Interlaken Grange Celebrates Their 50th Anniversary April 12, 1924
Interlaken Review, Friday April 11, 1924, reported on the plans being made to celebrate the Grange’s 50th anniversary.
The following week, April 18, 1924, the
paper had a multi-column report on the proceedings. The paper reported that the
day began with “A reception and social time filling the morning hours. Dinner
was served at noon to 325 Grangers and visitors. The Grange orchestra furnished
music during the dinner hour.”
The number of dignitaries came from
around the state and represented the current year officers from the State and
County levels. The current Master [President] of the Seneca County Grange was E.P.
Cole. He was also present at the organization of the Interlaken Grange fifty
years ago, 1874.
The article listed well over 50 people. A
few of those involved in the afternoon program were current Interlaken Grange
members, including Master Howard Bassett who gave a welcoming address. The
history of Interlaken Grange was presented by W.W. Severn.
Another local Grange member was Fred J.
Freestone. In 1924 he was serving as Overseer (the 2nd highest
officer after the Master). In the years following, he would become the State
Master.
“Two of our charter members have been
spared by the scythe of time and were present, Brother Marion Rappleye of
Interlaken and Ansel Austin of North Tonawanda.” It was also noted that Mr.
Rappleye was a Past Master of Interlaken Grange and still an active member.
One highlight of the afternoon was the
song, “Haymakers and Dairymaids,” performed by members in costume. As with many
Grange events, the afternoon closed with all singing, “God be with You.”
In giving the history Mr. Severn noted, “Farmer
Village Grange, No. 160, Patrons of History, was organized on April 2nd, 1874,
at the Masonic rooms in the Mann building, with twenty-two charter members…W.W.
Boorom was elected the first Master, William Ditmars secretary.” In 1910 they
changed the name to Interlaken Grange.
In 1924 the Interlaken Grange had a membership
of 326 and was one of the very active Granges in the county, having had the
highest average attendance for the past two years. That was not always the
case. Starting with the 22 charter members, they had fifteen additional members
join that first year.
In the fifty years since the
organization, Mr. Severn reported, “We have had 22 Masters, nine are deceased
and thirteen still living.” The newspaper article listed all the Past Masters.
The report included, Wm. W. Boorom who was in the chair the longest, 7 years,
and our present secretary, Ida Goodwin, has served the longest, 13 years.”
When you consider the population of the
area, and the fact that Lodi and Ovid both had their own Granges, it is very
interesting that in those 50 years they initiated 615 members and received by
membership transfer 63. Mr. Severn concluded his remarks with, “You can now see
how tall oaks from little acorns grow.”
This year Interlaken Grange and many
other local Granges will be celebrating their 150th anniversary.
Dewitt’s Diary Saturday April 12, 1924, 50th Anniversary of the Grange today. We did not go to the Big Dinner. Over 350 there. There was not enough room to turn around. Edna went with Mother this evening while I went over and got Eve. [Eve is Edna’s sister.]
To read the entire article and see all the names, click here. Interlaken Review, Friday, April 18, 1924 page 3
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