By Gina Woelfel

In January 2023, the Upton Grange, a nonpartisan, non-profit community organization serving

  local needs since 1885, enlisted the help of The Upton Historical Commission to raise funds for a much-needed renovation of its historic building. Despite a $20,000 grant from the state Grange organization eight years earlier, which covered only partial repairs to the hall's foundational sill, substantial work still needed to be addressed.

Upton Grange Hall, originally a schoolhouse constructed around 1850, faced significant restoration challenges. Thanks to a dedicated effort led by Ed Phillips, then chairman of the Upton Historical Commission (UHC), and Grange lecturer Kristin Paulson, The Grange Hall has undergone a remarkable transformation, underscoring the power of community support and leadership.

Phillips, serving as the chairman of the UHC, recognized the importance of preserving the Grange's historic integrity. Phillips and the UHC knew the building's historical significance and understood that a broader community effort was necessary to achieve the restoration goals.

Under Phillips' leadership, the UHC played a pivotal role in organizing the restoration efforts. Phillips facilitated a strategic approach to securing funding for the renovation. The UHC recommended that the Grange present its case to the Upton Community Preservation Commission, advocating for financial support. Its efforts paid off when the town allocated $120,000 from its Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.

Simultaneously, the UHC applied for a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC). This process required the Grange to engage an architect before applying, leading to a collaboration with GRLA Architects of Hopkinton. Scott Richardson, an Upton resident, president and co-owner of GRLA Architects, generously offered his services at a reduced cost.

The grant application process was intricate and demanded a detailed submission. Despite the challenging process, the UHC succeeded in presenting a compelling case. 

In June 2023, the MHC awarded the Grange a $50,000 grant, initially less than the $80,000 requested. However, unforeseen issues such as termite damage, carpenter ants, and wood rot necessitated additional funds. The contractor's quote for these unexpected repairs led the MHC to increase its contribution by an additional $13,000, bringing its total support to $63,000.

The restoration work commenced on April 16, with a completion deadline set for June 30, in accordance with state funding requirements. The renovation included critical repairs to the building's exterior, including the roof, cedar siding, and the replacement of a handicap ramp. 

The Upton Historical Society assigned The John Canning Preservation Company to identify the hall's original paint colors. The company conducted a scientific analysis of the architectural finishes, paint, and substrate and discovered only four layers of paint for the past 175 years. They used various processes and techniques to determine the exact color of each layer, enabling them to repaint the entire building in the Grange's original 1850 color palette. The original four-paned windows were preserved to maintain historical accuracy, and a second bathroom was completely rebuilt after years of closure.

History of The Grange

The term "Grange" might be unfamiliar to some. Phillips and Paulson provided a deeper understanding of this historic hall's storied past. 

The National Grange, also known as the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 in Washington, DC, and is the oldest agricultural and rural public interest organization in America. It served as a powerful social, political, and educational group for farmers, encouraging families to work together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and its local agriculture. The National Grange organization has been a driving force behind some of the most progressive legislation in the United States, advocating for issues such as railroad regulations, farm loans, and universal suffrage. 

The Grange was the first national organization to grant women a full voice and vote 60 years before the adoption of Universal Suffrage in the United States. Additionally, it was the first national farm organization to initiate efforts to organize African American farmers post-Civil War. The Grange also established mutual insurance companies focusing on serving farm and rural markets, pioneering the provision of property and casualty insurance to Japanese-American farmers returning from internment following WWII.

Paulson states, "There weren't many organizations where women could hold any office. Women voted in The Grange before the government let them vote in America. They held office and they voted. Since the beginning, it's been a family organization, including moms, dads, children, and grandparents. Everybody is together, and where do you find that anywhere else?" 

The local Upton Grange chapter is the oldest family organization in Upton. Established by young farmers in 1885, it remains active to this day.

Phillips aptly described the Grange's original goal: "The Grange was a national mission of farmers supporting other farmers with purchasing power and access to seeds."

The current Grange Hall sits on a lot of land at 26 School Street, which the Town of Upton originally acquired in 1847 to build The Center School for primary and intermediate grades. Built in the Greek Revival style popular in the United States from the 1830s to the 1860s, the schoolhouse, with its symmetrical proportions, pronounced triangular pediment roof and projected front entrance, opened its doors in 1851 and eventually established a high school in 1869, just four years after the Civil War ended. 

A student who wanted to enroll in Upton's first high school had to undergo a rigorous examination by the school committee and obtain passing grades in written exams to progress at the end of each year. Some courses studied were Latin, Greek, political economy, math, sciences, and the U.S. Constitution. Exercises in reading, spelling, morals, declamation, composition, and writing were part of everyday assignments. As a requirement for graduation, each student would have to take an oral exam in front of the school committee and the public in a process that lasted all day. Upton celebrated its first high school graduation in 1877 with eight graduates (4 girls & 4 boys) whose motto was "First, but only Pioneers." Susie Hall was the valedictorian.

In 1897, the town built a new high school on Main Street, where the Memorial School now stands. The Center School continued to house primary and junior departments until 1924 when the George S. Ball School (the current police station) was built as a replacement on the property next door. The building was then sold in 1926 to the Upton Grange #125 to house its local chapter, and it has been used continuously for monthly meetings, functions, agricultural fairs, and community-based economic development opportunities. 

Today, Upton Grange #125 is among the few remaining Grange Halls in the Blackstone Valley, listed on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places. The second floor houses an original stage with a more than one-hundred-year-old curtain mural featuring a hand-painted farm scene with advertisements of Upton's local businesses from the turn of the 20th century. Paulson fondly remembers the fun she experienced growing up as a Grange member and the one-act plays, literary contests, and poetry they wrote and performed on that stage. 

Restoration has been well-received

Recent feedback from Phillips and Paulson indicates that the community has responded positively to the restoration efforts and enjoys seeing this local gem returned to its original splendor. Town Manager Joseph Laydon enjoyed a tour of the building for the first time as this article was being written.  

The successful renovation of the Upton Grange stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Upton Historical Commission, the Upton Community Preservation Commission, and the broader community. Phillips' leadership and Paulson's life-long dedication were instrumental in navigating the complex funding processes and ensuring the preservation of this historic building. The project highlights how community support, strategic planning, and effective leadership can come together to preserve local heritage and community landmarks.

The Upton Grange still participates in various activities and programs, including community service projects, a college scholarship program for Upton residents, support for the Upton Senior Center, the Upton Citizens and Veterans Awards, Coats 4 Vets, local food drives, a recycled clothing donation shed, and a seed library that encourages residents to participate in a free seed exchange (“Take seeds, leave seeds”). 

The Grange has established a Building Restoration Fund to help carry out future interior renovations, insulation work, landscaping, and driveway repairs. You can contribute by donating your time, materials, or money directly. For a tax-deductible receipt, please make checks payable to "Grange Foundation" (with Upton #125 in the memo line) and mail them to Upton Grange at PO Box 605, Upton, Mass. 01568. 

For those interested in joining the Upton Grange, the annual membership dues are $60 a year for all your household's kids, parents, and grandparents. The group meets monthly on the second Thursday at 7 p.m.