Steve Taylor presents "New Hampshire's Grange Movement: Its Rise, Triumphs and Decline," on Tuesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m.,at the New Boston Historical Society, 2 Central Square.
This program is co-hosted by the Historical Society and New Boston's Joe English Grange and sponsored by a grant from the New Hampshire Humaities Council.
Taylor, former New Hampshire commissioner of agriculture, recently spoke on "Cow and Communities" at the Whipple Free Library. In this return visit to New Boton, Steve will speak on the Grange movement in New Hampshire.
In the late 19th century, much of rural New Hampshire was locked in a downward spiral of population decline, abandonment of farms, reversion of cleared land to forest and shrinking of villages. All of this contributed to wide-spread feelings of melancholy and loss among residents of the Granite State.
The development of the Grange movement in the state in the 1880s and 1890s met people's need for a new way to draw communities together for social interaction, entertainment and mutual support.
The Grange brought an agenda that aligned closely with the Progresive wave that swept New Hampshire politics in the early-20th century, and many of the initiatives it advocated became law, placing the state at the leading edge in a number of areas of reform. Mr. Taylor will address the rise, the triumph and the eventual decline of the Grange movement in New Hampshire.
New Boston's Joe English Grange, founded in 1875, has been a vital part of community life and the town's history for 136 years. The New Boston Historical Society will display items from their collection of the Joe English Grange throughout the centuries, showing their impact here in town. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
For details, contact Lisa Rothman at 487-3867 or lisarothman@comcast.net
