By Barbara Wooten
Some families celebrate birthdays over more than one day. So too can the Cannon Grange.
124 years ago, on April 27th 1899, a group of local residents decided to come together to form a local grange. Inspired by our neighboring Norfield Grange, these residents with familiar names saw the value of joining together (Miller, the first master of the Cannon family, Godfrey, Osborn, Smith, Hurlbutt, Sturges, Coley, Betts, Bennett and Bedient, the first overseer).
124 years ago on May 4th 1899, these 53 members (22 men and 31 woman) met for the first official time at a private home.
124 years ago on May 17, 1899, the first regular meeting was held at the Cannondale Schoolhouse.
124 years ago, on August 9, 1899, the Cannondale Real Estate Company finished what is now Grange Hall so that many different community organizations could meet.
The newborn Cannon Grange rented the hall until 1933, when our group finally bought the hall.
Whatever date we chose to celebrate now, next year is indeed our 125th anniversary. This year ought to start a rollout of all kinds of interesting activities to celebrate in 2024.
We are calling the rollout and renaissance of our grange “Blossoming.”
In the history of Cannondale, there is a wonderful description of Cannon Grange,
Fundamentally a family organization, The Cannon Grange is a great farm fraternity building character, developing leadership, encouraging education, promising community betterment , instilling an appreciation of high ideals and teaching through work and play the value of cooperation and service toward the attainment of happiness.
Happy Birthday, Cannon Grange and many more…