suppers and Chicken Bar-B-Q’s than you ever did see !
Beacon Light Grange #557 made a float every year for the forth of July Parade.
A picnic ground was cleared by the river-tales and benches were made.
The grass was raked, the fence around the yard was repaired and painted.
I was raking one day and started burning- which I never should have done-
A passerby had a fire extinguisher and quickly quenched the flames.
Than Gd for our Good Samaritan No. !. ,
We have lost many members along the way
But the couple and their baby girl buried in a landslide was the greatest catastrophe of our day.
There was a ig neighbor’s night one time, inviting Grangers far and near, We had about 200 people-
the hall filled to the brim. They had come by the carload to visit us.
One of the new members – a bright young lad, came and was thunderstruck when he saw everyone square dancing –
taking his cap – he got up an left – couldn’t understand all the fuss !
We had served so many lunches, dinners and celebrations- we take great pride in honoring all our local people for all they have done.
We have a blast thanking them every fall. We thank them one by one !
This old building is a great symbol of how we started and what we have accomplished.
We’ve worked with our partners all – churches, libraries, also our schools.
Fire Department, Richmond, Rescue – Richmond Area Business Association, Children’s camping project, Local Food Shelves to name a few – They are all our tools !

Blanche B. Dowd 11/7/2010

It was a great visit from a great organization !

Well. that was it for today.. tune in tomorrow..
nite all.. nite sam
-me