Williamstown Grange presents service awards at dinner

BY EDWARD DAMON | NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT

WILLIAMSTOWN — Doris Anthony first joined The Grange when she was 14 years old. Now 102, she and others in the organization are anxious for her 90-year membership anniversary in two years.

Anthony and several others received awards Wednesday night at a Williamstown Grange No. 366 ceremony. Roughly 30 people packed the Rosenburg Room at Sheep Hill, where the organization’s Community Citizen Award was given to Rev. David Anderson of the First Baptist Church of North Adams. Two 50-year membership awards and a single 25-year award were also handed out.

The National Grange, founded in 1867, is a fraternal organization that encourages families to unite to promote economic and political well-being and agriculture. According to the organization’s website, local Granges are in more than 2,000 communities in 36 states.

Wednesday’s dinner and ceremony saw members from the Williamstown, Stockbridge, Chesterfield and Bennington, Vt. Granges.

Williamstown Grange Master Nancy Lescarbeau noted that Anderson has performed a funeral service for a local man killed while serving in the military and supported families in Readsboro, Vt. affected by a hunting accident.