History of Important Events

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>PERRY VALLEY GRANGE #1804, INC.</B></FONT><B>     |        H</B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PERRY VALLEY GRANGE 1804, INC."><B>ome</B></A><B>       |    </B><A HREF="id356.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="index"><B>index</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id313.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who is Perry Valley Grange?">Who is Perry Valley Grange?</A>   |   <A HREF="id311.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ideals, Vision, Motto">Ideals, Vision, Motto</A>   |   <B>History of Important Events</B>   |   <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Presidents">Past  Presidents</A>   |   <A HREF="id354.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Membership Milestones">Membership Milestones</A>   |   <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ByLaws">By-Laws</A>   |   <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community Citizen Awards ">Community Citizen Awards </A>   |   <A HREF="id316.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facilities Photos">Facilities Photos</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="9edd2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_first_decade" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The First Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_first_decade" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U> </U></B></I></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_second_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Second Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_second_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_third_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Third </U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_third_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_third_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>Decade</U></B></I></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_fourth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Fourth Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_fourth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_fifth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Fifth Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_fifth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_sixth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Sixth Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_sixth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_seventh_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Seventh Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_eighth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Eighth Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_eighth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="history__m.htm#the_ninth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"><I><B><U>The Ninth Decade</U></B></I></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="history__m.htm#the_ninth_decade_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="History of Important Events"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>History of Important Events</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> <A NAME="the_first_decade"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B></I><I><B><U>The First Decade (1919-1929)</U></B></I></div> <div> On July 19, 1919, a group of persons met at Beaver's School in Perry Valley, Greenwood Township, Millerstown RD, to organize a local chapter of the Grange, also known as the Patrons of Husbandry. Eighty-six persons - <I>49 men and 37 women</I> - would become charter members of Perry Valley Grange #1804. The organizing Deputy of the State Grange was William E. Raffensberger of Newport. The Grange met twice a month, usually at the Beaver's School. This building is still in existence today about 5 miles northeast of the present Grange Hall but it has been neglected for many years after serving as a slaughter house. The minutes record discussion on the purchase or building of a Grange Hall as early as 1926 when a building in Millerstown was considered.</div> <bR> <div> Almost immediately the Grange set about to operate a cooperative buying program for farm supplies; from August 1919 through 1923 the Grange store was located at the home of Irvin and Annie Sarver in Perry Valley. <I>(Sarver descendants through their daughter Julia Sarver Bonsall have remained active in the Grange for four generations.)</I> Grange dues were $1.50 annually and were recorded as being paid 37-1/2 cents each quarter. The secretary was voted a "fee of ten cents per meeting of actual service" but there is no record if this fee was ever paid or how long the practice may have continued. The practice of attending the funeral or viewing of a deceased member was noted as early as 1920.</div> <bR> <div> The Grange was less than a year old when a committee was appointed to canvass the community for telephone service. In 1922 there is record of sponsoring a festival for the joint benefit of the Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania State Grange; the grand sum of $21.72 was earned for these causes. In 1923 the Grange contributed to the State Grange Dormitory Fund to build a women's residence on the campus of Penn State University in State College. The first mention of sending delegates to State Grange is recorded in 1922 when their expenses to the convention in Williamsport amount to $15.85.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as Master during this time: </div> <div> <I>Ceylon E. Rissinger 1919-20, 1922, 1924</I> </div> <div> <I>Wilson G. Douty 1921, 1925-26</I> </div> <div> <I>J. Lawrence Mitchell 1923</I> </div> <div> <I>Dr. A. L. Holman 1927</I> </div> <div> <I>Warren M. Snyder 1928-29</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Arial" ><I> <A NAME="the_second_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></FONT><I><B><U>The Second Decade</U></B></I><I><B><U> (1929-1939)</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> In 1929 the Grange decided to hold one meeting per month, a practice that has continued to the present day. Throughout the 1930's meetings were held in various locations including Reward School and Ferrell's School. As membership dwindled during the Great Depression, meetings were moved to the homes of the faithful remaining members. These meetings were the social highlight for many of the rural citizens who attended. Spelling contests and debates were especially popular forms of entertainment and education. Consider this question debated on February 12, 1930: <I>Which is the more serviceable around the home - a good dispositioned husband or plenty of modern labor saving devices?