History of the Grange 

The Grange was founded in 1867 by a Minnesota farmer named Oliver Kelly who was soon joined by others to form the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The Grange was and is, specifically, a non-governmental, non-partisan, fraternal association that advocates for agriculture and rural America. They believed in the service of others, loyalty, support to the farmer and rural area, and democratic ideals. The Grange also was one of the first groups to admit women as equal members.

During the summer of 1908 a number of farmers and businessmen of the town thought a Grange would be a benefit to the community, so they went around to see how many names they could get. Quite a few became interested and on the evening of October 23rd, 1908, 70 persons met at the old Watson Vinal House (now burned) for the purpose of organizing a Grange. This building was located nearest the center of the island.  In those days ways of transportation had to be considered, as people had to go either by horse and buggy or walk.  County deputy George E. Nash of Camden presided at this meeting. It was voted to name it Pleasant River Grange #492.

Past 'Masters' of the Grange were: Zenas Burgess, Daniel Gross,  Charles Davis, Leslie Oakes, Curtis Webster, James Calderwood, Winnie Ames, George Wright, Malcolm Whittington, Nellie Robinson, Leola Smith, Leroy Dyer, Alice Whittington, Ambrose Peterson, Donald Shields, Hildred Hildings, Dallas Anthony and Donny Ames.

As our membership kept growing, we needed more room so we moved into a larger room in the same building, which used to be used as the town hall.

Later Captain Webster offered his quarry dormitory to the Grange when he closed his quarry on the Pleasant River.  The Grange bought the land where the Grange hall now stands, and work was at once started to move the building on the land. A committee of brothers did this work and the sisters helped by getting their dinners, so they soon had it on its foundation.

Dances were held in the old town hall to raise money to repair the building, and on December 31, 1909 the Grange moved into the building we now know as the Vinalhaven Grange. Later the upper and lower rooms were sheathed, new stairs built in the opposite end of the building from where they originally were, the pantry equipped with shelves, sink, etc. and later on in 1914 the new hardwood floor upstairs was laid.

By 1918  membership in the Grange had dwindled and a small group came together to revive membership, sponsor activities and the restore the building.  Those members were: 

Our plans at present are to make the building more usable for community events and gatherings. Thus far we have: shingled the southern exterior wall, removed a rotting fire escape, planted a garden, added gutters, added an aluminum fire escape, repaired and reshingled the eastern exterior wall, installed 2 new doors and begun the long process of retrimming the windows.