WEST
This early Grange Hall was originally built as the
In 1918 the
building was purchased by the West Stockbridge/Alford
Grange and underwent extensive renovations
to the
interior making it one of the "best Grange Halls of its day in
This
building has been privately owned since 2007 and
continues to be a meeting place for the West Stockbridge Grange which
still
houses their ceremonial artifacts there.
These include a number of podiums, staffs, early wind and rain
machines
and various other items of historic interest.
Occasionally
the current owner has offered the building for
use and as a fundraising tool by non-profit organizations.
Amenities include a sound system, digital
projector, 14’ x 9’ movie screen, spot lit mirror ball, dimmable
lighting,
comfortable upholstered seating, numerous side chairs and various
folding
tables. The building is not officially
open to the public, but it is able to be shown by appointment.
Contact information:
Scott
W. Sawyer
3
Swamp Road
West
413.232.7062
Photographs courtesy of:
Ryan Burt
Ryan Burt Photography
West
413.232.7758
The following article
provides an interesting history of the Grange of
West Stockbridge. It appeared in the
WEST
STOCKBRIDGE, Feb. 22 -- In the early part of
1905 a group of farmers from the towns of West Stockbridge and Alford
met at
the red brick schoolhouse in
This red brick
schoolhouse is located in the extreme western border of the
town of
Met first February
16th 1905
The
Grange first met and was obligated in the brick
schoolhouse on February 16th, 1905. The obligation was given to
the
charter members by Clifford L. Robinson of
Eighteen
Charter Members Living
Of the
Original 32 Charter Members, 18 are living at the
present time. Earl M. Baldwin was the youngest charter member as
he just
reached the age when the Grange was organized to make him eligible for
membership. Of the 18 living charter members, 11 are still living
in West
Stockbridge, two are still living in Alford while Mr. and Mrs. E. A.
Easland,
J. F. Bliss, and Miss Alice Reusch have moved to
First
officers
The
first officers elected to serve the West Stockbridge and
Alford Grange are: Master, Jesse F. Bliss, Overseer, Charles W.
Roberts;
Steward, E. Arthur Easland; Assistant Steward, John Woodford; Chaplain,
Rev.
William L. Dubois; Treasurer, John M. Vaber; Secretary, Charles H.
Baldwin;
Gatekeeper, Charles Alexander; Ceres, Miss Alice Ruesch; Pomona, Miss
Edith
Verchot; Flora, Miss Mary Ford (now Mrs. Charles Roberts); Lady
Assistant
Steward, Mrs. E. F. Vaber.
The
three members of the executive committee elected were E.
Munroe Easland for the three-year term, George
Now
Alford Brook Club
The
first regular meeting was held in the old brick house in
Members
of the Grange to this day are very careful not to
make any other appointments for these two nights in the month. At their
meeting
on March 17th, 1905, it was voted to purchase 48 badges, and other
Grange
working implements, including staff, sealed [sic] and ballot box.
At
the
meeting on March 17, the first applications for membership were
received as the
committee appointed to bring in applications of new members reported 14
applications at this time with more to come.
The
first initiation of new members was held on April 7,
1905, at the old George Wilson brick house, with a class of 14 to be
initiated. After the Grange had been in the original location for
a time
and had begun to prosper, members decided that it was about time to
purchase a
home of their own. The committee was appointed to investigate the
purchase of a home and at the meeting held on January 23rd, 1906, it
was voted
to purchase the Steve Johns house in
The
former Johns house was remodeled on the inside and made
into a very comfortable Grange hall. The first meeting was held
in this
new hall on February 16, 1906, and many social activities were held
there that
were greatly appreciated by the neighboring townspeople.
First
Member to Die
Edward
F. Vaber, was the first member of this Grange to die
as his death occurred in February, 1908, and suitable resolutions were
passed
on his death.
After
operating the Grange for several years as the West
Stockbridge and Alford Grange, the Alford members withdrew in the early
part of
1917 as they were desirous of organizing a Grange of their own in
Alford.
Shortly after this, the remaining members decided to move to
They
rented the Royal Arcanum rooms on
The
present Grange hall is probably one of the best Grange
halls that is owned by any Grange in western
Grange
Fairs
To
[sic] West Stockbridge and all for [sic] Grange held its first fair
at the old Grange hall in
The
Grange now boasts of 135 members in good standing.
The
following Masters have served since the Grange was
founded and in the order named: Jesse F. Bliss, Thomas L. Curran, John
P.
Smith, E. Arthur Easland, Charles Dikeman, Thomas L. Curran, Norman F.
