At one time, nearly every town in Lebanon County had a Grange, as did most rural communities in the United States. The Grange was a powerful, although non-partisan, political force as well as the social hub of the community. Its influence cannot be overestimated.
At the national, state and local levels, the Grange advocated for farmers and rural life. It led the way toward the land grant universities, rural free mail delivery, the cooperative extension service, public education, better highways, rural electrification, libraries, federal taxation, anti-trust laws, volunteer fire companies, trade agreements and much more.
It gave a full vote to women 50 years before Congress did. Susan B. Anthony’s last public appearance
