LICKLEY’S CORNERS GRANGE

February 17, 1874, a group of people met to organize Lickley’s Corners Grange No. 274. E.J. Hodges was the organizer. Officers were elected with C.H. Gorsuch elected Master. Master Gorsuch paid $30 to E.J. Hodges for the State and National fees and $18.50 to the secretary, H.G. Treat.

The group was initiated as Patrons of Husbandry, fourteen men and thirteen women. No list of those original members survives, but the next year, 1875; found Ambrose Hinkle on the Grievance Committee. His granddaughter, Ruth Crist is currently a member.

A week later, February 24, the Lickley’s Corner Grange initiated 35 more members in the four degrees. Meeting dates were set up and in the following months the group searched for a suitable meeting place. They decided to lease the space over the Lickley General Store. They were to build a stairway on the outside of the building and finish off the room to meet their requirements. The records of October 1874 put the remodeling cost at $376.91.

The Grange purchased merchandise in quantities for resale to its members from a June, 1874 price list from Montgomery Ward of Chicago Dri Goods and Roe and Brothers Wholesale Groceries.

At almost every meeting there were candidates for initiating. Meetings were planned for every two weeks, but there were months between some. In 1879 they voted to set their meeting dates “so that the time of our regular meeting shall be Saturday evening on or before the full of the moon of each month and on Saturday afternoon two weeks after.”

During 1855 only two meetings were held, In February 1886 they voted to continue, but to try to build up the Grange membership. By June they had 17 new or reinstated members. They decided to have ice cream at their Harvest Festival.

They began to look for an organ. Six years later the Master was authorized to get tit by making a lien on it since they had only $20 to apply on it. It is not known whether they got the organ because the next record book is missing, the only one of the set lacking.

In April 1906 it was first voted to make an exhibit for the Hillsdale County Fair. The committee sent to Adrian to observe Grange exhibits there reported back that Lickley’s Corners could never do anything as good as that one at Adrian.

During the summer of 1906 negotiations were begun with the Baptist State Convention of Michigan to buy the old Baptist Church at Lickley's Corners. By November the deal was closed for $250. The first meeting in the new hall was held December 1, 1906. By October 1907 the membership paid off the balance of the purchase note. They also replaced the balcony with a complete second floor.

In the light of all the recent talk and expectations about Comet Kohoutec, it is interesting to note in the minutes of May 1910, “Remarks on comet by several members.”

The grange had maple sugar parties, ice cream socials, plays; picnic and sports rally at Mallory Lake for fun. They discussed many problems facing farmers and during the question of women’s suffrage, the Grange took a stand for it.

First mention of Needlework contest held in the local Grange was in 1911, Alice Carncross took first; Bessie Laser, second; and Mrs. Wilson, third.

In 1916 Lickley’s Corners was the only Standard Grange in Hillsdale County. In 1919 a whole carload of coal was purchased for $7.25 per ton for resale to members.

July 7, 1923 the Juvenile Grange was formed with Mrs. Rarick as Matron. In 1925 the worthy Master and Treasurer were to use their own judgment in getting the Grange’s first piano. December 18, 1926, the motion that men furnish supper and the women wash the dishes lost. A new ceiling was put in the dinning room in 1927.

By November 1, 1930 cars must have been the things, for the horse sheds were torn down for wood. In July 1936 the secretary was instructed to sign the electric power light contract using the grange Seal. The lights, wiring and fixtures were paid in full, $42.13.

In 1941 permission was given for the Grange Hall to be used for making mattresses, March 6, 1943 it was voted to reorganize a Juvenile Grange, Margaret McKnown Fether was elected Matron and reorganization was accomplished May 1, 1943. During 1943 a carpenter was paid 60 cents an hour to put siding and a front porch on the Hall. Lester Frazer made the letters for the front of the new hall. In 1944 George Woodworth, Worthy Master, prepared a history for the Grange’s seventy-fifth anniversary, Oh, to have a copy!

Seldom were attendance numbers mentioned, but at a booster night in 1944, it said, “Around 125 members and guests were present.” During 1944 dues were paid on 109 members. In 1944, during the Second World War, it was recorded that members baked cookies to send to Percy Jones Hospital, Battle Creek Veteran’s Facility. Mrs. Tucker brought 20 pounds of sugar for them to use at a cost of $1.40. Remember rationing? And print feed sacks? The next year at Booster Night they held a contest among the ladies for something made out of feed sacks.

During the fifties when Polio was so prevalent, there were many collections taken for the polio fund. The Lickley’s Corners Baptist Church rented the Grange Hall until the congregation could acquire its own building.

During 1975 and 1976, the interior of the Hall has been completely redecorated with many hours of labor and fellowship.

In preparing the history, it is interesting to note that all of the record books are still in very good shape and all are present except one, the records of 1895-1905.

Many are the memories stirred by this search through history to bring enjoyment to those who read this history.

Submitted by Women’s Activities Chairman,

Dorothy Fether,

Lickley’s Corners Grange # 274

Information furnished by the Waldron District Library

Taken from the Book – 150 years in the Hills and Dales Vol. II 1976