As most know, Grange Friend Katherine studies and performs vintage songs of the Grange. After completing exhaustive research, Katherine has published an extensive history of Grange Songbooks and Sheet Music on her website. Where available, links to digital copies are provided, as well as more in-depth information. Like so much of Grange History, there is much color and a few surprises! Did you know, for example, that The Grange Polka was written by Frank Howards and published in 1874 by John Church & Co.?
On the introductory page, Katherine reminds us of one song that proclaimed the motto of the the Patrons was “Plow Deep.”
Bold monopoly and faction we’ll ever keep at bay “Plow deep’s” the motto of the Patrons! And dishonesty shall tremble when farmers clear the way, “Plow deep’s” the motto of the Patrons!
George Cooper
Like many of the lessons of the Grange, a motto proclaimed in our early history and still applicable today!
We are grateful to Katherine for “plowing deep” and providing this labor of love. Not only do we learn a lot about Grange music, but her complete history provides insights into how the Grange worked many years ago.
Like many Granges, Tranquility Grange is located in a somewhat “off the beaten path” rural area. Janice and I allowed the GPS to lead the way to through Lincolnville, Maine. While Grange Halls typically have some unique features, there’s always a comforting sense of familiarity when visiting. It’s not just the building itself; it’s also the people and the fraternal friendliness.
Despite those predictable features, Janice and I found ourselves surprised during our recent visit. No doubt this was because we were there for some “Sweet, Savory, and Song.” The sweet and savory included an opportunity to nibble on some very cosmopolitan finger foods. The song included a lively program of Grange music performed by Katherine Rhoda. Katherine’s program included her voice accompanied by keyboard, Marxophone and violin-guitar (play-by-number American fretless zither sold door to door in the early 1900s), Harpeleik, accordion… and a few I can’t remember the names of!
This program (it’s really much more than a concert) specifically featured Grange songs and shared some of the background and history of the Grange itself. Katherine’s knowledge of music is diverse and deep. But Grangers will quickly respect and admire her knowledge of the Grange. Her historical approach to the program clarified the Grange’s purpose and commitment to change, especially in the earliest days. There were moments when the audience wanted to find a pitchfork and start a march protesting or supporting something.
There were moments when the audience wanted to find a pitchfork and start a march protesting or supporting something.
Walter Boomsma
Katherine is an entertainer, a historian, a storyteller, and more.
One particularly memorable song told the story of Lucy, a young woman who wanted to marry a farmer and had us chuckling. (No spoiler alert-you have to hear it.) Her parents were not supportive because her future husband was… a Granger!
This performance was a joint venture supported by Tranquility Grange and the Lincolnville Historical Society. An even more ambitious goal is the preservation of the hall itself. Erected in 1908, the hall is listed on the National Register, and many members of the Historical Society have joined the Grange. This recent concert is evidence of the determination to preserve the hall, the Grange organization itself, and the history of the ongoing contributions.
Katherine explains, “My hope is that sharing this music and history helps in some small way to cultivate community and to build upon the Grange history of working together for the common good, in keeping with the Grange motto ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity’” She ended her performance by explaining the origins of the Grange Motto and asking the audience to repeat that motto with her not once, but twice.
While the concert ended, working together for the common good to cultivate community continues. In some ways, it may just be getting started.
What I find fun/rewarding about playing in Grange halls is uplifting and celebrating the Grange history of rural people working together for the common good, connecting with folks who are actively involved in their communities, and continuing my own education.
Katherine Rhoda
Katherine has two upcoming concerts scheduled:
September 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Conway Historical Society in Conway, NH
October 22, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Arundel Historical Society in Arundel, ME
According to an article in the Penobscot Bay Pilot, Katherine Rhoda will perform at the Tranquility Grange on Saturday, August 19, 2023, as part of a fundraising event benefiting the Grange and the Lincolnville Historical Society.
The doors open at 6 p.m. for an hour of nibbling (drinks and finger foods) and chatting; Katherine will begin the program at 7 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for those under 12, and following Grange tradition, under 4s and over 90s get in free.
Image courtesy of Katherine Rhoda
Katherine is well known in Grange Cirles for her love of Grange tunes and “heartfelt music foster authentic human connection using a marxaphone, violin-guitar, harpeleik, and more. For more information about Katherine and her music visit her website or Facebook Page. For more information about the upcoming event, see the article cited at the beginning of this post.
Tranquility Grange is located at 2177 Belfast Road in Lincolnville.
The Grange has a rich heritage of song, with a number of songbooks published starting in 1874. Katherine Rhoda loves to share these songs celebrating agriculture, rural life, and the pursuit of the common good. You can learn more about this music at her website.
Katherine has several performances of Vintage Grange Songs coming up this month. The first is this Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 3 PM, at the Standish Historical Society, The Old Red Church, 55 Oak Hill Road, Standish, ME. Donations to the SHS Building Fund are welcome.
Next is Friday, July 21, 2023, at 7 PM at the Effingham Historical Society, 1014 Province Lake Road, Effingham, NH. Admission is free, though donations are welcome.
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.
On May 30, 2022, Memorial Day, at 3:00 pm at the bandstand in Ft. Allen Park on the Eastern Prom, Munjoy Hill, Portland, Mr. Brian Dewan will be giving a performance singing “Songs of the Patrons of Husbandry” and “Songs of Land & Sea,” accompanied by accordion and autoharp.
Some decades ago my family belonged to the Grange and 4-H and I was an officer in the Future Farmers of America. So I have a long-time appreciation of the music and the struggle.
I have heard Mr. Dewan, an “old” friend, perform and when he told me he was going to be passing through Portland after performing Down-east Memorial Day weekend for the Greenhorns it occurred to me the opportunity for this entertainment should be available to some Grange members in Southern Maine, as well as some of my neighbors who appreciate this kind of music.
Would you be so kind as to circulate this invitation in some fashion to your local membership? Attendees might want to bring a blanket or lawn chair as there is no built-in seating around the bandstand. If a hot day perhaps also a water bottle.
Article by R. John Wuesthoff
Webmaster’s note: With sincere appreciation to an anonymous benefactor, this event is being offered at no cost! Grangers! Since there are nearly two months until the concert, there’s time to purchase and wear Grange T-shirts (if your Grange doesn’t already have them)! Show your Grange pride and support! Bring friends! Spread the word to your members and other Granges.
“I don’t sing because I’m happy; I’m happy because I sing.”
