Grange Halls - Minot, Maine

West Minot Grange #42
"The Center of Activities"

West Minot Grange #42 was organized October 16, 1874 in the Sam Stearns hall by Deputy C. H. Cobb of Poland. Calvin Bucknam, the first Lecturer, set things in motion and was the first to sign the petition for a Grange, using his tall silk hat for a table. Others signed until there were thirty charter members.

Among the first officers, was Joseph Bearce and his wife Emma.

The Juvenile Grange was organized in 1945, instigated by the Grange Master at that time, Mrs. Wilma Leighton. The first Matron was her sister, Mrs. Geneva Trundy.

In the early days of the Grange it operated a Grange Store. It is reported that the building used for this, which was torn down in the 1940's, is where Doris Slattery Higgins now lives. Two days a week our first Master, Jason Hilborn, presided over this but trade increased so rapidly that Thomas Millett was hired as a clerk and the store was open every week day of the week.

Up until 1892 the Grange paid rent to the West Minot Trade Association for the use of the hall. As it paid a tax in 1892 we assume that is the year they bought the hall. A lot of repairs were done by the members in the next few years, only to be lost in a fire which destroyed the hall in 1895. With undaunted spirit the members decided to build a new hall. On June 4, 1896 the present hall was dedicated.

Many improvements have been added since the hall was built, first a piano, then a double stove for the dining room and finally a furnace, running water and electric lights.

While there are no Charter members living, several members have belonged for more than fifty years.

The annual Minot Town Meeting were held at the West Minot Grange hall for many, many years. The West Minot Grange also became know for it's saturday night dances, and minstrel shows.

Now the grange hall sits quietly on the corner lot in the village of West Minot, Me. With the end of an error of the garage suppers, dancers, town meetings and other activities the hall watches times go by.

Minot Center Grange #266
"The Gathering Place of Minot Center"

The first offical meeting of the Minot Center Grange #266 was held on May 5, 1884. There were 32 charter members and the meeting was held at the Jackson School House. In August of 1885 it was decided to build the hall. All monies were dedicated to this purpose but most was raised by Privilege Stock of $100.00, and by Subscription of $200.00. The cost of the lumber for this building was $130.14, labor cost $60.00. The hall was dedicated between March 19 and April 21, 1886. Complete with it's own stage.

In 1889, it was decided that a place was needed to house the animals such as the horses. A building was built beside the hall, having 10 stalls at a cost of $40.98. This building was not large enough to care for all the animals so it was decided to build a 60'x28' stable at a total cost of $181.83. Neither of these buildings are still standing.

One of the first purchases after all of this was one dozen coffee mugs. Another purchase made in 1890 was for 3 stands, 2 brooms, 1/2 cord wood for a total cost of $6.75. The same year it was decided to purchase 50 chairs at a cost of $.28 each - delivered.

The Minot Town Meeting was held in this hall March 1893. The grange put on the Town Meeting dinner and earned $16.20.

Beginning in 1887, many votes were taken on whether or not to hold dances in the hall, always the votes were NO, NO and NO again. Then in 1904, a notice was sent from the Maine State Grange that no dancing was to be permitted in the Grange Hall. The members of Minot Center Grange voted to put this communication in the stove and dances were held after picnics and field meetings.

In the early 1900's the piazza was added to the hall. In 1931 a new stage was built, and in 1932 the Grange paid Androscoggin Electric Co. $134.40 for wiring of the hall. The colored lights were installed in 1933.

Minot Center Grange celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1934 and the 100th in 1984. In 1940 it was voted to build an addition onto the back of the building where the present stage is at a cost of $661.68. The Grange continues to do community services and tries to be a good neighbor whenever there is a disaster or fire in the Town of Minot.

The current membership is 37 (in 2002) with 9 Past Masters living. Nine patroms have the honor of holding "Golden Sheaf", 50 years of continuous membership awards. Patrons who will hold 60 years continuous membership in the year 2002 are Doris Duprey of Mechanic Falls, John P. Hemond, Roland Hemond of Minot and Clarence and Erna Hicks of Zephyr Hills, Fl.

Minot Corner Grange #526

The Grange was organized in 1914 by E. L. Libby and built in 1915. Located in Minot Corner, on what was then the main road from Auburn to Mechanic Falls. Out of Minot's three granges this one was the largest building. The Minot Center grange was the smallest.

In 1924 the front part of the Minot Corner Grange burned. It was rebuilt by 1928. Over the years there have been suppers, dances, weddings, wedding receiptions and other funcions.

With the coming of television, more automobiles, people began to loose interest in the grange. The grange became inactive in the late 1940's and it was later sold. I now houses an antiques and collectibles shop.

Churches - Minot, Maine

West Minot Union Church

At first the meetings were held at private homes or at the school house until 1811 when a meeting house was erected on or near the site of the present building. It is recorded that it was a large two story building with a gallery on three sides and an old-fashioned high pulpit which was reached by a flight of stairs. Each pew was provided with a door to "shut its occupants safely in".

After about fifty years the first church was torn down and the present church was built and dedicated in 1854. More then fifty years later in 1908 the dedication of the church bell was held. On the side of the bell is the insrciption: "This bell presented to Union Church, West Minot, Maine by J. G. Hilborn, in memorium, Anno Domini 1908"; and on the other side: "For the use of the Church and the people barring political triumphs".

In 1909 a new furnace had been installed and many repairs to the building had been done. A redicatory service was held on December 12, 1909.

This church is located in West Minot Village. The pastor in 2007 is Frances Lodge.

Minot Center Congregational Church

In all of Bakerstown Plantation there was no church of any denomination until 1791. An Ecclesiastical Council met in the house of Jonathan Bradford in the Northern part of Minot and organized the Bakerstown Church.

The Minot Center Church had its beginning with the early history of Minot when it was part of Bakerstown Plantation. For eight years before the formation of the church, religious services were held at the home of Joseph Freeman, who took charge of the meetings and who later was the first Deacon of the new church.

There were no preaching except for itinerant Missionaries until Rev. Jonathan Scott came to Bakerstown in 1793. Rev. Scott was know for his long preaching sessions lasting hours, he died in 1819. He was then followed by the Rev. Elijah Jones, Rev Jones was very well like by the people of his church, he died in 1869.

The original big Old Church was built in 1805. There was no heat, or any other conviences. It was torn down June 1846 and a smaller one built on the same site using much of the material from the old church. It reopen 6 months later November 1846.

Minot Corner Methodist Church

The first church in Minot Corner was located were George Rowe use to live on what was known as "Meeting House Hill". (Now 2007 this road is called the Old Woodman Hill Road). This small church building later became part of the George Rowe resident.

The people of Minot Corner walked or rode to the Minot Center Congregationl Church to hear Rev. Elijah Jones preach. He was a man that was very well like and people would come from miles around just to hear him preach.

The present church at Minot Corner was built in 1860. In 1902 colored windows were installed, a furnace in 1913 and in 1922 came the electric lights.

There were many functions at this church, one being the Minot Corner School Reunions that were held in the 1920's and 30's, there was always a very large gathering of teachers and students.