| MARCH 17, 2020 -- The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attended dances at the Simsbury Grange in the 1940’s! Grange Halls were often used for dances as well as other social and community events like potlucks, barbeques, holiday parties, and more.
We just learned of this amazing history of our local Grange in late 2019. The Simsbury Grange is trying to find out more about the dances and any other events that Martin Luther King Jr. attended at our Grange. We do know that a few years before Martin Luther King attended a dance our Grange applied for and received a federal tax exemption on dance tickets. In keeping with our history, the Grange plans to once again offer dances that are “Tax Exempt!”
When the current Grange members came together and revitalized Simsbury Grange #197 we started with a new heating system, insurance, extensive cleaning, building inspections and energy and infrastructure upgrades. We hosted an Eagle Scout project and another one is in progress in 2020. We refinished our wood floors and certified our kitchen and now have a wonderful community space. We inherited cabinets and drawers full of records that need sorting and archiving. We hope to find more treasures like this receipt. Assistance and donations are welcome to help us on our mission.
In 2020 the Simsbury Grange is proud to participate in Simsbury’s 350th celebration. We will be hosting an old-fashioned picnic after the Memorial Day parade in downtown Simsbury. It will feature homemade food from a veteran-owned and -operated foodtruck business – Curbside Chefs! The picnic is free for all veterans and a $10 donation is requested.
The Memorial Day picnic starts at 2:00 pm at 236 Farms Village Rd., West Simsbury. We have seating inside and out so the event is rain or shine. Feel free to bring lawn games and bring a lawn chair or two if possible. If you are able, please park in the shopping plaza next door or across the street at the post office. Anyone with mobility issues is welcome to park in our parking lot.
The Memorial Day event will serve as a Grand Re-opening of the Simsbury Grange. Everyone is welcome! |
