Tag: Grange Halls

Wayside Grange Returns to Hall

“It’s nice to be back in the building,” says Dave Pearson during their first “Open Mic and Sunday Brunch.” Dave also gives us a tour and briefly explains some of the major repairs that have been made over the past year and a half. Public events were canceled in 2020, but behind-the-scenes care and maintenance of our 100-year-old building continued. The north wall has been reinforced, and an entrance has been made on the ground floor for access to the kitchen and dining room. Ellms Construction did the ground preparation, and Lancaster Construction did the wall reinforcement. Grangers are working on finishing the renovation building the roof over the entrance and restoring our dining and kitchen areas.

Wayside Grange and Theatre is located at 851 North Dexter Road (Route 23) in Dexter, Maine. Concerts are planned throughout the summer on the last Saturday of every month through October. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and Concerts begin at 7:00 pm.

Visit the Wayside Grange Facebook Page

Quick Tip – Grange Bees!

Cool Idea

Valley Grange uses “Grange Bees” in conjunction with our meetings… simply stated, Grange Bees are members who agree to be the official hosts for a meeting. While all members pitch in, we find it efficient to rotate the “official” responsibilities among members. Grange Bees are responsible for opening and closing the hall. (Our checklist is available on the Valley Grange website.) We try to set up a schedule for the entire year each fall. We also occasionally all “swarm” to the hall for major cleaning and projects. Everybody can be a bee!

Victor Grange Is at It Again!

Victor Grange is located in Fairfield Maine

Remember the post about removing the chairs so the floors could be sanded? They need to go back!

Well, the floors are finished and are “hardening up.”

Members started yesterday cleaning up the dust that is left from the sanding.

Wednesday, August 3, 2022, is the big moving day when the chairs go back! We are hoping to get another big crew so that it won’t take too long. Again, many hands make less work.  

The floors look great, and we can’t wait to share the new look. Please contact Barb Bailey with any questions or concerns. Call 207 453-9476 or email baileybarb196@gmail.com

Remember Standish Grange?

Ernie Easter of the Standish Historical Society is seeking any information about the former Community Grange #551 in Standish, specifically when the building was erected and the current owner. (Click on his name to send an email.

Webmaster’s Note: We checked “A Fair Field and No Favor” and found that Community Grange #551 was chartered on November 19, 1925. It’s interesting that they used the word “Community” in the name.

Ocean View Grange Looks Great!

Submitted by Larry Bailey, Master/President

The front of the Grange has been power washed, sanded, primed, and painted and the newly refurbished signs have been installed.  Words are simply insufficient to express my thanks to the crew of Grangers who worked very hard to get this done in three days. Our Grange looks wonderful and we and our community should be proud of it. This renewal of the Grange look symbolizes the renewed energy and enthusiasm our members are bringing to Ocean View Grange’s programs and community contributions.

The attached photo of yesterday’s crew shows our team, but several others have been on-the-job at different times.  You can thank the following Grangers and FOGs – (Friends of the Grange).

Jim (Spinner) Lee – (Jim started, managed, and did most of the work on this project)
Ben Norton
Joss Coggeshall,
Nat Lyon
Dick Bomba (FOG)
Bill Swittlinger (re-painted the blue Grange arch)
Al Moncovich (painted new wheat and white signs)
Larry Bailey (I got more paint on me than the building)

See you soon at the Grange.

Overheard at Ocean View Grange

Ocean View Grange is sporting its primer coat.

Thank Spinner Lee, for getting this going. Great leader! I think we need a vote to rent the lift for another day to finish coat the front and wash at least one side. The lift saves a huge amount of time setting up ladders/staging. And a lot of wear and tear in the old guys. I, for one, cannot climb ladders anymore.  I vote yes!

(There were lots of “yes” votes!)

What an undertaking!

It is hard work, but a labor of love and respect for our Grange hall. Thanks to everyone who has and is helping.

