JPHS members, Terry and Marlene Buehler, recently contacted us and offered to donate/gift the old Paulding Grange building and the land it sits on, to the John Paulding Historical Society. The history of the Paulding Grange is as long as the formation of the township. In addition, this is one of the last standing grange buildings in the county, if not the only one.
The Grange, known as the Patrons of Husbandry, was an organization created to assist farmers with the obstacles they faced. By the early 1870s, the group boasted more than 1.5 million members. Paulding Grange No. 33 was established on Jan. 2. 1874, according to a history published in 1970.
The grange hall, located at the corner of St. Rt. 500 and Co. Rd. 95 in Paulding Township southwest of Paulding, was constructed about 1894. The chapter at that time operated a country store on the first floor, and held its meetings and social gatherings on the second floor. In 1970 the chapter had 118 members. Today the Grange is dormant.
Note: the curtains on our stage at the museum came from this building. They were hung upstairs across the stage where special programs were performed.
