| STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
INTRODUCTION
The Willamette Community & Grange Hall, constructed in 1922, is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Greenberry Road and Highway 99W (at 27555 Greenberry Road), south of Corvallis, in rural Benton County south of Corvallis, Oregon. It is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of Georgian Revival architecture in Benton County, one of only two known examples of the style located in the rural part of the county. It is the only grange hall in Benton County designed in a “high” architectural style and the only one known to have been designed by a local designer/builder.
As an organization, the Willamette Grange is the only county Grange remaining from the initial period of organization in the state during the 1870s and the fourth oldest Grange with continuous membership in the state. The building retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association and it is the only remaining Grange building in the county that is eligible for listing on the National Register. Its period of significance is 1922, the year of its construction, and it is considered significant on a local level.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE WILLAMETTE COMMUNITY & GRANGE HALL
Late in the nineteenth century there was a renewed interest in early American architecture, especially that of the settlement period of the colonies in the eastern United States. While the impetus for the appearance of the Colonial Revival style may be traced to a number of projects commemorating the events and personalities of the newly-formed United States in the years following the Revolutionary War, some scholars cite the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876 as the catalyst for the style. Regardless, initial examples of Colonial Revival design included “free interpretations with details inspired by colonial precedents” rather than historically accurate copies of early Colonial architecture. Prior to about 1915, the Colonial Revival movement influenced Queen Anne and Shingle Style architecture, producing subtypes of each. After about 1915, Colonial Revival buildings more closely resembled the original Colonial architecture with proportions and details that were more accurate.
In Oregon, the style made its appearance and developed in a similar fashion as it did in the eastern states.
Two Boston-trained architects, Wililam H. Whidden and Ion Lewis, arrived in Portland, Oregon in the late nineteenth century, establishing their own architectural firm in 1890, and are credited with further incorporating more refined and fashionable architectural styles in Oregon, producing ‘many of Portland’s finest Colonial Revival Houses.’ The popularity of these architectural styles spread throughout the region of the Northwest, from more metropolitan cities to rural farm...” areas such as Benton County.
There were subtypes or versions of Colonial Revival architecture that gained popularity into the 1920s and made their appearance in Oregon. These included the Dutch Colonial Revival (with its characteristic gambrel roof), the Cape Cod Colonial (reserved primarily for residential architecture), and the Georgian Revival (and the closely related Adam Revival) styles. The Georgian Revival version of Colonial Revival was used in Oregon for residential, commercial and public buildings.
Georgian Revival architecture has a number of character-defining features. The facades are usually balanced and symmetrical with a centered primary facade entrance. The front entry is often located beneath a single-story porch or portico, which may be accentuated by a decorative crown supported by slender columns or posts. Windows, arranged in singles or pairs, usually have multi-pane glazing and have simple trim molding. Siding typically consists of lapped horizontal boards with vertical corner boards. Belt courses and water tables are distinct features, as are friezes beneath the roof edges. Roofs may be hipped or gabled, with eave returns on the gable ends.
The Willamette Community and Grange Hall is an uncommon example of Georgian Revival architecture in rural Benton County. Characteristic of the style, the two-story building displays symmetry of form and fenestration, with typical references to colonial architecture such as multi-paned windows, horizontal siding, hipped and gable roofs, and eave returns. The main entrance is centrally located on the front (east) elevation beneath a simple one-story projecting porch with a flat roof that carried the sign for the building, which read “Willamette Community & Grange Hall.” The windows have varied sash types with multi-pane glazing, some of which are paired on the north and south elevations. Also along these elevations, there are projecting bays accented with eave returns. The siding is horizontal lapped boards applied horizontally; there are corner boards, a belt course, and a simple frieze. The windows and doors have simple surrounds accented with a small detail of molding at the top edges.
The building was designed and built by Frederick H. Seedenburg. It is not known why Seedenburg chose the Georgian Revival style for this building. He must have been aware of the popularity of the revival period styles of architecture and perhaps chose this style, adapted in a somewhat simplified form, to emphasize the importance of this building to the local rural community, which centered around the Grange and its activities. The interior was designed to accommodate both the Grange’s ceremonial needs and the needs of a local community hall. For his work, Seedenburg was paid at least two payments by the Grange - $643.99 in November 1922 and $365.42 in February 1923.
