Williamsburg Grange kicking off 125th anniversary with birthday bash on Saturday

WILLIAMSBURG — The concept of “granges” originated after the Civil War in 1867 as a national advocacy group on behalf of farmers. Despite a “shifting culture,” the Williamsburg Grange remains a Main Street staple, and is poised to celebrate its 125th anniversary on Saturday night.

Shannon Wade, secretary of the Williamsburg Grange and a multigenerational member of the organization, will present on the organization’s history. Her great-grandfather was charter member of the local branch of the Grange in 1900. The tradition was carried on through her maternal grandfather, and Wade spent her early teen years as a “junior granger” about 40 years ago.

The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry is a national organization focused predominantly on seeing rural communities thrive. Since its inception in the 1860s, granges have advocated for the rights of farmers.

For example, “Granger laws” were introduced in the Midwest during the 1860s and 70s. Historically, the laws were the United States government’s first attempt at targeting private monopolies by protecting the rights of farmers over those of the railroad systems, which had been overcharging farmers for storage and transportation of their crops.

The national Grange organization also successfully lobbied for free rural mail delivery in the mid-1800’s. At the time farmers were expected to pick up the mail themselves, often by traveling expansive distances.

Despite its history with farming, Wade said there is “no need at all” to be associated with agriculture to become a member of the Grange, and explained that the organization’s national mission has “shifted as the culture has shifted.”

Today, since the number of farmers in America has plummeted from just under 40% of Americans in 1900 to less than 2% now, the organization strives nationally to unite rural communities through service and education, while emphasizing agricultural awareness and sustainability.

Wade describes the Williamsburg grange as a “community service based organization which tries to live up to its name — the Williamsburg Grange Community Center.”

The 100-member Grange has owned and meets in the same 10 Main St. building since 1900, and often rents the space out for community events. Wade said that members want to continue to “create a hub for the community.”

At present, the Grange is 100% fully funded, has programming to emphasize its agricultural past and present — such as their annual agricultural fair or square dance nights — but also holds sessions on other topics such as local history or architecture.

In her presentation Saturday, Wade will talk about the organization’s longtime building, which a mid-century upgrade.

“The Williamsburg Grange Community Hall had a complete renovation in the 1950s,” she said. “While they didn’t have much money or any wealthy members, they did have many skilled members and volunteers.”

She said those members were “motivated to continue to offer a space where members and community alike could have a place together for meetings, entertainment, and celebrations.”

The Grange, as it looks back on its history, also looks forward to its role continuing into the future. Wade said that the Grange is currently at the “beginning stages” of renovating the hall. The primary ambition of that renovation will be to make the space fully handicapped accessible (as the building still has stair only entrances).

The kitchen and other spaces she also wants to see touched up, to make the space “a place where people want to come and use it,” said Wade.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a potluck, presentations and a business meeting following.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com