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The History Center on Main Street, 83 N. Main Street, Mansfield PA 16933 histcent83@gmail.com
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June 18,1890
Tioga County Grange Mutual Insurance Company organized in Mansfield 11/16 3
Dec 1893 MA Tioga County's 35 Granges Average 75 Members Each 11/16, 1st column
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| Grange Buildings at Smythe Park. These were used at the Mansfield Fair. Tony Ballard started his Foundry in one of these buildings and had a major fire. |
Mansfield Advertiser, 1 March 1950, p.4
Valley Grange History Given
Last week the Mansfield Tioga Valley Grange celebrated its 60th anniversary February 18, 1950. Following is the history of the Grange as reported by Mrs. Coley Starkey (Elizabeth Littley )
In response to a call the farmers of Mansfield and
surrounding country met in Union Hall, Mansfield, PA, Feb. 15, 1890, to consider
the advisability of organizing a Grange of Patrons of Husbandry. [Union Hall is
now occupied by the IOOF]
Tioga Valley Grange No.918 was duly organized by
Deputy A.S. Ashley, assisted by W.R. Jones, in Union Hall, Feb. 15, 1890,
consisting of the following charter members: S.D. Forrest, C.H. Horton, Byron J.
Costley, William Shaw, C.F. Walters, H.V. Walters, J.F. Pitts, W.H. Baynes, J.D.
Slingerland, Charles Nelson, J.W. Slingerland, Grant Lewis, A.D. Watson, Charles
Coveney, Byron Bartlett, W.V. Powers, H.F. Sturdevant, Julia E. Sturdevant, Hart
Stuart, Nelson Ripley, C.B. Sherwood, B.H. Osgood, Elwin Allen, Nettie Allen,
Lucy A. Welch, Miles D. Rice, Harry Bailey, A.M. Pitts, W.W. Inscho, J.C. Howe
and Mary Bartlett.
Immediately upon organization of the Grange, the
following named persons, who had been members of a former Grange, were
reinstated and made member of Grange No.918: J.E. Rose, William B. Jerald,
William Hutchinson, Samuel McConnell, Frank Howe, W.A. McConnell, J.C. Clark,
Estella Clark, H.M. Starkey, J.C. Ireton and Wells Burley.
The following officers were duly elected and
installed: Worthy Master, J.F. Pitts; overseer, J.E. Rose; lecturer, Byron
Bartlett; steward, Elwin Allen; assistant steward, C.H. Horton; chaplain, W.W.
Inscho; treasurer, William B. Jerald; secretary, Byron Costley; Gatekeeper,
Samuel McConnell; Ceres, Mary E. Bartlett; Flora, Julia E. Sturdevant; Pomona,
Estella Clark; lady assistant steward, Nettie Allen.
The following committee was appointed to procure a
hall in which to hold meetings: Byron J. Costley, Byron Bartlett, J.E. Rose,
J.F. Pitts and Samuel McConnell.
The next meeting was held on March 1, 1890 in the
Union Hall, after which they rented the E.A.U. or Pitts Hall [over Coles
Pharmacy], which they continued to occupy until January, 1894, when they rented
the hall of Strait’s Hardware.
In 1890 they initiated 21 members in the fourth
degree. The Tioga Valley Grange No.918 won in September, 1890, the prize of $75
for the best display of any Grange at the Mansfield Fair. The Grange bought the
organ in February, 1894, and purchased their piano March 20, 1909.
On Jan. 1, 1919, the Grange purchased the lot upon
which to build the Grange Hall. At that time the membership was 366.
The committee in charge of the 25th anniversary
held Feb. 1915, included: Arrangements, Miss Ella Baynes, Mrs. Helen Howe, Mrs.
Florence Bartlett; Reception, Mr. & Mrs. H.V. Walters, Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Rexford,
Mr. & Mrs. W.B. Smith.
There are several other instances that are of
interest to us. From the first book of minutes we find these members realized
the necessity of Granges working together. They called in Mainesburg to assist
in initiation and through the years they worked in close cooperation with North
Elk Run, Aurora, Tioga and others. Purchase of seeds, binder twine was also done
cooperatively.
The first year of organization they invited Pomona
Grange to meet with them. They always sent delegates, usually four and always
paid their expenses which in those days often cost $2.40 each.
Fair exhibits were continued, winning $75 first
prize, other prizes $50, $25, provided five Granges participated. Expense of
exhibit $9.35.