Seedenburg reportedly built a number of houses in Benton County, including the W.W. Smith House located on Smith Loop Road. Born in Baileyville, Illinois in 1868, Frederick was the son of Frederick and Wilhelmia Seedenburg, who came to Oregon in 1887. He married Anna Hassebroeck in 1912 and they made their home in Philomath until his death in 1951. In addition to his work, he was actively involved in the community and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) for over 50 years.
Grange architecture does not appear to have been formulaic, although subordinate Granges required meeting spaces to accommodate their rituals and activities. Initially, Granges met in existing buildings that could accommodate those needs. The first Grange hall in the United States, built specifically by and for a Grange, was the Honey Creek Grange hall, located in Indiana, constructed in 1871.
The National Grange did not require a specific building design, architectural style, or floorplan and allowed great latitude for subordinate Granges to design and construct halls as they could afford to. The National Grange did, however, suggest features that were necessary to accommodate the rituals of the Grange, though again subordinate Granges had great flexibility in how to adapt buildings for these needs.
Grange halls were purposely located in rural settings near towns and cities or located in small towns or villages (though a number of them are now located within city limits as towns grew around them). Grange halls generally fall into two categories: buildings constructed by and for the Grange itself, and buildings once used for other purposes that were purchased by the Grange and converted for its use. These re-purposed buildings commonly included schools, churches and community centers that already had the type of space needed for the Grange rituals and meetings.
Construction of halls was solely the responsibility of the subordinate Granges who raised funds in a variety of ways for the purchase of buildings or construction of new ones. Commonly, a Grange would have a building fund where portions of membership dues were designated as such. Labor was almost always volunteer and materials were often donated, as was the land on which many Grange halls were situated. Rarely was a Grange hall designed by an architect; more commonly Grange members built vernacular buildings that may have included modest elements associated with the styles of the period. When a Grange hall was completed, it was dedicated in a ceremony conducted by the State Grange Master.
Previous surveys have identified a handful of Georgian Revival-style buildings in Benton County, though most were built in the city of Corvallis. The Willamette Community and Grange Hall is one of only two buildings in the rural county employing this architecture style; the other is the Children’s Farm Home School (listed on the National Register in 2008) located north of Corvallis. In addition to its rarity of style, the building is also the only building associated with a Grange in Benton County that was designed – in a “high” architectural style – and built by a local designer/builder rather than by the members of the Grange.
Although the condition of the building is only fair, the integrity of the building remains very high. For its significance as a well-preserved example of the Georgian Revival style of architecture in rural Benton County, it is eligible for listing under Criterion C.
BENTON COUNTY GRANGE HALLS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
The current Benton County Granges include a variety of buildings used for Grange halls. All were constructed after the turn of the 20th century. Most are stylistically vernacular. All were Grange-built, with the exception of the Willamette Grange which was built jointly with the Corvallis community.
The oldest remaining Grange hall is the Summit Grange, constructed in c.1912. It is a small, one-story wood-framed building perhaps best described stylistically as vernacular Craftsman. The building includes an ante-chamber and preparation room, as well as a stage located in a shed-roof addition. An addition was added to house a kitchen and dining area in the 1940s. Although the building retains a fair degree of integrity from its period of construction, its original form has been compromised by the later additions.
The current Fairmount Grange hall was built in 1930 after a fire in 1929 destroyed the original 1892 Grange hall. Stylistically, it may be classified as vernacular Craftsman or Arts & Crafts. It is a one-story wood-framed building with a partial basement. The kitchen, dining area and restrooms are located in the basement; the meeting room with ante-chamber, preparation room and stage are located on the main floor. It is not clear what, if any, alterations have been made to this building. It appears to retain a fair to high degree of integrity, but is not stylistically comparable to the Willamette Community & Grange Hall.
