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About The Mancos Grange
The Mancos Grange is a community organization committed to enhancing the lives of agricultural producers and rural residents. The Mount Lookout Grange serves as a gathering place for the community, hosting events such as monthly potlucks, the Mancos FoodShare, and their annual pig roast.
Our Approach
At The Mancos Grange, we are committed to fostering a thriving and sustainable rural community. The Mancos Grange is a non-profit that aims to nurture fellowship and community by providing an affordable and accessible gathering place. We promote and facilitate educational activities, encourage intergenerational connection, and promote local agriculture. Our goal is to promote food security and create a space everyone can come together to learn, grow, and connect. Join us in our mission to build a, more connected community.
Our Story
The Mancos Grange has a rich history of supporting local agriculture and community well-being since the early 1900s. Today, we continue its legacy by providing a space for our community members to meet and connect.
The History of the National Grange
The National Grange was founded December 4, 1867, in Washington D.C. Throughout its history, the Grange has played pivotal roles in National agricultural and rural policy and is a leading voice for rural America.
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The Grange is a family, community organization with its roots in agriculture. The Grange was formed as a national organization with a local focus. Our members are given the opportunity to learn and grow to their full potential as citizens and leaders..
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The family is the base of the organization with full membership beginning at age 14. Women have been equal members since the inception of the Grange. There is a Junior Grange program for children age 5 to 14, that has helped the youngest members of the family learn about community values and citizenship for more than 100 years. The Grange Youth program develops the leadership skills of our young adults and young married couples.
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The driving force behind its formation was the concern of the Lincoln administration about the disparities between the North and South in the practice of agriculture after the Civil War. The concept and organization of the Grange was accepted and embraced in many areas of the country and local Granges popped up in many communities.
History of Mount Lookout Grange #339
April 28th, 1917
The Grange is established
in Mancos, Colorado
Twenty-seven persons, sixteen men and eleven women, met at the Wattles School, near Mancos to organize a Grange. Deputy, Fred W. Kroeger, of Durango, CO, conducted the meeting and issued a charter to the group, under the name of Mount Lookout Grange #339. Minimum dues for membership were one dollar for men and fifty cents for women. They were a very caring group of people and whenever one of their own lost a family member the Grange adopted a special resolution for that person and family and sent to the family. The Grange met twice a month, minutes indicate that the one meeting was devoted to programs and social events.
Early 1900s
The Grange found its place in the Mancos Community
In 1918 Mount Lookout Grange secured twenty-five new members. In 1919 they gave returning soldiers a reception.
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In 1920 it was decided to have a dance at least once a month to get supplies for the kitchen and building fund, which they had to pay a revenue War tax on the funds earned.
This was later exempted with the assistance of the State Grange. In 1921 the Grange sponsored a garden produce and cooking auction with Agricultural teacher Mrs. Allen Flint as Auctioneer. They had an oyster supper. The result was $13.30 for the Community Fair Fund. They also held a dance and Box supper, which netted $27.90 for the Grange. They had a grange picnic. The grange was quite involved in the Community Fair. Supported a boys and girls poultry club.
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They raised money for community members in need, the community Christmas tree, and for the debt the State Grange Store had incurred which was a loan. Many programs were presented for the member's education and entertainment. Some of the included bloat in stock, poultry, "should women know al about her husbands affairs", farming improvement, cooperation among farmers, readings, musical presentations on piano and vocals, stories and jokes were shared. The county fair and extension school in Mancos, whirl milkweed, agriculture in Russia, better schools, rural life in France, dairy breeds, discussion on Alfalfa and corn, sunflower silage, coal, tractor clamps, hog cholera, and getting the most good out of our gardens. They had an old fashioned spelling bee and held a debate between the Mancos High School debate team and Grange member. For a time they read a portion of the Grange digest each month so that member knew what was in the Grange digest and they often reviewed the Grange procedures for various aspects of our work such as balloting, and Roberts Rules of Order Parliamentary Procedure. They were concerned with sewage in Mancos polluting the river and took steps to bring it to the attention of Health officials. In the 30's interest waned and time came when only required meetings were held. A few of the members kept the Grange going. They were: Fred Armstrong, Neil Decker, Clara Orminston, Maybin Armstrong and E.E. Bircher.
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They didn't have a home. In November of 1947 the members each pledged $10.00 to build a building. They rented the Black Hall for five years. In December of 1950 they bought the present hall, which was the Lutheran Church. The mortgage was burned December 2, 1954.
2013 - Present
The Grange is revived and thriving in modern day.
Renewal on May 20, 2013 after 30 years of occupancy by Head Start
Meetings on First Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
2013: Community Dinners; Root Cellar construction (storage of food over winter); Gourmet dinner benefit for Montezuma County School gardens; MLG Hall Rentals, “First Place Recruiters” award from State Grange for new members, received wall plaque and cash bonus (Also awarded in 2014)
2014: Food Collection – local growers bringing in excess produce for community members; Martin Luther King Breakfast; awarded Colorado State Grange grant for upgrade of building; Mancos Bloom May Day Celebration and Fundrasier.
2015-16: Free Box for sharing donations with public; Giving Tree setup for Christmas sharing; Mancos Harvest Dinner (downtown street event collaborated with Town of Mancos, Library and The Creative District); Became a project with Mancos Valley Resources; Montezuma School to Farm Supper; Harvest Dinner; Cribbage tournaments; Agriculture Workshops; Art Classes; Beneficiary of the Mancos Valley Brewfest.
2017: Teospaye Grant for construction of commercial kitchen and pantry space; Dinner hosting Mancos’s Sister City Feins, France; Mount Lookout Grange celebration of 100th birthday; Pig Roast Fundraiser; Mancos Food Share became a tenant of MLG.
2018: Mancos Historic designation for the building granted by Town Board; May Pole Celebration; Cooking Matters classes, Pig Roast Fundraiser, Commodities and Cooking Matters
2019: Onward Foundation Grant for hydronic heating units; Mancos Valley Resources awarded Mount Lookout Grange ‘Project of the Year’
2020: Joe Arado Trust gift of $50,000 for major improvements to obtain energy efficiency
2023-24: Ballentine Grant, CHFA grant and community fundrasing for roof replacement, Mancos Valley Resources awarded Mount Lookout Grange ‘Project of the Year’
