Grandview Grange

The Grange organization dates back to 1867, founded as the National Grange of the Order of Patron of Husbandry. Its purpose was to enlighten farmers on agricultural methods and education and address their economic and social needs. The organizational structure was akin to the Masons, and everyone was welcomed. Women were encouraged to join (women were required to hold four of the sixteen elected positions), and children as young as fourteen could become members. By the mid-1870s, the organization had over one million members.

Advocacy focused on breaking the railroads' stranglehold on the monopolistic transportation pricing of farmers' crops and storing grain as the railroads owned a significant number of grain elevators. As the Grange movement grew, their political influence increased. The railroad monopoly weakened for a brief time with the 1877 Supreme Court case Munn v. Illinois. The court ruled that "businesses of a public nature could, in accordance with the federal constitution, be subject to state regulation." Other successful lobbying efforts resulted in rural mail delivery becoming free and the introduction of crop insurance for farmers.

The Grandview Grange was initially formed in 1906 as the Breene Avenue Grange and simultaneously known as the Rocky Mountain Grange but lacked traction in gaining members. The Grange was reorganized in 1914 at a meeting at Elkhorn Ranch with thirteen members and a new name—The Grandview Grange #151. By 1916, the sixteen Grangers moved their meetings to the old Curtis School building, and membership grew to seventeen members. By 1938, Grandview became the largest Grange in the State, with over 400 members.

Early Grange activities emphasized the four fundamentals of a Grange – social, educational, legislative, and financial. The Grange purchased coal, potatoes and Hungarian flour in carload lots available only to members. Advocacy included a resolution in response to the number of cars parked in downtown Englewood, "That The City of Englewood be requested to install hitching posts for the use of the farmers wishing to tie their horses when in town." Educational lectures on agricultural topics were featured during many meetings.

The Grange members were a gregarious lot and excelled in meeting the social component of the organization. The minutes of Grandview reflect the number of clubs within the organization: debate teams, square dance teams, singing groups, thespians, sewing clubs, home economics, horseshoe team, plus many others. The clubs participated in competitions statewide, and numerous championships and awards were bestowed on the Grange. The awards also included the largest attendance at various meetings and functions. Grandview won a gallon of oysters at the 1936 Progressive Pomona meeting for attendance.

The Grandview Notes appeared weekly

in the Littleton Independent and kept everyone

updated on the neighbors' social activities.

Courtesy of the Littleton Independent.

Dances were a prominent part of the community's social fabric. In the early 1920s, dances were held after the meetings. However, the dances became contentious, as some members opposed dancing when the Grange meeting ended. A special meeting was held with the State Master attending to decide the matter. Verdict—dancing would continue!

With membership growing, a player piano was purchased for $550.00 replacing the phonograph. Funds were raised for the purchase by the Sewing Club making and selling aprons. The school proved to be too small for the dances, so the basement was rented at the new school, and then the dances moved to Stephenson's Hall in Littleton. The popularity of the dances continued to flourish and required additional space. The dances were moved to the deKoevend's Elkhorn Ranch on Saturday evenings which "proved to be fun as well as profitable and we had many groups from other Granges attending." Apparently, the piano became obsolete as the Grange organized an orchestra in 1927 with funds raised for trap drums. The dances were again moved when the Grange building was completed in 1940.

The Grange was outgrowing the old Curtis School and, in 1923, considered purchasing land for a new building. Two sites were considered, one at the University Boulevard and Belleview Avenue intersection and the other at the corner of Orchard Road and University Boulevard. The decision was tabled. It wasn't until 1930 that fundraising for a new building was commenced. The following year, the school board decided to sell the old Curtis School to enlarge the playground. The school board offered the Grange use of the basement rooms in the new school and sold the school for $75.00. The schoolhouse was moved and believed to have been incorporated into the house at 2121 Orchard Road.

Grange members celebrating

construction of the building in

1939. Grandview Grange was

the largest grange in the state

at the time. From the Collection

of the Littleton Museum.

It wasn't until 1939 that a two-acre building site on the corner of Orchard Road and University Boulevard (currently used as a parking lot and seasonal garden center) was purchased for $200.00. Financing for the building was secured through Grange fundraising, a mortgage of $2,000, and personal loans of $800.00. Much of the construction was done by members on weekends and holidays. When the building was completed in 1940, it was the largest Grange building in the State. The minutes in 1943 reflect the mortgage being burned on March 14th.

Fundraising for community nonprofits and war efforts has played an important role since the founding of Grandview. Donations included purchasing war bonds, Red Cross donations, a mobile Iron Lung for Arapahoe County, an x-ray machine for the Salk Institute, and youth-oriented activities. It was noted in the minutes throughout the year that sales were always brisk at the annual popcorn sales at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds booth.

Grandview Grange's membership began to decline with the community's transformation from a farming area to a residential suburb. The building fell into disrepair and was sold in 2020. Within the following year, its charter was discontinued.

The Grange, circa 1940, with view of open fields and tilled land with a modest building in

the background. Courtesy of Curtis Arts Center.