Grange just keeps going

BY THE DISPATCH

Grange is a fraternal organization that was started in 1867 after the Civil War as an advocacy group for farmers who were concerned about the prices of their produce.

Fast-forward to 2013. Besides agricultural interests, Grange is playing a role in communities in a variety of ways. Just ask the members of Ohop Grange.

The Eatonville-area Ohop membership sends representatives to yearly state conventions and is active in lobbying for legislation to raise awareness of property taxation issues. Closer to home, the Ohop group supports schools by donating dictionaries each fall to every third-grader in the Eatonville School District and, as the winter break nears, provides gifts for students at one of the elementary schools, Columbia Crest.

A bazaar and bake sale in November, with proceeds supporting Grange activities, is another annual highlight. Ladies such as Sally McKay, an Ohop member since she was 16 years old and who is known for her fruitcake, get together a few days before the bazaar to make homemade pies from scratch. For fruit pies, they peel apples and even pick the berries.