The Marys River Grange hall was built in 1933. This Grange was organized in 1927 and spent its first years meeting in various halls in Philomath. Unlike the other extant Grange halls in Benton County, it is a log building, with a wood-framed addition. The spatial layout includes the required meetings spaces and room; an addition accommodates a kitchen and dining area. Although it was originally rustic in style, the exterior has been substantially altered and the historic integrity has been significantly compromised.
The latest historic-period Grange hall in Benton County belongs to the Hope Grange near Alsea. The first hall used by this Grange was destroyed by fire in the early 1940s. The current hall was constructed as its replacement in 1944. The building was originally to be jointly funded and used as a community center (like the Willamette Grange hall) but delays in working out the agreement resulted in the Grange independently building the hall. It is a vernacular, one-story, wood-framed building that has been substantially altered by the application of secondary siding. The interior layout, however, retains the meeting room and ante-chamber; kitchen and dining facilities are located at the rear of the building.
The Willamette Community & Grange Hall, built in 1922, is distinctive in this group of remaining Benton County grange buildings in that it is the only grange hall in Benton County that was designed using a “high” architectural style. Designed and built by Fred H. Seedenburg, a local designer/builder, the building is an excellent example and one of only a couple in the rural county, that illustrates the Georgian Revival style of architecture. The second floor layout includes the spaces required for the Grange rituals and meetings, as well as providing a large open meeting space for various community activities. Because the building was designed to also serve as a community hall, kitchen and dining space was included during its initial construction. The building retains a very high degree of integrity, and is eligible under National Register Criterion C for its architectural merit.
GRANGE HISTORY
THE NATIONAL GRANGE
The Patrons of Husbandry, or the “Grange” as it was commonly called, was founded in 1867. The Grange was the first, and one of the more influential, of the agricultural organizations that developed following the Civil War. The organization was the brainchild of Oliver Hudson Kelley, a Mason who appreciated the benefits of fraternity and believed that “a national secret order of farmers was needed for the furthering of the industrial reconstruction of the South and the advancement of the agricultural class throughout the country.”
On December 4, 1867 Kelley and six other men constituted themselves as the National Grange of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. Solon Justus Buck described, in his book The Granger Movement, the original organization arrangement as follows:
The arrangement…embraced seven degrees, four to be conferred by the subordinate grange, one by the state grange, and the two highest by the National Grange. The four subordinate degrees for men were entitled: Laborer, Cultivator, Harvester, and Husbandman; and the corresponding degrees for women were: Maid, Shepherdess, Gleaner, and Matron. The state grange was to confer the fifth degree, Pomona (Hope), on masters and past-masters of subordinate granges, and their wives if Matrons. The National Grange would confer the sixth degree, Flora (Charity), on masters and past-masters of state granges and their wives who had taken the fifth degree. Members of the sixth degree would constitute the National Council and after serving one year therein might take the seventh degree and become members of the Senate, which body had control of the secret work of the order.
Immediately after establishing the National Grange, the founders organized a subordinate grange – Potomac No. 1 in Washington – to serve as their testing ground for the rituals and workings of the order. The first organized Grange, where every member had paid his fee, was established at Fredonia, NY on April 15, 1868.
Subordinate Granges were soon organized throughout the Midwest and by the end of 1870, there were Granges in Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, and California and interest had been expressed to organize Granges in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Kansas.
At the annual meeting of the National Grange in Washington in January 1871, a Constitutional change was made to the organizational structure of the order. It was decided that an intermediate level Grange should be organized where there were ten or more subordinate Granges organized in one county or district region. This level was initially called the County Grange, but was later changed to the name of Pomona Grange. The object of creating a Grange at this level would allow for groups of Granges to realize financial advantages that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.
Popularity of the grange grew quickly. By the end of 1873, the order had established Granges in thirty-three states and four territories. Growth continued through 1875 and into 1876, although at a much slower pace. At its height, the order included a total of 21,697 Granges and nearly 800,000 members, which gave it considerable prestige and influence throughout the country. During this time, the Granges were able to influence the regulation of railroads and grain warehouses. The peak of their political success came with the case Munn v. Illinois (1876), which held that grain warehouses were a “private utility in the public interest” and therefore could be regulated by public law. The Grange movement was also instrumental in lobbying for the establishment of the Cooperative Extensive Service, the Rural Free Delivery system, and the Farm Credit System.
