Bear Valley Grange Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bear Valley Grange Hall
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The Bear Valley Grange Hall from the northeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | County Road 3, Chester Township, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Built by | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Front-gabled vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003089 |
| Designated | January 5, 1989 |
The Bear Valley Grange Hall is a special old building in Chester Township, Minnesota. It was built way back in 1874. This hall was made for a group called the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. This group was one of the first to help farmers in the United States.
After the Grange group stopped meeting in the 1880s, the building became the Chester Town Hall. It has been used for town meetings ever since. Because of its history, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It's important because it's one of the few Grange halls left in Minnesota that was built just for the Grange. Most other Grange groups met in places like schools.
Contents
What Does the Hall Look Like?
The Bear Valley Grange Hall is a one-story building made of wood. It sits on a strong foundation of limestone. The building is about 40 feet long and 22 feet wide.
Building Style
The front and back of the building have a pointed roof shape called a gable. This style, known as vernacular architecture, was very common in the Midwest. Many churches, shops, and schools were built this way.
The front door is in the middle of the north side. It has two windows next to it with big wooden shutters. There are also four similar windows on each of the side walls. All the windows and doors have a slightly peaked trim above them. The outside of the building is covered with clapboard siding. Inside, it's one big room.
Where is it Located?
The hall is on a small hill surrounded by farmland. It's close to a small community called Bear Valley. You can find it along Wabasha County Road 3. The closest city is Zumbro Falls.
History of the Grange Hall
The Order of Patrons of Husbandry, often called the Grange, was started by Oliver Hudson Kelley in Minnesota in 1868. It was the first national group to speak up for farmers. People from the Grange traveled across the country to help local groups, called "subordinate granges," get started.
Starting in Wabasha County
In 1870, a Grange official named T.A. Thompson came to Wabasha County. With his help, the Bear Valley Grange was one of the first six local groups in the county. It was the 50th Grange group in all of Minnesota. The Bear Valley Grange built this hall for their meetings in 1874. They chose a spot on land owned by a farmer, right next to the main road. At that time, only one other Grange group in the county had its own meeting hall.
Why the Grange Was Important
The Grange grew very quickly after the American Civil War. Farming was changing a lot. New machines and methods were being used, and more people were moving to rural areas. Farmers could now sell their crops to markets far away because of railroads. Before, many farmers only grew enough food for themselves. Now, they were part of a huge national economy that they didn't fully understand.
The Grange offered many benefits to farmers. It promised to help them with money, education, and social life. Farmers could learn new scientific ways to farm. They could also form agricultural cooperatives to buy and sell things together. The Grange also worked to get rules for the railroads to help farmers.
Social Life and Decline
Besides serious topics, the Grange was also a fun place to be. There weren't many social activities in rural areas back then, apart from church. Grange chapters held many talks, potluck dinners, and other get-togethers. Anyone involved in farming, men and women, could join. By 1876, about 750,000 people were Grange members across the country.
However, the Grange's popularity didn't last very long. Some of their plans in Minnesota didn't work out well, and membership quickly dropped. The Bear Valley Grange had been one of the biggest in Wabasha County, with over 100 members. But it closed down in the 1880s. The hall was then used as the town hall for Chester Township. This new use helped save the building, keeping it important for the community even today.
See also
