The Norfolk Grange is planning a Halloween party for Saturday, October 27 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The over-21 event, dubbed the Monster Mash and Haunted Hall, is a fundraiser for improvements to the historic building.
Grange member Jennifer Cote is on the party planning committee, and says the building itself is a great venue for the event.
“It’s an older building and maybe a little bit spooky,” she said. “I fell in love with it as soon as I walked in. It seems that communities don’t have a lot of activities for adults at Halloween, so we figured why not dust off our favorite Halloween costumes and enjoy some time together.”
The fundraiser, which is open to residents in Norfolk and surrounding communities, will feature a professional DJ, food, a cash bar, door prizes, raffles, and prizes for best costumes. The building will be decorated for the holiday.
Tickets are $40 per person and will be sold at the Norfolk Public Library (cash or check only) on Thursday, October 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. Raffle tickets (20 for $20) will be sold at the same time. Tickets will also be available on the Grange website (www.norfolkgrange.org) and Facebook page and will include a processing fee for credit card transactions.
Cote expects the event to sell out, but tickets will be sold at the door if still available. Costumes are highly recommended.
The Grange hall was built in 1863 as the Baptist Church of North Wrentham. The building was purchased by the Norfolk Grange in 1922. In the past, it has been used as a temporary town hall, voting location, and library. Before St. Jude’s Catholic Church was built, Catholic Mass was held in the building.
The building underwent extensive renovations starting in 2009. The five-year project included a new septic system, electrical upgrades, interior and exterior painting, and installation of handicap-accessible bathrooms.
Funds raised by the Halloween party will help pay for a new kitchen and air conditioning for the building.
The National Grange was founded in 1867 to promote and protect the interests of farming communities. It has evolved, however, to include community service, education and preservation of open spaces.
The Grange is unique in that it was the first organization in the country to welcome women as equal members from its inception. The National Grange was also a supporter of the women’s suffrage movement. Rules stipulate that at least three members of each local board must be female.
In Norfolk, the Grange organizes the annual “Clean and Green” campaign held in April around Earth Day, and participates in the “Words for Thirds” initiative, which provides dictionaries to third grade students at the Freeman-Kennedy School. The group has also hosted holistic business networking evenings, a craft fair, a healthy living fair, and plant and seeding workshops.
Board member Cote joined the Grange one year ago.
“I feel very blessed to be a member here,” she said. “Members are of different ages and demographics, and now younger people with families are joining, too.”
Along with Cote, the Halloween party committee includes Kendra Bixby, Al Bozza, Cindy Ladue, Kevin Roche, and Lauren Wood.
For more information about the Grange or about the Halloween fundraiser, visit www.norfolkgrange.org, email [email protected], or call 508-507-8007.
The Norfolk Grange is located at 28 Rockwood Road. Parking is available in the building’s lot, as well as along the access road to the Freeman-Kennedy School.
Issue Date:
October, 2018
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