</I> (The records indicate the judges voted in favor of the husbands!) The roll call at the May 1939 meeting was <I>Why can't we have a Grange Hall?</I></div> <bR> <div> An organ was purchased by the Grange in 1934 for the use of the Reward School. The lecturer was sent for the first time to a state conference in 1934; in that same year plans were made for the first time to attend the Grangers' Picnic at Williams Grove, a practice that continued off and on for many years. The first recorded visitation among Granges of Perry County appears in 1936 when Perry Valley visited both Bucks Valley and Ickesburg Granges (both now defunct). As the decade ended, Perry Valley Grange would enter the lowest period in its history.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as Master during this time: </div> <div> <I>Norman O. Bonsall 1930-31</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Warren M. Snyder 1932-36</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>William C. Pines 1937-39</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> <A NAME="the_third_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>The Third Decade (1939-1949)</U></B></I></FONT></div> <div> Throughout the years of World War II, the Grange membership stood at only 27. A small group of faithful members kept the Grange alive with monthly meetings in their homes during this time. Oyster suppers were very popular and were held for the members once or twice a year. The minutes of March 1947 record the sum of $8.12 spent for oyster and crackers for supper that night. Despite its limited resources of people and money, the Grange voted in 1942 to assist with 4-H work in the area.  By the end of the 1940's membership was beginning to move upward and the Grange began holding its meetings regularly in the Ferrell's School. The first recorded anniversary celebration is the 30th birthday dinner and program held in 1949; surviving charter members were honored at that time.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as Master throughout this entire decade: </div> <div> <I>Warren M. Snyder 1940-1951</I><I> </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> <A NAME="the_fourth_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>The Fourth Decade (1949-1959)</U></B></I></FONT></div> <div> New life was breathed into Perry Valley Grange when a large class of new members was initiated in 1950. The world was changing and the Grange considered the question - <I>Will the larger school unit foster community interests?</I> A very innovative project for 1951 was the sponsorship of an electric demonstration in the Millerstown High School. In 1953 the Grange voted to enter the Community Service Contest, a practice that was to define the future direction of the organization. </div> <bR> <div> In 1954 an exhibit was entered for the first time at the Juniata County Fair in Port Royal. Within a few years exhibits were also being taken to the Gratz, Bloomsburg and Perry County Fairs and the premiums earned were a major revenue source during the 1950's. These revenues helped to send Bill Cameron to National Grange in 1957 as a youth officer.</div> <bR> <div> A big step forward came in 1954 when the Grange made an agreement with the Presbyterian Church of Perry Valley for joint use of the former Ferrell's School as its permanent meeting place. The building has been purchased by the church from the Greenwood School District and became known as the Perry Valley Social Hall. The Grange assisted the church in furnishing and maintaining the building, including the addition of a kitchen. The Grange was incorporated in 1959.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as Master during this decade: </div> <div> <I>Thomas W. Tressler 1952-57</I> </div> <div> <I>William L. Cameron 1958-60</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Arial" ><I> <A NAME="the_fifth_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></FONT><I><B><U>The Fifth Decade</U></B></I><I><B><U> (1959-1969)</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> The 1960's began with more discussion about owning its own building. Herbert Sarver, a charter member, offered the Grange the gift of a piece of ground about one mile from the social hall. No definite decision could be reached by the Grange and building plans were dead for another decade. Nonetheless, the Grange continued a high level of activity and entered into several new projects.</div> <bR> <div> In 1962 Lecturer Emma Mitchell Kurtz spearheaded a movement to record vital statistics from all tombstones in cemeteries located between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. Many evenings and Sunday afternoons were spent by members and interested friends in recording this information, in many instances the only record of some early settler families. The project took several years to complete with the data recorded on individual file cards; the file was given to the Perry Historians Genealogical Library near New Bloomfield for public use.</div> <bR> <div> Perry Valley Junior Grange #507 was organized in 1964 by Eleanor L. Smith, State Grange Junior Deputy. The first leader was Viola Byers. Over the years the Junior Grange has been active most of the time with many of its youth participating in camps, talent contests, and other events promoted by the State Grange.  A gala 50th anniversary banquet and program was held in 1969 with State Master A. Wayne Readinger as the speaker. The first Golden Sheaf certificates and pins recognizing 50 years of continuous membership were presented to: Julia Bonsall, W. Oscar Mitchell, Ceylon Rissinger, and Warren & Pearl Snyder.