Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 • Community rallies around old Johnstonville Grange
Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 edition of the Lassen County Times.
Support from community members and businesses may resurrect the old Janesville Grange.
Some records suggest the old Grange building was completed as a Baptist church way back in 1890. Sometime later it became the home of the Johnstonville Grange. The new members hope to discover the history of the old building.Betty White, a Grange member who sought to breathe new life into the defunct organization, said more than 20 new members were recruited at a Saturday, Nov. 22 meeting. Now she said those new members are busy recruiting others to join the nonprofit group.
The Grange held another organizational meeting on Saturday, Dec. 6, after deadline. White said those who attended the Dec. 6 meeting would schedule another organizational meeting in the near future.
“We had more than 20 members join at the first meeting — with promises of more,” White said. “Isn’t that nice?”
She said the state Grange owns the property and is researching its records. Whatever information they uncover about the building’s history will be forwarded to the new group.
The old sign from the previous incarnation of the Johnstonville Grange still remains.A little research at Margie’s Book Nook on Main Street suggested the old building was completed in 1890 as a Baptist church, White said. Sometime later it became the Johnstonville Grange.
During the Nov. 22 meeting, the new members asked for charitable donations from the business community.
“Companies are returning calls about start-up donations to the Honey Lake Valley Grange,” White said.
Member Jesse Gorbet, owner of Concrete Unlimited, and member Ryan Potter, owner of Impact Construction, will share the responsibility of cleaning up around the building, grading the parking lot and removing debris.
Another Grange member, Jim Miller, of Millers Custom Works, Inc., will donate gravel for the parking area after the clean up and grading work is completed.
White said the Grange would provide charitable donation letters to all the businesses that support the Grange.
Ed Staub Energy will donate the first 100 gallons of heating oil to the Grange as a “house warming” gift.
White said there was oil in the tank some months ago, but the oil disappeared and apparently was siphoned. C.J.’s Equipment Repair in Johnstonville will alter the drain valve of the tank so it won’t be so easily accessible.
“Another donation,” White said. “We will have heat for our first meeting.”
She said the Lassen County Planning Department has found the parcel map for the site and will provide a copy so the group can measure its lot.
The application fee is $3 and the $26 annual dues will be collected sometime in the next few months.
The National Grange is the nation’s oldest national agricultural organization, with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states. Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable Rural America.
