| JANUARY 9, 2018 --
Sometime between 1949 and 1950, Harry L. Page, Guilford, then President of Patrons Mutual Insurance, came up with the idea of offering each Grange, meeting certain requirements, in new business, some gift that the Grange might find very appropriate and useful. He suggested that a nice officers chair, similar to the ones in the Connecticut Room at the New England Grange Building at the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in West Springfield, MA, would be a wonderful way to advertise the Company, provide a beautiful piece of furniture for any Grange needing officers chairs, and be an incentive to increase business. This idea was given careful consideration and plans were made to get this contest underway, the first year being that of 1950. How long, or for how many years this would be offered would depend upon the support given the contest. The first year, they spoke of it as the "Masters Chair." It has proven so worthwhile that many Granges have as many as 12 or 13 chairs. These are expensive chairs and adorn any Grange Room.
This account was written in 1962. Most of our Granges today have many of these chairs in their halls and meeting spaces. Most of these chairs are marked with plaques that note the year which the chair was awarded to the Grange and will say something similar to "New Business Contest."
Now you know where all of those unique arm chairs came from! |
