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Grange Hall (Murphysboro, Illinois) facts for kids

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Grange Hall
Grange hall in Somerset Township.jpg
Front of the hall
Grange Hall (Murphysboro, Illinois) is located in Illinois
Grange Hall (Murphysboro, Illinois)
Location in Illinois
Grange Hall (Murphysboro, Illinois) is located in the United States
Grange Hall (Murphysboro, Illinois)
Location in the United States
Nearest city Murphysboro, Illinois
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1912
Architect W. A. Pitman
Architectural style Commercial
NRHP reference No. 90000722
Added to NRHP May 4, 1990

The Grange Hall in Somerset Township, Jackson County, Illinois, is a special historic building. It was once the main meeting spot for a group called The Grange in that area.

What is the Grange Hall?

This building was completed in 1912. It was actually the second meeting hall for Somerset Grange #1553. Their first building, built in 1876, sadly burned down in 1909. The new hall was made of red brick. A builder named W. A. Pitman constructed it.

A Place for Farmers

The Grange Hall was very important for local farmers. They would meet there to talk about farming issues. They also discussed ideas for new farm rules. These ideas would then be shared with legislators. Legislators are people who make laws.

From 1912 until 1914, a newspaper called Union Farmer was published here. This newspaper belonged to the National Farmers Union.

A Community Hub

Beyond farming, the Grange Hall was a busy social center. It hosted many different community events. People gathered there for club meetings. It was also used as a polling place for local elections. A polling place is where people go to vote.

A Historic Landmark

The Grange Hall was repaired in 1988. It is still used today as a polling place for the township. Because of its history and importance, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This list recognizes buildings that are important to the history of the United States.

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