Bailey,
Ralph Bristol, Fred C. Tobey, Marshall E. Gaston, Mrs. Jennie Smith and
Ralph
Schilling. The Grange adopted the custom of presenting suitable
jewels to
all its past Masters and continues that custom to the present
day. Mrs.
Jennie Smith is the only woman who has ever served as Master since the
Grange
was instituted.
February
16's
One of
the odd coincidences of the Grange is that so much of
its early history dates back to the 16th day of February for it was on
February
16, 1905, that the first meeting of the Grange was held; it was on
February 16,
1906, that the first meeting in a new home purchased from Steve Johns
Estate
was held and it was on February 16, 1917 that the Grange held its first
meeting
in the village of West Stockbridge after it had voted to move there.
Oldest
Member
Ms.
Josephine Smith of State Line, mother of Past Master
John P. Smith is the oldest living member of the local Grange.
Her maiden
name was Josephine H. Carey, and she was born in
Vaber,
Treasurer, 18 Years
John
M. Vaber has the honor of holding the same office for
the longest length of time. He was elected Treasurer in 1905, and
retained that often until 1923 when he declined reelection, he was an
active
member of the organization and served as Treasurer for 18 consecutive
years. Mrs. Elizabeth Vaber held for office as chaplain for 17
years.
Thomas
L. Curran and Fabyan V. Pettit, have probably done
more than any other two members for the Grange. They were always
active
and when the Grange was first organized, there was considerable work to
be done
and an organization to be effected so these men were always called upon
for
help and support. Mr. Pettit served as secretary for ten years
and upon
retiring from this office, he was presented a purse of gold by Fred C.
Tobey in
behalf of the Grange with an appropriate speech in recognition of his
services
to the Grange.
Mr.
Curran served as Master longer than any other person as
he held that important position for eight years. He was the
Master when
the Methodist church was purchased and made over into a Grange
hall. He
served as lecturer for three years, has been on the executive committee
for
five years, served as Steward, and has held some position most every
year since
the Grange was founded. He also served as overseer of the
Berkshire North
Pomona for two years and was Master of the
Other
members to work hard for the Grange in the early days
were Mrs. Arthur C. Bristol, Mr. and Mrs. E. Arthur Easland, Mr. and
Mrs.
Clarence V. Spencer, Charles Roberts and Jesse F. Bliss.
Present
Officers
The
present officers of the West Stockbridge Grange are:
Master, Fred Schilling; Overseer, William W. Howland; Lecturer, Mrs.
Dora Doty;
Steward, Howard Andrews; Chaplain, Mrs. William W. Howland; Treasurer,
Mrs.
Clarence V. Spencer; Secretary, Mrs. Loretta Troy; Gatekeeper, Arthur
W.
Baldwin; Ceres, Mrs. Amelia Viola; Pomona, Miss Edith Smith; Flora,
Miss Irene
Cowick; Assistant Steward, Chester Tonini; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss
Dorothy
Doty; Executive Committee, Clarence V. Spencer, John P. Smith and
Howard W.
Bertino; pianist, Mrs. Edith Gaston. Marshall E. Gaston who has
served as
Master of the local Grange for three years has recently been appointed
as state
deputy and he is the first member from this Grange to be honored in
this way.
Celebrated
Last Night
At the
meeting last night, February 21, 1930, the members
celebrated the 25th anniversary with a general reunion and a good many
of the
old members that had moved away returned for this meeting. At the
literary program, the chairs were all filled by charter members of the
organization.
The program was arranged so that it would be as near as possible as
that one of
the night when the Grange was organized 25 years ago. All the old
songs
that were song [sic] on the first night were sung over last night and
all of
the old-fashioned
dances were enjoyed.
Then
Fabyan V. Pettit, who is [sic] always been interested in the
Grange work, read a sketch entitled "Twenty-five Years" and it was
greatly enjoyed by all present, especially by the older members of the
organization. Carleton D. Richardson of West Brookfield, past
Master of
the Massachusetts state Grange, who has held all the important offices
of the
state Grange, and installed the first offices of this Grange, just
twenty-five
years ago was present and gave a very interesting talk on the good work
that
the Grange had accomplished through the state and the nation.
Refreshments were served in true Grange fashion and the various members
all
started on their homeward journey wondering how many of the present
membership
would be back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of this
great
organization.
Other Images
by Ryan Burt
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Entry 6'6" x 5'8"
Stair Hall 14'3" x 11'2"
Kitchen 16'6" x 11'2"
Loft 32'9" x 11'2"
Meeting Room 32'9" x 36' with 17'
ceilings
Stage is 8' deep