Grange History

The Grange Hall has an interesting and varied history.

The Lummi Island Grange

The Lummi Island Grange was formed in 1930. Meetings were initially held in member’s homes. Sometime in the mid-1930’s, the Alf family, which had run the building as Alf’s Tavern (rumored to be operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition), donated the building to the Grange. The room between the kitchen and main hall, was originally a woodshed and was, at some point, dragged over and joined to the Grange building (the main hall). The entry, restrooms, and kitchen were added much later, we believe around 1972. The historic Grange Hall is lovingly cared for and used as a gathering place for a wide variety of island events.

In the late 1990's Granges were given the option to remain a traditional Grange or become an Action Grange – eliminating most of the ritual and ceremonies and focusing instead on activities and programming to support and enhance the wider community.

The Lummi Island Grange members voted to become an Action Grange; the only Grange in Whatcom County to do so. Membership had declined to just a few members but began to grow and flourish after becoming an Action Grange. The Lummi Island Grange has always been unique from the other county Granges as the island was never a farm-based community. So being an Action Grange has helped the community to see us as a current, viable organization, rather than an antiquated entity with secret handshakes.

The Washington State Grange

Established in 1889, two months before Washington Territories achieved statehood, the Washington State Grange is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Washington's residents through the spirit of community service and legislative action.

The Grange supports every member's freedom to think, believe or vote as he or she pleases. However, as an organization we strive to give full support to good legislation that betters the lives of our members and all Washington citizens.

Involvement in the legislative process has been an important aspect of Grange activity since the organization’s inception. The State Grange’s primary legislative objective is to represent the views of rural residents and the agriculture community. Our views become Grange policy from the grass roots, through a “bottom up” democratic process. Each year our policies are summarized and published in the Grange Legislative Handbook, which guides our work in the Washington State Legislature. We encourage all Grangers to get involved and make their voices heard. (Source: wa-grange.com)

Fun Fact: Country Music Legend Loretta Lynn got her first opportunity to sing on-stage at the Delta Grange in Custer, Washington!

National Grange

The Grange, officially named The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, is a social organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture. The Grange, founded after the Civil War in 1867, is the oldest American agricultural advocacy group with a national scope. The Grange actively lobbied state legislatures and Congress for political goals, such as the Granger Laws to lower rates charged by railroads, and rural free mail delivery by the Post Office.

When the Grange first began, it borrowed some of its rituals and symbols from Freemasonry, including oaths, secret meetings, and special passwords necessary to keep railroad spies out of their meetings. It also copied ideas from Greek, Roman and Biblical mythology. Small, ceremonial farm tools are often displayed at Grange meetings. Elected officers oversee opening and closing each meeting. There are seven degrees of Grange membership; the ceremony of each degree relates to the seasons and various symbols and principles.

During the last few decades, the Grange has moved toward public meetings and no longer meets in secret. The Grange still acknowledges its rich history and practices. (Source: Wikipedia.org)