First death reported, A.M. Pitts.
Picnics were held every summer in Horace O’Dell’s
Grove at Lawrenceville, when they tried to get excursion rates on railroad and
at the Pomona Grounds, etc.
Lecturers had their problems then as now for two
or three times we find where those failing to respond to their part on the
program were fined 5 cents or 10 cents.
Helping friends and neighbors was prevalent for
they had a wood bee for Mrs. John Slingerland, and when the Mansfield Business
Men bought shingles for the town sheds our members put them on.
An interesting item in the minutes of Jan. 18,
1896: Moved and seconded that we obligate the candidate. Motion carried. The
candidate went out for fresh air so consequently no obligation.
At the time of purchasing the present Pomona
property, our Grange voted to pay the 50 cents per member in good standing,
provided the whole amount of said debt is paid. On April –, 1905, they paid $26
as pledge to Pomona.
Interesting subjects were discussed: Fish
Hatcheries, Spring Gardens, Trips to Klondike. Questions: “Are the farmers in
our community as prosperous as they have ever been?”
One man reported raising 400 bushels of cucumbers
on one acre.
Legislation, even back in 1904-1095, had to deal
with “Oleo Law” and our Grange was very much against the repeal of laws which
protected on a meeting of dairymen at Harrisburg where a hearing was held and
protests made.
March 10, 1906, Hon. Mortimer Whitebear, Past
Lecturer, of National Grange, gave a talk on “Signs and Symbols of Our Order.”
Visiting members were here from North Elk Run, Mainesburg and Carlin Hollow.
April 6, 1907, Bro E.B. Dorsett, as State
Lecturer, gave a talk on his work in Franklin County. Bros. J.F. Ailman, State
Secretary, visited us on August 17, 1912.
P.H. Dewey as overseer, visited our Grange on Oct.
18, 1919. Of course, we have has many other State and National officers speak in
our hall since that time. Bro Charles M. Gardner, High Priest of Demeter, State
Master Beak Bagshaw and many others.
Inspection by District Deputies regularly – James
spencer, Stella Pratt, Lelia Coveney, Colie Starkey, and those of more recent
times: Sisters Glover, McIntosh, Tebo Niles, and Pros. Coolidge, Luce, Gilbert
and Campbell.
The first children’s program recorded gives the
following participants: Wilford Shaw, Nelson Shaw, Gertrude and Leigh Allen,
Rachael Paris, Edwin Kingsley and Colie Slingerland. Oranges and bananas were
served.
Attendance from 1916 through 1914 and 1915 ran
very high – 106, 77, 58, 48, 63, 80, 116, etc. Printed programs were used during
the years 1913 and 1914.
First church attendance at the Methodist church on
April 26, 1914, when Rev. G.W. Baity was pastor.
One of the greatest achievements was the
purchasing of the lot and the building of our present hall. Much discussion went
on for several years and many suggestions were made as to materials, raising
funds, etc. First a mortgage was held by Mrs. Obourn and later bonds were issued
and after these were partly paid a first mortgage was again given to one of our
members.
Our Grange has held many things to raise money,
but the Grange Fair held soon after our building was finished was unusually
successful. Community, Business Men and schools all participated.
On July 4, 1914, Bros. C.D. Kingsley and Lynn H.
Hall presented the Grange with an American Flag and staff.
Our ranks have been entered often by the grim
reaper and many loyal members have passed on, among them officers – Sister
Jennie Paris having passed on while serving as lecturer and Sister Slingerland
as secretary, and Sister Ada Reppard just seven days after her term expired.
Grant Lewis, our last chapter member, died Feb. 27, 1950, shortly after our 60th
anniversary.
We have had a large membership at one time, having
400 members and being the largest Grange in the State. In the past 50 years
degrees have been conferred on approximately 11 candidates.
We now have 17 living Past Masters:
Earl Shaw, Colie Starkey, George Paris, Carlos Sperry, George Barden,
Walter Shaw, Halsey Benson, Norris Burtch, Malcolm Kingsley, William Collins,
W.D. Bradway, Fordyce Hagar, Colie
Slingerland, Nathan French, Warren Slingerland, Carl Barnes, Earl Tribe.
We have had 35 different Masters in these sixty
years, 20 Secretaries and 36 Lecturers.
We have awarded certificates at three previous
meetings:
In 1935 three members received Golden Sheafs --
H.V. Walters and Grant Lewis, charter member of Tioga Valley Grange, and E.D.
