Chautauqua Grange

Chautauqua Grange was organized February 9, 1889, by District Deputy W. C. Gifford, Jamestown, assisted by J. Upton, Clymer with 16 charter members. They were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Irwin, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Beaujean, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Lathrop, Mrs. Minnie Hewes Hatch, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Bullock, Frank Wilcox, J. D. Hannum, Frank Sullivan, J. Y. Brightman and Frank Hewes. Note: Henry Irwin, 95 of Mayville is the only charter member living. J. D. Hannum was the first master; L. B. Beaujean first overseer; L. W. Lathrop, the first lecturer and C. B. Bullock the first chaplain. Meetings were held in Leets Hall, at the cost of $1.38 per meeting and individual’s homes. The meetings were held the second and last Saturdays of each month. During the winter months the meetings were held in the afternoon and in the summer months in the evenings. There were 22 members at the end of the first year. The Grange now has more than 250 members. Leets Hall, where the grange held its meetings was in the place of the present Red and White store. It was run then by Leet and Beldin and Leets Hall over it is the Odd Fellows Hall now. The Grange has occupied the following halls since it was organized: Leets Hall, Goddard Hall, Odd Fellows Hall, Masonic Hall, Legion Hall and the present Grange Hall.

The Grange purchased a lot in June 1949 on North Erie street where it built its meeting house..

County Treasurer Master of Grange

The members of the Mayville Grange have recognized that W. J. Doty is still a representative of the farming community making him Master of the Mayville [Chautauqua] Grange. Until he became County Treasurer, Mr. Doty was always identified with farm affairs.

-1929 Fredonia Censor, Wednesday January 21, 1925

Contributed by Devon Taylor, Town of Chautauqua and Village of Mayville Historian