21 holds the honor of having dedicated the first hall in Connecticut built specifically for the purpose of housing a Grange chapter. The Connecticut State Grange no longer manages the company but both organizations still maintain close ties. ![]() The resolution was adopted and the insurance company was organized on Apat the United States Hotel in Hartford, under the name "Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Connecticut." This company remains in existence today under the name "The Patrons Group." Its headquarters are still located in Glastonbury, CT but the company's reach extends well beyond the state's borders into many northeastern/New England states. Delegates to the 1885 session authorized the State Grange Executive Committee to "investigate the subject of Grange Fire Insurance and report at the Annual Meeting." Then at the December 1886 Session the following report was made by the Good of the Order Committee, "We would recommend the incorporation of a Patrons Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company." Then in 1887, the Connecticut State Grange conferred the first Degree of Flora (Sixth Degree) upon candidates in December of that year.Īffordable insurance has always been an important element of Grange programs throughout the nation, even in the earliest years of the Order. New members joining the State Grange during 18 received what is known today as the Fifth Degree or Pomona (County) Grange degree. They included: Granby, Tunxis, and Hope of the first State Grange along with Lebanon, Advance, Cheshire, Berlin, Union, Glastonbury, Suffield, South Windsor, Meriden, Wapping, Manchester, North Cornwall and Wallingford. Several Granges organized during the first State Grange were still represented along with many new Granges. The second attempt at organizing a State Grange in Connecticut met with much more success when representatives from 16 Subordinate Granges met in convention at the Academy Building in South Glastonbury, CT on June 24, 1885. Regardless, these two Granges became the important nucleus of the new State Grange.Ĭenter inset: Harvy Godard, First Master of the First Connecticut State Grange Clockwise from top left: Sherman Kimberly, Second and last Master of the First State Grange and First Master of the Second State Grange J.H. Tunxis, however, has the oldest Charter, never giving it up even during a four year time period when Tunxis did not meet. Hope Grange continued to meet during the time between the first and second State Granges and paid their dues either directly to the National Grange or through the Massachusetts State Grange, as directed. Some minor disagreement still exists between the two Granges today regarding which Grange is truly the oldest. ![]() ![]() ![]() Lida Ives' book "The Grange in Connecticut" states the following reasons for the demise of the first state Grange, "Misunderstanding and poorly defined rules and regulations led to disputes between sections of the State improper instruction and understanding of the ritual lack of proper coordination in having a defined buying and selling agreement between merchants and others low dues and little money in the Treasury were factors that all contributed to the final failure of this group to operate as a State Grange."ĭue to these conditions, Grange after Grange dropped from the State Grange's rolls until only two remained. Records of the first State Grange are incomplete but it is known that four or five meetings were held, including both special and regular meetings. The first 20 Granges included: Stafford No. Connecticut became the 33rd State Grange organized under the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry with twenty (20) Subordinate (local) Granges comprising the fabric of this fledgling organization. The First Connecticut State Grange The first state Grange in Connecticut was organized at a meeting held at the Old Taylor Opera House in Danbury on April 15 and 16, 1875. The story of the Connecticut State Grange is really the story of two State Granges.
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