Snover, a charter member of North Elk Run Grange, organized ten days before our
Grange.
Eighty Silver Star Certificates were awarded at
this meeting.
In 1940, 24 members received Silver Stars.
In 1947 Charles Howe and Charles McConnell were
awarded Golden Sheafs and four more Silver Star Certificates were given out.
In 1950 Claude Hagar received the Golden Sheaf.
Ten Silver Stars were awarded.
Our Juvenile Grange was organized in 1928 and has
been quite prosperous most of the time. Much credit should be given those
members who act as Matron, as it is a real task, yet one worth the effort it
takes.
As near as we can count this Grange has had 1368
members. Our present membership is 244.
We have conferred degrees in many other Granges in
this county as well as had them bring candidate tour Grange. At one time we
conferred the first and second degrees in Troy Grange, Bradford County.
In 1930 ninety members of our Grange attended the
Baptist Church on Go To Church Sunday. In 1940 many of our members attended the
County Church service in Straughn Hall when Rev. Fred Norris, pastor of the
Methodist Church of Shippensburg spoke. He later became State Chaplain and all
were saddened by his death a few years ago.
We have the distinction to have one woman hold the
office of Worthy Master, Sister Ada Rexford, in 1895.
With several other Grange members Brother Colie
Starkey attended a meeting at the home of Past Master E.B. Dorsett with Father
Kelley, founder of the Grange. At that time there was no code book and such work
was learned from someone else. Those at that meeting had first hand instruction
in the unwritten work as well as in other secret work. Very few people met this
great man of vision for the farmers’ need.
Many of our members have been officers in Pomona,
holding many different offices. Three have been Master, holding other offices
before being elected to Master. Three have been lecturers, one holding this
office for ten years. One has been lady assistant steward and others have been
on the home Economics Committee.
We have also had charge of tableus at many
meetings and done our share of entertaining Pomona in our hall.
In the last three years we have made repairs and
remodeled our hall. It has also been redecorated, the work being done by the
members themselves. Our lower hall is now in better condition for renting. It
has been rented for roller skating.
We feel that Tioga Valley Grange has been an
active Grange during all its years of service. We have been represented in State
Grange by Bro. E.B. Dorsett, who held three of the Highest offices there:
Overseer, Lecturer, and Master. We have had leaders in many projects in the
County and State.
We have endeavored to live up to the purpose of
the Grange – to develop a higher and better manhood and womanhood among
ourselves and to practice the Grange motto: “In essentials unity, in
non-essentials liberty; and in all things charity.”
November 29,1905
A MUTUAL BANK- Members of Pomona Grange to Start A Bank
at Tioga 18/20, 3rd column
DEC 1909 Tioga Valley Grange officers [34/49]
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08 FEB 1950 Mansfield Grange to Celebrate Its 60th Anniversary 1012.1950.02
17 FEB 1960 Grange to Celebrate 70th Anniversary (4th column) 1012.1960.02
Mansfield Advertiser 92.26 24 March 1965 Grange Celebrates 75th Anniversary
1966 - Grange Opposes RR Station Closing. Mansfield's Tioga Valley Grange Number 918, Saturday night took action opposing the closing of the Mansfield Railroad Station due to the inconvenience it would cause to many farmers of the area. The Grange pointed out that in recent years many carloads of hay and grain have been processed through the Mansfield R R Station. This is due to the fact that Mansfield is located on the crossing of two importatnt U.S. Highways and is easily accessible to the farmer receiving or shipping hay or grain.
1970 Mansfield Advertiser - Photo- Granges Prepare For Merger- Beginning of the End- George Barden, Treasurer; Fordyce Hagar, Master; Miss Ina Hagar, Secretary; and Mrs. Letha Horton, Chaplain begin the business of closing out the Tioga Valley Grange, prior to merging with North Elk Run Grange. The Tioga Valley Grange will hold their final meeting on December 19. After that date they will make arrangements to merge with the North Elk Run Grange. This was hastened by the Mansfield Urban Renewal purchase of their Grange Hall which will be razed to make way for a shopping-parking area. 1011.1970.069 Granges Prepare for Merger (Photo) 12/54 article
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| January 1971 - Mansfield Advertiser - Demolition of Tioga Valley Grange |
Corner of West Wellsboro and Sassafras Alley Laurel Health was built on the location. |
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The History Center on Main Street, 83 N. Main Street, Mansfield PA 16933 histcent83@gmail.com