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as Master during this decade: </div> <div> <I>Robert Barnes 1961</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Theodore E. Fosselman 1962, 1967</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>William L. Cameron 1963-66</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Edgar Byers 1968</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Harry A. Schreiber 1969-1973</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> <A NAME="the_sixth_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>The Sixth Decade (1969-1979)</U></B></I></FONT></div> <div> With membership on the rise and Master Harry Schreiber at the helm, the Grange entered the 1970's anxious to own a Grange Hall. Discussion began in 1971 and by the next year and agreement was reached with the Presbyterian Church to sell the Social Hall to the Grange for the sum of $4,250. Provision was made in the agreement for the church to have continued use of the facility for their public dinners and other special events. Norman Bonsall was awarded a Golden Sheaf certificate and pin in 1970 recognizing 50 years of continuous membership.</div> <bR> <div> Almost immediately the Grange began a project of extensive renovations that would result in a large addition to the building. Ground breaking was held April 30, 1972, and the first cement block was sold for $9. Most of the labor for the project was donated by the members and the materials for the roof and floor were secured at special prices due to damage suffered in the Hurricane Agnes flood. Slowly but surely the addition was completed with a finished basement that could be used as a conference room and Junior Grange meeting area. </div> <bR> <div> Many fundraisers were sponsored to finance the project; among them began the serving of banquets and receptions that would grow quickly into the organization's major source of income. A mortgage burning ceremony was held in 1977 to recognize the retirement of debt on the local Grange Hall as well and the National Grange headquarters in Washington, D.C. The next year the kitchen was gutted and completely rebuilt with modern equipment.</div> <bR> <div> Perry Valley Grange had longed shared its most active members with higher levels of the organization. Thomas Tressler and Bill Cameron served as Master of the Perry County Pomona Grange and in 1974 the first state officer from this Grange was Douglas Bonsall when he was selected to serve as State Grange Youth Director. Eventually he would go on to serve as State Lecturer and State Chaplain and Chair of the 1979 National Grange convention in Lancaster, PA. During this time Lesta Schreiber served as a member of the State Grange Women's Activities Committee and helped to edit the popular 1972 white Grange cookbook.</div> <div> For much of the 1970's Perry Valley was particularly active in the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>State Grange</U></FONT> talent competition. The Perry Valleyettes (female) quartette and a youth square dance team won many awards for their participation in the talent contest at the annual State Grange conventions.</div> <bR> <div> When the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Perry County Fair</U></FONT> was reorganized in 1971 the Grange began a long tradition of operating a concession stand serving food throughout the fair. Eventually, daily meal specials were served in addition to soups, sandwiches, beverages, and desserts. Several years the stand operated almost around the clock from breakfast through midnight! The first public Mother's Day Dinner was served in 1977 and would continue for 15 years.</div> <bR> <div> In the 1970's the Grange began holding an annual Open House dinner meeting each spring to promote the Grange to the community. In 1978, the first Community Citizen Award was given at the Open House to begin an annual tradition of honoring an outstanding individual, couple or organization from the area in recognition of outstanding community service. </div> <bR> <div> Masters during this time were: </div> <div> <I>Leonard E. Gochenaur 1974-75, 1978-80</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Douglas A. Bonsall 1976</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>William L. Cameron 1977</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> <A NAME="the_seventh_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>The Seventh Decade (1979-1989)</U></B></I></FONT></div> <div> The 1980's were particularly busy and fruitful years for the Grange. Membership climbed to a highwater mark of 181 in 1989. Community service was the major emphasis with sixteen major projects completed in 1983. Perry Valley earned first place state community service awards in three consecutive years - 1983, 1984, and 1985. What a thrill to also earn first place National Grange awards and the $1,000 prize in both 1983 and 1984! Many other state awards were received for outstanding Open House programs, community service projects, and annual notebooks.</div> <bR> <div> Lesta Schreiber would become the Grange's first woman Master as she continued service to the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>State Grange</U></FONT> on the Deaf Activities and Junior Committees. Doug Bonsall served a term as Pomona Grange Master in addition to his State Grange positions.</div> <bR> <div> Although the Grange Hall was among the best equipped and most attractive public buildings in the area, the members dreamed of even larger and better facilities. In 1987 four acres of land along Old Route 22-322 was purchased from the Frances Patterson estate. The long range plan called for building a new Grange Hall in about eight years. By this time the Grange had developed quite a good and widespread reputation for its public dinners - unique among them the annual Dutch Festival featuring chicken potpie and ham schnitz & knepp and the annual Goose Day Dinner. It was not uncommon for as many as 500 persons to be served at these dinners.</div> <bR> <div> Little did the Grangers know what fate had in store for them. About 9 o'clock on the morning of June 18, 1988, an alarm was sounded that the Perry Valley Grange Hall was on fire. Within an hour the fire gutted the interior of the building and destroyed all the furnishings but, thanks to quick action by the area's volunteer fire companies, the structure was saved. It is believed the fire started by an electrical malfunction in the kitchen. Miraculously, 75 Junior Grangers and their chaperones from across the state who had spent the night sleeping in the Grange, had left just two hours before the fire began. </div> <bR> <div> Although much of the loss was covered by insurance, the Grange decided within three weeks that now was the time to build a new structure rather than fix the fire damaged shell that remained. Ground breaking was held in August 1988 and by November 26th of that year the Grange was able to move into and dedicate its current home. The