Stafford Grange No. 1 Needs Your Help

At the corner of East Street and Orcuttville Road sits an unassuming building. At more than 100 years old, the building is home to Stafford Grange Number 1, and it’s in need of the community’s help. That’s why the organization launched a Go Fund Me called “Help Save our Historic Stafford Grange Hall.”

The building, which sits opposite Mill Pond Country Store and is owned by Stafford Grange No. 1, is in need of major repairs if it’s going to go on hosting another 100 years of not only monthly Grange meetings but 4-H Club meetings and other community events. Some repairs are age related, like a complete roof replacement estimated to cost around $20,000, and window replacements. Some of the other work that is needed is the result of an accident and foul play.

“In one of these incidents, the building was struck by a large vehicle resulting in structural damage to both the building's exterior and interior such as damage to some of the building's water pipes,” says Asia Avery, a Stafford Grange member who launched the Go Fund Me campaign. “In the other incident, the Grange Hall's main access door was significantly damaged when it was forced during an attempted break-in of one of the town's post offices which currently leases space from the Grange on the building's ground level; damage for which the Grange has only thus far been able to do a partial, band-aid type fix just to make it possible for us to secure the Grange Hall when it's not in use.”

While the organization is not sure how much it will need, the best estimates put the fundraising goal around $40,000 in total, though the Go Fund Me campaign is currently aiming for just the first $4,500. This is the first milestone that the organization hopes to meet as part of the larger fundraising effort. “Any help from other members of the community up to and including tradespeople lending their services or suppliers donating the necessary building materials required for these repairs would be immensely appreciated,” says Avery. 

What is The Grange?

“On December 4, 1867 in a small Washington, D.C., building that housed the office of William Saunders, Superintendent of Propagating Gardens in the Department of Agriculture, the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, more commonly known as the Grange, was born,” according to NationalGrange.org. Not only was The Grange reportedly the first nationwide farm organization but it claims to be the “first national organization to give full voice and vote to women.” 

The Grange was established to provide support and advocacy for farmers throughout the country at the national level. “Historically, in addition to providing organizational support and national representation for the country's farmers, local Granges oftentimes also served as the social hub for their communities,” says Avery. As times have changed, so has The Grange’s purpose. While the organization still advocates for farmers, its central roles in local communities has waned. A shift away from family farms toward large, industrial scale farming means membership has dwindled nationally and many local chapters have closed.

“Even so, a great many Granges throughout the country do remain in operation to this day, carrying on the organization's mission of serving the nation's farmers as well as their communities at large though typically now with greater focus on providing aid and support to the wider community,” says Avery. “For Stafford Grange No.1, this nowadays typically takes the form of community engagement and outreach often done at town events like Farm Day and Winter Fest where we work to encourage community involvement by informing and educating the public about our organization and the importance of local agriculture and taking care of the environment.”

“The family is the base of the organization with full membership beginning at age 14,” says the national organization on its website, and that shows here in Stafford. While Asia Avery has held a few different positions within the organization, and is currently Treasurer, Stafford Grange is filled with her family members: “For a great many years, the role of Stafford's Grange Master/President was held by my grandfather Myron Avery Sr. and now it is currently held by my aunt Barbara Avery; additionally, the role of Overseer is currently held by my uncle Roger Avery.”

If you would like to help Stafford Grange No. 1, visit the Go Fund Me or contact Grange Master/President Barbara Avery at stafford@ctstategrange.org.