I’m glad we could get the ball rolling on the painting. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include Josh Coggeshall on the paint team. Not only was Josh a technical voice of reason, but he swang a mean scrapper. You’ll remember that Josh is always there to help. Puttying windows is a labor of love and time, and Josh did a great job there. He models a true Granger.

Don’t forget that Saturday, May 28th at 10 am is Flag Day at the Ridge Church… You are welcome to join us in honoring our fallen veterans. Bring some tall boots and gloves and anyone who wants to help!

(Ocean View Grangers are always busy! What do you suppose they are doing that requires tall boots and gloves?!)

Ocean View Painting Progress

If you can spare a few minutes… drive over to Ocean View Grange this morning–they could use some help with the painting! Sorry we couldn’t get this posted sooner!

According to Master Larry Bailey,

Thanks to Grange members Jim Lee and Ben Norton, the first step is well underway. Jim and Ben power washed the front facade in anticipation of painting it on Tuesday.  The bright and warm sun along with the steady winds are drying the shingles very quickly.  

Ben will not be available Tuesday so, we are looking for someone to step in and help.  Jim and Ben took turns doing the power wash. I think the painting will require more hands.

(Ocean View Grange is located at 435 Port Clyde Road, Martinsville.)

You do not have to be a Granger to help! Don’t worry, not everyone needs to go up in the bucket! Help is needed at the lower levels as well! Wear your old clothes!

Mill Stream Grange Makes Record

Well, if you’ll forgive a play on words, we mean that Mill Stream Grane was featured in the April-May Issue of the Vienna Record. The Record is published by the Town of Vienna and includes all sorts of town business such as selectmen and town department minutes and news of town events. Mill Stream Dictionary Day was the lead article and a second article listed upcoming Mill Stream Grange events.

Notice the mention of Grange Month and the Open House on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Bring your old flags! What a great example of community relevance and publicity!

Androscoggin Grange Starts Fundraiser!

Want to learn about a Grange with ambition? You’ve got to read this article written by Vanessa Paolella of the Sun Journal. The Androscoggin Grange located in Greene, Maine has kicked off what has to be one of the most ambitious Grange fundraising projects in some time! And, as if to both encourage and show the possibilities, the article also reports on the recent successes of Victor Grange in Fairfield. Is a trend developing?

Check out what Androscoggin Grange Master Patricia Lehoux has to say about their future plans. They are not just hoping people will donate; they are already planning events that will allow their community to enjoy helping.

Julia Cody recently joined Androscoggin Grange and has set up a “Go Fund Me” page encouraging donations from anyone who would like to help keep this “beacon of unity, liberty, and charity” glowing.

Lowe’s Hometown Grants Program

It was recently announced Lowe’s is looking for nominations for this year’s “Lowe’s Hometowns Grants Program”. 100 projects across the nation will be selected to receive funding. Projects must benefit the community as a whole and not just a single group. Projects must be able to be completed on or before November 15, 2022 and be located within a reasonable distance of a Lowe’s store. Full rules can be found at https://lowes-hometowns.com/en-us/Rules.

Individuals can nominate up to two projects through the Lowe’s Hometowns Grant Program online portal.

The nomination period runs from March 1st, 2022 – March 28, 2022 at 11:59:59 PM ET.

Projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:

  • Community Resources/Space (e.g. park, senior citizen center, youth center, etc.);
  • Safe Affordable Housing (e.g. critical repairs, block of homes, accessible home needs, etc.);
  • Cultural Preservation (e.g. theatre, memorial renovation, sustainability, etc.);
  • Area Revitalization (e.g. a new playground at a community park, small business renovations/repairs, renovations to downtown areas, etc.); and/or
  • Skilled Trades Education initiatives (e.g. mobile training programs, high school vocational, etc.).

Note that recipients must be capable of being sponsored by a nonprofit entity recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Nonprofit”) or a government entity.