total cost of the land, building, furnishings, equipment and landscaping exceeded $225,000. Thanks to the generosity of members, friends, organizations, and Granges throughout the state, a mortgage of only $35,000 was required. Fund raising continued at a furious pace with many banquets, public dinners and the fair concession. </div> <bR> <div> The Grange Halls have been home to several new churches organized in the community. For several years the Fundamental Bible Church rented the former Grange Hall for its services. The Blessed Hope Bible Church began leasing the new hall for its services soon after it was built and continued to be meet there well into the 1990's. Even before construction on the new hall was completed, it became the polling location for Greenwood Township voters. </div> <bR> <div> Masters during these years were: </div> <div> <I>Lesta Z. Schreiber 1981</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Leonard E. Gochenaur 1982-83, 1985</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>William L. Cameron 1984</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Douglas A. Bonsall 1986-92</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Arial" ><I> <A NAME="the_eighth_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></FONT><I><B><U>The Eighth Decade</U></B></I><I><B><U> (1989-1999)</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> By 1990 the Grange was able to celebrate the burning of the mortgage on the new hall. Before long another loan was secured to pave the parking areas surrounding the building which was quickly becoming the location of 70-80 public functions each year. Following the 20th year of serving meals at the Perry County Fair, the concession was discontinued since the Grange was finding it difficult to keep up with the demand for banquets and receptions at the new hall. In 1992 the decision was reached to discontinue public dinners for the same reason.</div> <bR> <div> In the early 1990's Perry Valley Grange took a big step to modernize its meetings to meet the needs expressed by many of our members. Dinner meetings with a program following were held in January, March, May, July, September and November; while business meetings with a short program and dessert reception were held in alternating months. At the same time action was taken to eliminate the use of secret passwords at business meetings and to streamline the use of ritual in the opening and closing of these meetings. This decision was highly criticized by some other Granges in the area.  Officer titles were changed; i.e. President instead of Master. </div> <bR> <div> An annual budget of as much as $9,000 has been set aside each year for the Grange's community service program. This money is distributed among fire companies, ambulance leagues, libraries and other worthy causes. In 1991 a game novelty called <I>Perry County Monopoly</I> was copyrighted by the Grange and the proceeds began the funding for the annual higher education scholarships given by the Grange to graduates from local high schools. One of the most outstanding projects of these years was the collection of two tractor trailer loads of food, household items and clothing for victims of Hurricane Andrew in south Florida. The response of the community to this initiative by the Grange was outstanding; our neighboring Campbell Trucking Company provided the trucks and drivers to deliver the goods to Florida free of charge.</div> <bR> <div> Voting to concentrate on one major community service project for the year, in 1998 the Grange generated nearly $5,000 for the Farmland Preservation Fund in Perry County. These funds were matched by the county and state governments, resulting in enough funding to purchase the future development rights for one small farm in the area.</div> <bR> <div> Perry Valley's members continued to give leadership throughout the organization with Bill Cameron again serving as Pomona Master, Carol Rhoades as a member of the State Junior Committee, Harold Mitzel and Jane Madsen serving on the State Grange Good of the Order Committee and Doug Bonsall returning to serve a term as State Grange Community Service coordinator and member of the Host Committee for the 1995 National Grange convention in Harrisburg. Debra Campbell received three consecutive awards from the National Grange as State Junior Director of the Year and in 1998, after six years as PA State Grange Junior Director, she was elected State Pomona.</div> <bR> <div> For much of the 1990's Perry Valley Grange had a particularly active youth and junior program. In 1996 Jesica Blair was selected State Junior Princess and Jennifer Campbell became selected State Grange Female Youth ambassador. History repeated itself when in 1998 Nichole Blair became State Junior Princess and Lindsie Bennett was selected as State Grange Female Youth Ambassador.   In 1996 Marian Shade Wible became the seventh member to receive the Golden Sheaf pin and certificate in recognition of 50 years of continuous membership. The Christ Community Chapel, another new church, began meeting in the hall during the mid 1990's and continued to do so until late 2003. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Serving as President: </div> <div> <I>Bill Cameron 1993-94</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Douglas Bonsall 1995-1998</I><I> </I></div> <div> <I>Debra Campbell 1999</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Arial" ><I> <A NAME="the_ninth_decade_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></FONT><I><B><U>The Ninth Decade</U></B></I><I><B><U> (1999-    )</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> As the 20<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century closed and a new millennium begins, Perry Valley Grange maintained a membership of approximately 150 persons and continued to emphasize community service as its major reason for existence. Finances are healthy with 40-50 banquets and receptions served annually. Major expenditures were involved in the replacement of tables and chairs and addition of new exterior lighting the parking lot areas. In 2001, after noting the size of many banquet groups was diminishing and impacting the Grange's income, the decision was made to again sponsor some public dinners as fund raisers.</div> <bR> <div> Serving as President:</div> <div> <I> </I><I>Linda Byers 2000-</I><I>2</I><I>002</I></div> <div> <I>Douglas A. Bonsall 2002-</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>