Local History Collections

(Description ID: 607427)

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

Sandusky County Ohio Grange

LH-451

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Introduction

Agency History

Scope and Content

Inventory

Introduction

These records were donated to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in 2022.

Agency History

The Grange was born out of a need for better agricultural practices, marketing facilities, and transportation shortly after the Civil War. Through organization, cooperation, education, and legislation it was believed that some of the rural problems, particularly in the war torn South, could be improved. It was hoped that by bringing people together in a spirit of mutual cooperation, farmers would learn new practices. Unlike many organizations of this period, the Grange encouraged women and teens to become members.

Grange #1 was founded by four individuals in Fredonia, New York in 1868. The Ohio State Grange was organized in 1873. Grange chapters spread rapidly across the nation, creating improvements through the Department of Agriculture, land grant colleges, rural mail delivery, farm credit, conservation and forestry, marketing cooperatives, experiment stations, and the Rural Electric Association.  Poor fiscal management, the result of exceptionally rapid growth, led to a major decline in membership. It was not until the turn of the 20^th century that the organization rebounded.

In 1874, the Clyde Grange formed with 31 members, becoming the first in Sandusky County, Ohio.  They met in the Good Templars Hall of the Clyde Savings Bank and later, socially in members’ homes.

Scope and Content

This scattered collection of records tells the history of the beginning of the Grange in Sandusky County, Ohio. Records date from 1950 to 1988. Perhaps the most valuable record is the carefully written history.

Of particular note is the destruction of the Riley Grange building by fire. The successful efforts of members to build a new structure in 1968 is well documented in photographs and news clippings. A scrapbook in poor condition contains photographs with annotations. The additional loose photographs contain many duplicates with few dates.

Inventory

Ac. 6100

¼ feet

Box 1

1. History of Sandusky County Grange
2. Constitution & By-Laws; 1972 By-Laws Ohio State Grange
3. Dedication programs of several Sandusky County, Ohio chapters
4. Scrapbook, Riley Grange, 1950 – 1968
5. Photographs, 1950 –1968 (Riley Grange)
6. Photographs, 1950 – 1968 (Riley Grange)
7. News Clippings

Books

Manual of Junior Grange, 1972
116^th Annual Session Ohio State Grange, 1873-1988

“The Patron” The Official Song-Book of the Grange, 1967

Holy Bible, 1952