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Hamilton Grange Hall
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Located C.R. 215 and 84th Avenue
Hamilton Township
Decatur
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![Hamilton Twp. Grange Hall [Click here to view full size picture]](media/history/tn_grange.jpg)
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Hamilton Grange Hall
Hamilton Grange Fairs
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Hamilton Grange Hall
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Local farmers organized Hamilton Grange No. 355 in 1874 and built the hall the following year. Lacking a town center, area residents congregated at the hall, which served as a town hall and was the site of elections and rallies as well as funerals, church services, parties, lectures, dances, school programs and receptions. By 1897 the Hamilton Grange was among the six larges chapters in the state and hosted annual fairs on land adjacent to the hall. When Grange No. 355 disbanded in 1977 the building became the property of the township and continued to be used as the Township Hall until a new hall was built in 1999. In 2001 the building was designated a Michigan Historical Site.
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Hamilton Grange Fairs
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The Hamilton Grange hosted an annual fair from 1878 until around 1913 when the county fair began. Crowds of people came to hear speakers, watch horse races, attend picnics and view exhibits on the grounds. Farmers competed by displaying produce, bread, livestock, canned goods, floral arrangments and needlework. In October 1905 over 5,000 spectators came from Hamilton and the surrounding area to hear Governor Fred Warner address the crowd.
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Page Last Updated: 7/15/2003
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![Hamilton Twp. Grange Hall [Click here to view full size picture]](javascript:showPic(new picObj('media/history/grange.jpg', 'Hamilton Twp. Grange Hall',800,600));)