PA State Grange History Committee
Doug Bonsall, Chair
PO Box 765, Dauphin, PA 17018-0765
Phone: 717-921-1957
Email: douglas.b@verizon.net
The Pennsylvania State Grange was formally founded in September 1873 at an organizational meeting held in the city of Reading, and has a proud history of accomplishment over nearly 150 years of service. The State Grange History Committee is committed to both preserving important records of the organization and making that historical information more readily accessible to interested readers, both members of the organization and visitors to this website. More historical information will be added as it becomes available.
The Grange spark came to Pennsylvania sometime in 1870 when Luke Eger, a farmer near Williamsport in Lycoming County, read about the fledgling organization and its rapid growth in some parts of the country. Within a year, Eger generated enough interest among his neighbors in Montgomery and Elimsport to form the first local Grange in the state during March 1871. Click here to learn more about the story of Eagle Grange #1.
Since that first Grange started in 1871, a total of 2,110 local community (Subordinate) Granges have been organized in the state of Pennsylvania. Grange numbers are assigned within each state by the National Grange chronologically by date of organization and a charter is issued to the local chapter. Many of Pennsylvania's local Granges continue to be active in their respective communities today, while others have disbanded, been declared dormant or consolidated with or into other local Granges.
Much more historical information may be found on the following pages:
For a brief background about the organization and history of The National Grange, click on http://www.pagrange.org/grange-background--history.html.
Doug Bonsall, Chair
PO Box 765, Dauphin, PA 17018-0765
Phone: 717-921-1957
Email: douglas.b@verizon.net
The Pennsylvania State Grange was formally founded in September 1873 at an organizational meeting held in the city of Reading, and has a proud history of accomplishment over nearly 150 years of service. The State Grange History Committee is committed to both preserving important records of the organization and making that historical information more readily accessible to interested readers, both members of the organization and visitors to this website. More historical information will be added as it becomes available.
The Grange spark came to Pennsylvania sometime in 1870 when Luke Eger, a farmer near Williamsport in Lycoming County, read about the fledgling organization and its rapid growth in some parts of the country. Within a year, Eger generated enough interest among his neighbors in Montgomery and Elimsport to form the first local Grange in the state during March 1871. Click here to learn more about the story of Eagle Grange #1.
Since that first Grange started in 1871, a total of 2,110 local community (Subordinate) Granges have been organized in the state of Pennsylvania. Grange numbers are assigned within each state by the National Grange chronologically by date of organization and a charter is issued to the local chapter. Many of Pennsylvania's local Granges continue to be active in their respective communities today, while others have disbanded, been declared dormant or consolidated with or into other local Granges.
Much more historical information may be found on the following pages:
- Eagle Grange #1 - Pennsylvania's First Grange
- Listing of Pennsylvania Granges (Charter Ledgers)
- Charter Applications
- Grange Records Preserved at PA State Archives
- Historical Highlights by Terms of State Grange Masters/Presidents
- State Grange Annual Sessions & Honor Roll
- Brief History Slide Program
- Published Histories of the PA State Grange
- Journals of Proceedings
- Newsletter Publications
- Executive Committee Minutes
- Officers' Registers
For a brief background about the organization and history of The National Grange, click on http://www.pagrange.org/grange-background--history.html.
Standing PA State Grange History Committee
(also functioning as 150th Anniversary Committee)
Bonsall, Doug (chair), PO Box 765, Dauphin, PA 17018
Douglas.b@verizon.net, 717-921-1957 (home), 717-460-0723 (cell)
Campbell, Wayne (ex officio), 1791 Shull Hill Road, Newport, PA 17074
president@pagrange.org, 717-737-8855 (State Office), 717-275-5045 (cell)
Mohn, Steve/Karen/Ashley, 308 Mill Road, Womelsdorf, PA 19567
askmohn@comcast.net, 610-589-2473
Nauss, Anna May (treasurer), 10 West Schoolside Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
amnauss@aol.com, 717-697-5104, 717-512-9628 (cell)
Nauss, Jennifer, 10 West Schoolside Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Jnauss89@gmail.com, 717-512-1261 (cell)
Tau, Susan (secretary), 14687 West Road, Saegertown, PA 16433
Setau919@windstream.net, 814-763-4831 (home), 814-720-6319 (cell)
(also functioning as 150th Anniversary Committee)
Bonsall, Doug (chair), PO Box 765, Dauphin, PA 17018
Douglas.b@verizon.net, 717-921-1957 (home), 717-460-0723 (cell)
Campbell, Wayne (ex officio), 1791 Shull Hill Road, Newport, PA 17074
president@pagrange.org, 717-737-8855 (State Office), 717-275-5045 (cell)
Mohn, Steve/Karen/Ashley, 308 Mill Road, Womelsdorf, PA 19567
askmohn@comcast.net, 610-589-2473
Nauss, Anna May (treasurer), 10 West Schoolside Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
amnauss@aol.com, 717-697-5104, 717-512-9628 (cell)
Nauss, Jennifer, 10 West Schoolside Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Jnauss89@gmail.com, 717-512-1261 (cell)
Tau, Susan (secretary), 14687 West Road, Saegertown, PA 16433
Setau919@windstream.net, 814-763-4831 (home), 814-720-6319 (cell)