The renaissance of the Copake Grange

COPAKE— In a time when too many community organizations are withering on the vine for lack of involvement, new life has been breathed into the Copake Grange 935 in the form of a tripling of membership and regular use of the century old building. 

Until last year, membership had fallen to a low of about 20, but even with that, official meetings couldn’t be held because the Grange could rarely reach the necessary quorum of seven members. Therefore, no business could be conducted. 

According to Chris Quinby, recently elected president, under the group’s regulations, if the local chapter became unable to sustain itself, the 1902 Grange property would revert to the state organization. The idea of losing such an important local building, one that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, did not sit well with a number of citizens. 

Quinby said, “We got on the phone,” spread the word, and residents began to respond. 

Jeanne Mettler, Copake Board and Copake Hamlet  Revitalization Committee member and current Grange secretary, said that when her fellow members learned of the situation, some of them decided to join and encouraged others to do the same. 

They formed an executive committee, re-wrote regulations, updated certain elements and united new members with those who had been loyal to the organization over the course of the years.  

But even with the changes, the purpose of the Grange continued to be to make the community a better place.  

Mettler said the evolving group has “a lot of respect for the Grange and the people of the Grange,” and added that they are “having a lot of fun creating a new 150-year old organization.” 

Foremost among the founding principles that continue to be in effect is the non-political nature of the group, which Mettler says provides an opportunity for neighbors to come together and work for common good without becoming partisan. She did note, however, that the organization does sometimes take a stand on an issue, such as the recent State Senate consideration of human rights.  

She noted that while the original roots of the Grange were in agriculture, anyone who believes in the values of the organization is welcome to join and added that there is “a lot of diversity in the membership.  

She added, “Another appealing thing about the Grange is that from the very beginning men and women had equal rights…  A lot of people think of the Grange as being a stodgy place filed with dust and cobwebs, but in fact it was very forward.”  

As the organization is changing, so too is the facility itself. Quinby recalled that in the 10 years before the revitalization began, only one event had been held at the facility but that since last December it has been put to good use with at least two events each month.  

He explained that half of the building, which has updated bathrooms and air conditioning, is a 90-seat theater with an audio visual system, full stage, stage lighting, curtains — everything. The other half is the kitchen and dining area.

“We’re trying to make it user-friendly, so it is available for rent for just about anything you can imagine,” he said. 

Quinby said the theater section has been used by “The Two of Us Productions,” run by Connie Lopez and Stephen Sanborn, both members of the Grange. 

While the Grange activities are now primarily adult oriented, Quinby said, “We are going through a lot growing pains, but we have a number of ideas” including “getting movies in there where kids could come down for next to nothing — trying to get some bands to come in and play — maybe something that would attract teenagers.” 

“[With] the full kitchen in there, they could make popcorn and hot dogs and whatnot — so the kids could come and hang out,” he said with optimism.

He’s hopeful others will come, too.

For more information on the Grange, go to www.copakegrange.org or write to copakegrange@gmail.com.