History - Newark

Newark Grange organized in 1875

The following article was published in a special 1976 Bicentennial supplement to the Courier-Gazette.

I have been asked the same question many times - What is the Grange?

We who belong know the Grange is the oldest farm organization in the world and America's only rural family organization because it includes women and girls as well as men and boys.

It includes religion because our Chaplain offers a prayer and an open Bible is on our altar during our meetings.

It is patriotic because we present and salute the flag and sing the National Anthem in unison at every meeting.

It is also educational inspirational and recreational from the programs we present.

Today, the Grange is so well known an organization that even Noah Webster recognizes it in his dictionary as a local branch of an association promoting the interests of agriculture.

But what about back in 1875?

The Grange was new - about eight years old - and not many people knew about it, so they were asking the same question, "What is the Grange?"

They were also faced with another question - "Shall we organize a Grange in Newark?" It was a much-talked about topic around Newark in the fall of 1875. Finally, after much discussion, pro and con, they settled the question and decided to meet on December 13. So it was, on Monday evening, December 13, 1875 that Newark Grange No. 366 was organized by Deputy Riggs of Palmyra with a full charter containing the name of 22 men and 20 women.

They held their first feast on April 23, 1876. At the end of that year they had $2.83 in the treasury, and only 15 new members had joined. It is said that some joined the Grange to make money and when they couldn't make as much as they expected, they dropped out. Others had joined for political reasons, were disappointed and left, but those who joined for mutual aid remained and helped to make the Grange what it is today.

At one time, the saying was that the Grange was a good place to find a husband or wife, for many romances did start at a Grange meeting and end in marriage.

In 1881, the Newark Grange sent its first delegate to State Grange, which was held in Utica that year. Our present members, Mr. and Mrs. Juffs have, just returned from this year's State Grange session in Saratoga.

During the 1880's, many excursions were held to various places such as Watkin's Glen, Keuka Park, Sodus Point, Geneva Experimental Station, and others. The railroad fare from Lyons to Watkin's Glen and return was 90 cents. Clark's Grove near E. Palmyra and Bigelow's Island were favorite places for picnics.

By the tenth year, the Grange seemed to be better understood by the community and those who had been against the organization were now friends. In 1889, an ice cream social was held at the Hyde Farm. A large group attended to hear Susan B. Anthony speak. A big display of fireworks was purchased for $10.

The testing of milk was also important and, in 1893, the Grange purchased a milk tester for its members to use.

The Wayne County Pomona Grange was organized on March 7, 1900. Previously there had been a county council. Our first juvenile Grange was organized December 16, 1905. It was the second in the state, and is now called Junior Grange.

Our next step was to look into a building of our own, and in 1906 a petition was passed around to see if sufficient money could be raised for the project. It was, and, in March of 1907, our grange was incorporated and a building lot was purchased from William and Georgianna Coppernoll. The building was dedicated in March 8, 1911. The building was soon rented for many purposes, such as the National Economy Stores, Market Basket, Hoover's Barber Shop, Babcocks Stationery Store and W.J. Brock, plumbing.

The last to rent it before it was torn down as part of the Urban Renewal project were: the Courier-Gazette in 1932 and the Town Offices in 1935.

We have tried to do our part in the community by donating to various projects and charities, including the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

Our membership today is 225, and 19 of these have been members for over 50 years. We have had 39 masters, 11 still in our order.

The value of Newark Grange is not measured in its size, its age or its agricultural legislative influences, but in the fact that it has helped the individual farmer and his family to a realization that it is the guardian of our natural resources - the soil.

The Grange is a fraternal body with high purpose and has set a pattern, for the development of a changing agriculture.

1998 Note: The Grange Building was located on East Miller St. It was demolished in May, 1974 to make room for a new bank. Grange members now meet at their hall on Wood Lane.

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