The Grange began to decline in 1876 when the total number of Granges dropped to just over 19,000. By 1880, the total number was considerably lower, maybe numbering around 4000 subordinate Granges with a total of 150,000 members. The decline of the Grange eventually leveled off, and the total number of Granges and the number of members has fluctuated over the decades. Today the order claims 3600 Granges in 37 states with a membership of 300,000. Although the political agenda is still a component of the organization, many subordinate Granges continue to exist for social purposes. The National Grange, which continues to have its headquarters in Washington, DC, actively pursues issues related to rural life in America, including such things as the preservation of farmland, rural telecommunications access, rural schools and highways, rural medical reform, as well as the topics of food safety protection, the Endangered Species Act, and the United Nations Climate Control.
THE GRANGE MOVEMENT IN OREGON
The Grange movement was first introduced to Oregon farmers in 1871. W.J. Campbell of Clackamas County wrote to O.H. Kelley in July seeking information about establishing a Grange locally. That letter said:
July 2, 1871
O.H. Kelley, Washington, DC
Dear Sir: Having seen numerous notices in the newspapers, relative to the new Agricultural Order, and having long entertained a favorable opinion of a move of that kind, I address you for further information, with a view of organizing a society here.
Yours, etc., a farmer, W.J. Campbell
Campbell apparently made attempts to interest farmers in the Grange organization, with little initial success. His follow-up letter to Kelley claimed “though I have not made much progress in getting up a Grange, I have not given up” (in a letter written in November 1871).
It was more than a year later that Campbell finally succeeded in organizing the first subordinate Grange in Oregon. He called a meeting in December 1872 in Marshfield (a community now known as Clackamas; not to be confused with Marshfield in Coos County) to organize a subordinate Grange, and on January 15, 1873 the Marshfield Grange No. 1 was officially established. Campbell was appointed by Kelley to be the Deputy for Oregon (which included Washington Territory) and he assisted in organizing several more Granges that year. In a report made in May, Campbell indicated that the following Granges had been established: Eagle Creek, No. 2 (Clackamas County); Oak Point, No. 3, Buena Vista, No. 4, and Monmouth, No. 5 (all in Polk County), Oak Plain, No. 6 and Tangent, No. 7 (both in Linn County). By the middle of July, he reported the addition of Corinthian, No. 8, Shedd, No. 9, Grand Prairie, No. 10, and Harrisburg, No. 11 (all in Linn County); Springfield, No. 12 (Lane County); Philomath, No. 13, Soap Creek, No. 14, and Locke, No. 15 (all in Benton County); and Excelsior, No. 16 (Yamhill County). Before the end of the year, there were 40 Granges established in Oregon.
The Oregon State Grange was organized in September 1873, and the Grange movement spread rapidly during the following year. By the end of 1874, there were 240 granges reported, including 50 from Washington Territory (which was under Oregon’s jurisdiction until 1889) and in September 1875, it was reported that the membership in Oregon and Washington had reached 10,885. In the proportion of Granges to population, Oregon had, at that time, the greatest number of Granges and Grangers. [A list of the Granges in Oregon at that time is included in an appendix to this document.]
Following the height of the Grange boom period in Oregon, membership began to decline. Since that time, the number of Granges and Grange members has fluctuated. This pattern, which continued into the 20th century, included the closure of some Granges only to be replaced years later by new Granges in the same communities. To date there have been a total of 946 Granges chartered in Oregon.
THE GRANGE IN BENTON COUNTY AND THE WILLAMETTE GRANGE No. 52
Benton County has long been considered one of the richest farm areas in the state. The fertile land of the valley, nestled between the Willamette River and the Coast Range, is ideal for growing a variety of crops, while the foothills of the Coast Range supported livestock production and the dairy industry. Because of the agricultural nature of the area, Benton County farmers were quick to support organizations working toward the betterment of the farm and farmer.
