Celebrating 100 Years of Sharon Grange #800
On September 23, 2023, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Sharon Grange #800 with a vibrant family-friendly event that brought together our community in a joyous celebration.
From 11 AM to 2 PM, attendees enjoyed live music, delicious BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs, and an array of picnic favorites. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase commemorative apparel, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and ball caps.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who made this day possible—it was truly amazing!
The celebration committee deserves a special shout-out for their hard work and dedication: Debbie Hill, Jim Beerbower, Julieann Bailey, Linda Waltenberg, Donna Boyer, and Sarah Sigler.
The event featured a delicious cake, and we extend our gratitude to Dan’s Delilah’s for the beautiful floral arrangements that adorned our tables.
When asked, Debbie Hill shared her reflections on how the idea for the celebration began. “I’ll always remember a monthly meeting in early 2023 when I looked up at the painting on the wall that read, ‘Sharon Grange #800 1923-1973.’ Suddenly, I blurted out, ‘This is our 100th year!’ I felt strongly that we should do something special for this milestone.”
Though the initial reaction was muted, Deb took the initiative to be nominated as lecturer to lead the planning efforts. With a committed team, they organized planning meetings, set the event date, crafted a delicious menu, and arranged for music by the Country Four.
Many others contributed items for our raffle and auction, enriching the day’s festivities.
A special thanks to Jay Gordon for donating the corn on the cob and watermelon, and to Dan Pearson for providing the stunning dahlias used in our centerpieces.
On the day of the event, we honored our past masters and presidents who were present: Pat Starks, Jay Gordon, Rod and George Easton, and Dave Trusty.
We also held a memorial for recently departed Sharon Grange members—Ed and Roseleah Swalander and Walt Brewer—ensuring their memories were cherished in our celebration.
We are grateful for the spirit of community that made this centennial celebration a success, and we look forward to sharing more memories as they arise.
This summary draws from previous Facebook posts and pictures shared by attendees, and we thank everyone for contributing to the vibrant history of our Sharon Grange.
As a wonderful gesture, Debbie Hill received an arrangement from the Grange, which she shared: “I just received this lovely arrangement from my Grange thanking me for facilitating our recent centennial celebration. It was my pleasure, and I’m so glad we had the celebration.“
