Tag: Grange History

Grange History with Scarborough Historical Society!

A person writing history

Don Taylor, Historian with the Scarborough Historical Society recently posted a number of interesting Grange-related resources. I’ve also added the Society to our Historical Resources Page.

Here’s a list of the available resources.

Visit the Scarborough Historical Society Website

More Resources for Granges!

We continue to add resources from the 150th State Session. These can also be found on the Program Books and Information Page.

  • Role of the Lecturer — This handy four-page document prepared by MSG Lecturer Margaret Morse summarizes the job description of lecturers and offers plenty of great tips and suggestions.
  • Creative Writing Results — This booklet includes the poems and skits submitted for the 2022-23 Lecturer’s Contests.
  • Moments in MSG History — prepared by MSG Lecturer Margaret Morse for the 2023 State Convention, these make for fascinating reading! They could also serve as the basis of a lecturer’s program or trivia contest!

Historical Resources Sought

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

We get lots of questions about the history of the Grange–and specific Granges in Maine. (At one time, there were some 600!) So it seems like we have an opportunity to provide researchers and reporters with some historical resources. While searching for some myself, I was surprised and pleased at how often the Maine State Grange was listed as a source of information and resource for published articles. We’re putting the Grange back on the map in Maine!

You can help! I’ve created and posted a new page (Historical Resources) on the site listing sources of historical information about Granges in Maine. It’s fairly extensive but I’m sure there are more. If you know of any, please send the details!

Pages and posts like this help bring visitors to the site. More traffic means more interest, and sometimes that interest means more support for our local Granges. Everybody wins because that interest often turns into attendance at local Grange events and programs, as well as interest in membership. Help us open the door to the past and the door to the future.

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Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Patrons of Husbandry

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! From the town crier to social media, the Grange has and continues to play an important role in Maine Communities and beyond.

Join Victoria Huff, past president of the Maine State Grange, and Walter Boomsma, author of the book “Exploring Traditions — Celebrating the Grange Way of Life,” for a lively discussion of the Grange’s contributions.

The program is sponsored and hosted by Waterboro Historical Society on June 1, 2022 starting at 7 pm. It is especially fitting that the WHS meets at the former Waterboro Grange Hall. The hall is now owned by the Society. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Located at 31 West Road in South Waterboro, it is used for business program meetings of the society and rented out for weddings, parties, and other programs.

All are welcome! It would be great to see some Grangers there!

Visit the Waterboro Historical Society Facebook Page

Vintage Grange Songs – Katherine Rhoda

For those who were unable to attend the (virtual) New England Folk Festival, we are pleased to offer a recording of the Vintage Grange Songs by Katherine. Our deepest appreciation to the New England Folk Festival Association and Katherine for sharing with us.

Katherine offers a great page of information about Vintage Grange Songs on her website. You’ll love some of the photos of old song and music books and how Katherine captures the historical contributions of the Patrons of Husbandry. How fortunate we are that she is preserving such an important part of our heritage! Katherine performs throughout the state of Maine, and you will want to check her show schedule.

The 2022 NEFFFA recording of Vintage Grange Songs is also available on Vimeo. Next year’s Festival is planned to be “live” in Marlboro, Massachusetts from April 21-23, 2022.

That’s a Lotta Maine Grangers!

This “photo of a photo” is compliments of James Clements. He has the original photo which appears to be from the late 1800s and contains over 100 people. The actual photo is 41″ wide and 8″ tall!

Imagine trying to get every to smile at the same time!

James is interested in finding a good home for this photograph. If you have suggestions or are willing to assist, let us know and we’ll connect you with him!

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Exploring Traditions and Connections

Here you can watch and listen to the discussion between National Grange Communications Director Amanda Brozana Rio and author Walter Boomsma as they explore some of the topics from the book and what they mean to Grangers and Granges today–especially during the current pandemic.

Walter’s book is available from