Bethlehem Grange No. 137

Bethlehem Grange No. No. 137 is architecturally significant as an intact representative example of grange hall plan and design in the town of Bethlehem. Built in 1921 and expanded in 1936 the building replaced the original hall on this site, which burned in 1921. The Grange hall exhibits characteristic features of traditional grange hall design, including a two-story three-by-five bay elongated plan, large open first floor, segmented second story with meeting room and, often, a stage platform. Bethlehem Grange No. 137 is notable as one of the early granges established in the state and one of only two surviving Grange Halls in Albany County.

The National Grange system originated as an effort by the Federal government to restore order following the Civil War. Following a survey of the conditions in the devastated South, a specially appointed committee returned to Washington, D.C. with recommendations for a legislative service to promote rural welfare. As a result, Oliver Kelley of Washington organized the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, intended as an educational, fraternal and political force, in 1867. In particular, the grange provided a mechanism to organize against abusive railroad tariffs and corporate monopolies, bringing seven cases to the Supreme Court in 1876. The influence of the grange was great, and it can be partially credited for the passage of the 1876 Interstate Commerce Act and the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act.

There were fifteen local granges nationally in 1870, three of these in New York State. Early grange activity was centered in the agricultural regions of the Hudson valley and the North Country. In 1874 the one-hundred and thirty seventh grange in New York State and eight in Albany County was established on property provided by the Lasher family, who had farmed the land around Becker’s Comers for generations. The earliest granges established in the state generally were named (like Pioneer Grange, Union Grange or Star Grange. More prosaic' later granges would use their numeral as name ("Grange No. No. 137").

George Sprague originally organized Grange No. 137 on March 17,1874. The original hall was located on South Pearl Street in the city of Albany. After one year it was decided to relocate the organization to Isaac Gallup’s hotel located at Becker’s Comers in the neighboring town of Bethlehem. In 1875 the group opened a first Grange Store in a portion of the hotel. During this early period the Grangers sponsored a number of Day line excursions on the Hudson River. The success of these events would provide sufficient fun^ for the group to acquire land and build their first hall.

On January 3,1880 the site of the present grange hall was acquired from Alburtus Becker. At that time a two-story building was constructed on the property. The new building followed the traditional meeting hall plan with a dining area and store on the first floor and a meeting room and anterooms on the second floor. Upon completion the building was insured for $600.00.

Membership in the organization continued to grow during this era. This growth led to a decision to acquire additional land from Adam Winnie and to expand the size of the hall. The new addition, completed in 1901, expanded the upper meeting hall and also added a new dining area. In 1905 an additional parcel of land was purchased from the Winnie family for that construction of horse sheds. On New Years Day, 1920 the grange hall was completely destroyed by fire.

The rebuilding of the hall began almost immediately on the site and portions of the foundations of the original hall. The unadorned two-story building was to have a banquet hall and kitchen on the first floor and a robbing room and lodge room on the second floor. The spatial arrangement of the interior of the new building was typical of most buildings associated with fraternal organizations from the mid-nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century.

The utilization of this plan by many Granges and Masonic lodges throughout the region gave rise to its designation as the grange hall plan. As in the Bethlehem Grange, the grange hall plan designates the first floor of the building as community space, containing a dining hall, store and kitchen, while the second floor was utilized as the meeting and ceremonial chamber. It was completed in January 1921 and dedicated by State Master William M. Giles. In 1929 the Juvenile Grange No. 115 was formed in conjunction with Grange No. 137.

In 1936 the eastern portion of the building was added. This new two-story addition expanded the dining area and the meeting room completing was it now the current plan and building configuration.

With only alterations to the kitchen, the grange retains a high degree of integrity of setting, location, feeling, design association, materials and workmanship. The building remains in use with an active Grange membership of nearly 100 and stands as an important reminder of this now suburban community’s early and ongoing agricultural history.