East Sandwich Grange Hall

Welcome to the Nye Museum. As this tour begins, you are standing in front of the East Sandwich Grange Hall, built in 1889 by the newly-formed East Sandwich Grange #139. The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry formed after the Civil War as a way to promote national legislation beneficial to farmers. At the local level, Granges sought to improve life for farm families through education, cooperative projects and enhanced social life.  A Grange hall was typically at the center of rural community life, where public events such as small fairs, meetings and rummage sales were held, as well as dances, plays, card parties and other entertainments.  The Grange was an agricultural fraternity, and the nature-based rituals used in meetings were a spiritual comfort as well as a way to celebrate the value of agricultural life. Today, this Grange Hall serves as an event space and visitors center, keeping with the community spirit with which it was founded.

As you begin the next step, please walk around the 1678 Benjamin Nye House to learn about its history and construction.