The Grange got an early foothold in Benton County with the establishment of the Philomath Grange, No. 13, the Soap Creek Grange, No. 14, and the Locke Grange, No. 15 in early 1873. Others soon followed and by 1875 the following Benton County subordinate Granges were organized:
Grange Name & Number Location Master Secretary
Philomath, No. 13 Philomath E. Hartless George Henkle
Soap Creek, No. 14*
Locke, No. 15 Corvallis Charles E. Moor O.V. Motley
Orleans, No. 50 Corvallis J. McCane Wm. Winning
Willamette, No. 52 Corvallis S.W.B. Smith George M. Porter
Kings Valley, No. 66 Kings Valley R.J. Grant B. Cody
Laurel, No. 69 Monroe H.B. Nichols A.C. Nichols
Alsea, No. 77 Alsea Valley Vernon Mulkey Silas Howell
Union, No. 154 Summit W.L. Price H.N. Bowman
Toledo, No. 168** Toledo/Newport Wm. Brazelton Wm. Stitt
* Soap Creek Grange actually appears on this list under Linn County rather than Benton County.
**Toledo was at that time in Benton County, as Lincoln County was not established until 1893.
In 1906, the Interstate Commerce Commission developed a list of Granges throughout the country, which was presented to the 59th Congress of the United States in 1907 (see Appendices). At that time, only five Granges were active in Benton County, including:
Willamette Grange, No. 52 (Corvallis)
Corvallis Grange, No. 242 (Corvallis)
Fairmount Grange, No. 252 (Albany)
Hope Grange, No. 269 (Alsea)
Bellfountain Grange, No. 277 (Bellfountain/Monroe)
Two additional Granges were later organized in Benton County: the Mountain View Grange, No. 429, organized in 1910, and the Marys River Grange, No. 685, organized in 1927. Of the sixteen Granges established in Benton County only five remain active today. They are the Willamette Grange, the Fairmount Grange, the Hope Grange, the Marys River Grange, and the Summit Grange (number unknown; chartered January 2, 1911).
The Willamette Grange has the distinction of being the oldest continually active Grange organization in Benton County and the fourth longest continuous membership in the state. Established on November 17, 1873, it was the 52nd Grange to be organized in Oregon. Charter members included:
J.C. and Martha Avery (he was the founder of Corvallis)
James and Margaret Bruce
Robert L. Buchanan
R.G. and May Clark
J.M. Currier
Wm. A. Currier
John Foster
John and Jane Harris
Adam and Julia Holden
Arch (?) Johnson
W.O. Kendall
Robert and Lydia Logan
John W. McBee
Andrew and Ellen Palmer
Mark (?) Porter
William (?) and Elizabeth Porter
Conrad Slagle
G.B. and Mary Smith
J.W. B Smith
W.W. Starr
Miss M.J. Harris now Mrs. M.H. Whitly (?)
The Willamette Grange built its first Grange hall on the east side of Muddy Creek near Greenberry Road south of Corvallis. Little information is available about this building; it was destroyed by fire sometime in the mid-1890s. They built a second Grange hall soon thereafter, probably about 1897. It was located approximately one-quarter mile from the site of the first hall in what is now Benton County’s Saxon Park (named for Albert Saxon who was a long-time county commissioner and active member of the Willamette Grange). That hall was destroyed by fire on January 25, 1922.
By the 1920s, agriculture in Benton County had become quite diversified, and was still the primary industry in the county. There were a number of fruit orchards (apples, prunes, pears, peaches and cherries) and nut orchards (walnuts, filberts and almonds), as well as farms producing berries (strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and blackberries) and vegetables (potatoes, pumpkins and squash). Wheat, barley and corn were among the grain crops and there was at least one area of the county involved in the production of hops. Poultry breeding was popular and there were also several dairy farms. Other livestock included cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses. Timber was also considered a “crop” and trees were widely harvested from areas in the Coast Range. Agriculture-related industry in the county included dairies, a cooperative creamery (at Alsea), a cannery (in Corvallis), and plant nurseries in the Kings Valley area.
