A trip to what may be Delaware County’s oldest pioneer cemetery requires a brief detour into Grant County. I’d forgotten that the drive puts you within spitting distance of Jefferson Township’s old Grange Hall school! I took photos of it a few years ago but never researched it. Here’s what I’ve been able to uncover so far.
It’s hard to believe today, but Jefferson Township was once home to twelve rural schoolhouses. Situated in its southeastern corner on land owned by the Watson family1, District 12 was known as Grange Hall. The school took its name from the meeting places of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry in the United States.
Often referred to as The National Grange, the fraternal organization encouraged families to unite in promoting the economic and political wellbeing of agriculture in their communities2. If property records are to believed, the extant schoolhouse and meeting place was built in 19003. Based on its design, the school is almost assuredly older. When it was in operation, the building featured a large, open belfry with a steeple4.
As the crow flies, the schoolhouse sat two miles east of the heart of Matthews and six miles southeast of Upland, where consolidated schools were eventually established. Matthews’ school was built in 19015, and four more rooms were added the following year. I assume that’s when the Grange Hall school closed. That year, a crowd of high school students went to help Edith Peele with her last day of class.
After it was shuttered, the old Grange Hall schoolhouse was converted into a home. The Jay Davis family lived there for years7.
Sources Cited
1 Westlake, W.B. (1903). Map of Grant County, Indiana. W.B. Westlake [Madison]. Map.
2 Goss, A.S. (1947, February). Legislative Program of the National Grange. Journal of Farm Economics. Web. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
3 Grant County Office of Information & GIS Services. (2024). Parcel ID: 27-16-01-300-012.000-011. Grant County, Indiana Assessor. map, Marion, IN.
4 Mitchener, P. & Dearduff, K. (2000). Matthews, Indiana History Book. Web. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
5 Matthews Improvements (1901, December 5). The Marion News-Tribune. p. 6.
6 This Week IN THE PAST (1952, March 28). The Upland Courier. p. 2.
7 Careins, R. & Shideler, T. (2021, October 4). Personal Communication.
