Oakfield Grange facts for kids
Oakfield Grange, #414
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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![]() Grange Hall, c. 1910
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Location | 89 Ridge Rd., Oakfield, Maine |
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Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
Built | 1906 |
Architect | Oakfield Grange #414 Members |
Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
NRHP reference No. | 06000920 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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Added to NRHP | October 04, 2006 |
Removed from NRHP | March 21, 2023 |
The Oakfield Grange was an important community building in Oakfield, Maine. It served as a clubhouse and meeting place for many years. This building was built in 1906 by a local group called the Patrons of Husbandry, also known as the Grange.
For a long time, it was the only large place where people in the small town could gather. The Oakfield Grange was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This list recognizes places that are important to history. Sadly, the building was later taken down, and it was removed from the historic places list in 2023.
What Was the Oakfield Grange?
The Oakfield Grange building was located in Oakfield, Maine. It was a wooden building with two and a half stories. The main part of the building was about 30 feet wide and 70 feet long. It also had a smaller section attached to the back.
The building had a special roof shape, with gables at the back and a mix of gable and hip at the front. Its outside walls were covered with wooden clapboards.
A Hub for the Community
The local Grange group started in 1903. They worked for two years to plan and raise money for their new hall. The Oakfield Grange hall was finished in 1906. It quickly became the biggest meeting space in town.
Many different social events happened there. People enjoyed dances and private parties in the hall. From 1910 to 1964, the town even held its official town meetings there. It was also where people went to vote in elections.
School and Community Use
The building served the community in other ways too. From 1935 to 1970, Oakfield High School used it as a gymnasium. Students played sports there. The hall also had a stage, which was perfect for school plays and music shows.
Over time, farming in Oakfield became less common. This meant fewer people joined the Grange. The building started to get old and needed repairs in the 1980s. The Grange members stopped holding their meetings there in 1987. By 2006, when it was listed as a historic place, the Grange group only had twelve members left. The Oakfield Grange building was later torn down.