Grange Halls in Washington State: A Critical Investigation of a Vernacular Building Type Holly Anne Taylor A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture University of Washington 2013 Committee: Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, Chair Kathryn Rogers Merlino Program Authorized to Offer Degree: Architecture ©Copyright 2013 Holly Anne Taylor University of Washington Abstract Grange Halls in Washington State: A Critical Investigation of a Vernacular Building Type Holly Anne Taylor Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Jeffrey Karl Ochsner Department of Architecture The Grange, formally known as the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, is the oldest farm organization in the United States. At the local level, subordinate granges are typically organized among interested community members, and these groups meet regularly for the purpose of improving social, political, economic and educational opportunities for rural residents. Most subordinate granges own grange halls, and these halls provide space for grange meetings and also support a variety of public events that enrich rural community life. This thesis examines the history and significance of the grange hall as a uniquely American vernacular building type. The thesis is based on fieldwork documenting over two hundred buildings throughout Washington State that were in active use as grange halls in 2012. Although a majority of subordinate granges met in purpose-built halls, more than thirty percent of the buildings studied were found to have been constructed to serve other purposes (such as schools, churches, and community halls), representing a significant pattern of adaptive reuse in rural community buildings. Purpose-built halls were often constructed on donated land, with materials and labor contributed by grange members. This thesis documents, analyzes and interprets the historical and cultural significance of grange halls, based, in particular, on ideas of collective memory and social capital. Patterns of physical “improvements” or modifications that have supported the ongoing use of these buildings are examined, and this kind of “preservation through use” is contrasted with various theoretical frameworks that shape the discipline of historic preservation. While historic preservation theory and practice has often focused on architectural landmarks, this thesis analyzes preservation approaches related to cultural landmarks, that is, places that help to anchor a community’s cultural identity by attaching historical memory to place. An assessment of grange halls finds that those remaining in use as community buildings may be considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, based on current guidelines for evaluating the significance and integrity of traditional cultural properties. Revisions to existing historic preservation guidelines are also recommended, to better support and facilitate preservation of these vernacular historic properties. Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................... ii Preface .................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 A. Thesis ............................................................................................................ 3 B. Organization of the Document............................................................................ 5 Chapter 2: HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE ........................................................... 7 A. Origins of the National Grange ......................................................................... 12 B. Early Years .................................................................................................... 28 C. Agrarian Reform and the Granger Movement ..................................................... 33 D. Legislative Accomplishments and Business Initiatives ......................................... 41 E. Membership and Organization Identity in the Twentieth Century .......................... 43 Chapter 3: THE GRANGE IN WASHINGTON STATE ........................................................ 53 A. Early Years .................................................................................................... 53 B. Grange Growth and the Progressive Era ............................................................ 54 C. The Modern Grange in Washington ................................................................... 61 D. Agriculture and Grange Membership After World War II ...................................... 69 Chapter 4: RESEARCH METHODS, SOURCES AND ACTIVITIES ....................................... 75 A. Preliminary Research ...................................................................................... 77 B. Field Research ............................................................................................... 86 C. Archival Research ........................................................................................... 91 D. Other Textual Research ................................................................................. 102 Chapter 5: GRANGE HALLS WASHINGTON – Documentation and Analysis .................... 104 A. Early Grange Halls ........................................................................................ 105 B. Fieldwork and Findings: Documentation of Physical Characteristics ..................... 109 C. Analysis of Grange Hall Design, Construction and Ownership ............................. 140 Chapter 6: GRANGE HALLS IN WASHINGTON – Significance ....................................... 177 A. Grange Halls as Understood by Grange Members ............................................. 177 B. Grange Halls as Community Spaces: Early Twentieth Century Social Values ........ 183 C. Grange Halls as Cultural Spaces: Late Twentieth Century Social Theories ............ 188 Chapter 7: PRESERVATION OF GRANGE HALLS – Community & Professional Approaches 205 A. Modification of Grange Halls as Community-Based Preservation ......................... 207 B. Theoretical Frameworks for Historic Preservation ............................................. 225 C. Evaluating Grange Halls ................................................................................ 243 Chapter 8: CONCLUSION ....................................................................................... 262 A. Grange Halls in a National Context ................................................................. 263 B. Recommendations for Historic Preservation Policy and Practice .......................... 265 Endnotes ............................................................................................................... 268 Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 297 Appendix A ............................................................................................................ 305 LIST OF FIGURES Note: All color photographs of grange halls were taken by the author in 2012 unless otherwise credited. Figure Title Page 2.1 Hand tools used in nineteenth century farming 9 2.2 Newly manufactured farm machinery 9 2.3 Oliver Hudson Kelley’s 1875 book 14 2.4 Oliver H. Kelley in 1875 14 2.5 Founders of the Patrons of Husbandry 16 2.6 Caroline Hall, the “eighth founder” 16 2.7 Plan of Subordinate Grange, 1873 21 2.8 Grange Melodies 21 2.9 The “Master’s Tools” 24 2.10 Gift for the Grangers, 1873 35 2.11 The Farmer’s movement in the West, 1873 36 2.12 Grangers’ Procession and Mass Meeting, 1874 36 2.13 “Grange Awakening the Sleepers” 1873 38 2.14 “I Feed You All” 1875 38 2.15 Monument to the Founding of the National Grange, Washington, D.C. 48 2.16 Oliver H. Kelley Farm near Elk River, Minnesota 48 2.17 1948 Grange Booth at the Minnesota State Fair 48 2.18 Commemorative stamp honoring National Grange centennial, 1967 50 2.19 Contemporary emblem of the National Grange 50 3.1 Site of the founding of the Washington State Grange in 1889 55 3.2 Washington Grange News masthead, 1912 59 3.3 Ira Shea in Ferry County, 1926 59 3.4 Grange Co-operative Company, Redmond, WA 63 3.5 Grange Supply Company, Issaquah, WA 63 3.6 Abandoned Farmhouse in Columbia Basin 65 3.7 Washington State Grange convention in Vancouver, WA, 1939 67 3.8 “Golden Jubilee Edition” of Washington Grange News 67 3.9 Washington State Grange Headquarters in Seattle, 1939 68 3.10 Agricultural areas of Washington State 68 ii 3.11 “Your Washington State Grange” promotional pamphlet, 1950s 70 3.12 The Washington State Grange as the “Sleeping Giant,” 1977 72 3.13 Locations of subordinate granges in Washington State 72 4.1 Article from Washington Grange News, June 1939 81 4.2 Sample page, “Granges of Washington Territory and State, 1873-2011” 81 4.3 The Washington Granger’s Guide, 1950 83 4.4 The Washington Granger’s Guide, 1950, sample page 83 4.5 Silverdale #879 in Kitsap County, 1950 and 2012 85 4.6 Fieldwork, approaching Grand Coulee #807 in Lincoln County 88 4.7 Locations of subordinate granges in Washington State 90 4.8 A weekend event at Newaukum #198 in Lewis County 90 4.9 Sample article from the National Grange Monthly on hall dedication 93 4.10 Grange regalia at Central Washington Agricultural Museum 96 4.11 Former Washington State Grange Master Jack Silvers, 2012 96 4.12