Through the years, membership in the Willamette Grange continued to be strong and the Grange was an active group politically, intellectually, and socially. The Grange continued to be occupied with the betterment of conditions for farmers and was involved in the development of the cooperative creamery at Alsea and the cannery in Corvallis. Although the Grange was financially solvent, it was by no means prepared to finance a new building when the second Willamette Grange Hall burned. At that time the Grange had only $50.00 in its treasury.
The loss of the Grange Hall affected not only the Grange members, but numerous people in the larger community for whom the building served as their community hall. The importance of this association is exemplified in the effort made by the community to raise the funds to build a new hall.
A number of Corvallis businessmen agreed to help fund construction of the new building if it also could serve - officially - as a Community Hall. The Grange agreed to the plan and fundraising began for a new Willamette Community and Grange Hall. Within days, donations were pouring in – by the end of January (only days after the fire), the treasury had received more than $500 in donations ranging from $1.00 to $50.00.
Farmers donated grain and livestock and Corvallis merchants donated farm machinery and dry goods for a community sale that generated more than $1300. An additional $1500 was raised by subscription. A two-acre parcel of land was donated by John Porter, a local farmer and member of the Grange, and some of the building materials were donated by local Grange and community members. To cover the remainder of construction costs, a $3000 mortgage was obtained (it was paid in full by September 1926).
The new building was officially named the Willamette Community and Grange Hall, and the Willamette Community and Grange Association was officially incorporated. The Articles of Incorporation called for an organizational structure that included six trustees – three elected by the Grange (from their membership) and three elected by the community-at-large. There was a provision made that if the Willamette Grange No. 52 were to lose its charter or if it were to disband as an organization, then all six trustees would be elected from the community-at-large. This organizational structure appears to be unique among Granges in Benton County. While the other Grange halls often served as a local community center for social events, the Willamette Community and Grange Hall is the only example in the county of the “dual” structure of association and building ownership and management.
Following the construction of the new building, it has continually served as both the Grange hall for the Willamette Grange No. 52 and as a community center for Corvallis and the rural area surrounding the hall. The Grange and various civic organizations have sponsored social events open to the public and the hall has been available for rental for private events. Grange records show regular usage for weddings, family reunions, card parties, club programs and suppers, and dances. In addition to social events, the hall has served as a polling site for elections, the location for graduation ceremonies, and a meeting hall for various fraternal organizations, women’s groups, civic organizations, and agricultural groups.
For 135 years the Willamette Grange has served the needs of local farmers and their families. For 85 years the Willamette Community & Grange Hall has served not only as the Grange hall for activities and events associated with the Grange, but as a community center for families living in the area. To this day, it continues to serve that purpose.
CONCLUSION
The Willamette Community & Grange Hall is being nominated to the National Register under Criterion C for its architectural merit. It is the only Grange hall in Benton County designed in a “high” architectural style and the only one known to have been designed by a local designer/builder. It is a well-preserved example of the Georgian Revival style of architecture, a style that was rarely used in rural Benton County (the only other known example is that of the Children’s Farm Home School), and it displays many of the character-defining features of that style. This building is significant as a particularly good rural example in the county.
The Willamette Community & Grange Hall is significant as an excellent example of buildings constructed for use by the Grange and it retains the layout and design originally set forth for Grange rituals and meetings, and social activities of the organization. Further, it retains the layout and design originally developed for use as a community hall. In addition to integrity of design and association, it also retains integrity of location, setting, workmanship, materials, and feeling. Of the five remaining active subordinate Granges in Benton County, the Willamette Grange organization is the only one that remains from the initial period of Grange organization in the state during the 1870s and it is the fourth oldest Grange with continuous membership in the state.
The Willamette Community & Grange Hall has continually served its original purpose since its construction in 1922. To the present day it continues to serve the needs of the Grange while serving the needs of the surrounding community. The dual ownership and usage of the building further exemplifies the contributions of the Grange organization to building community in the rural areas of the county. By teaming up with the community leaders of Corvallis to construct this hall, the social outreach of the Willamette Grange has extended beyond the farmers in the area and brought together many groups of people for various activities other than Grange-related programs.
The period of significance for the Willamette Community & Grange Hall is 1922, the year of its construction. The building should be considered significant at the local level. |
