Victor Grange and Grange Camp

On October 5, 1922, a meeting was held in Rock Creek School No. 2 (known as Victor School) for the purpose of organizing a Grange. Twenty-six interested men and women attended.

Charles P. Starrett of Newton and J.R. Powers, Master of Loyal Grange in Southwest Rock Creek township attended and spoke on the advantages of the Farm Family Fraternity.

The people present were interested, and the first ballot was unanimous to organize a Grange. The membership Campaign began with all signing up before October 12th, 1922 becoming Charter Members. The forty-one to sign up as Charter Members were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Ahrens, Mr. and Mrs. John Waldbusser, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Young and Howard Young, Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Jordan and Lucille Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Will Adkins, Glen and Bernice Adkins, Mr. and Mrs. John Whitcomb and Russell Whitcomb, Mckinley and Minnie Milligan, Alva Jarnagan, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koger, Otto and Edward Durr, Wendell and Cash Parmley, Mr. and Mrs. Lafe Elmore, Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Young, Claire Jackson, Burton and Della Garrett and Albert Carlson. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Elliott, Wilbur and Harold Elliott and Ralph Dawson.

The next meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Adkins on October 20, 1922. Fred Young offered an old house on his farm as a meeting place. A committee was appointed to look the building over and recommend needed repairs. Two rooms were cleaned, painted, and papered. This was Victor's first Grange hall and was used for over a year, when the old Baptist Church about 2 miles south was for sale. After investigation, the Grange voted to buy the Baptist Church building for $1,500.00. this property consisted of three acres of land in a beautiful wooded area. (Later, one half acre was sold to the county for storage of road equipment.) The big problem facing the Grange was finances. Lafe Adkins offered to loan one thousand dollars at six percent interest. The Grange voted to give Mr. Adkins the Grange Seal as a Security on the mortgage and note. Many projects were carried on the next 20 years to make money to pay for the building and to make necessary repairs. At the August meeting in 1923, 11 members donated 80 bushels of corn. Later more corn was given until they had one hundred bushels which was sold at sixty-five cents per bushel. Thirty chickens were also given to be sold with the entire proceeds going to the building fund. Plays were given, ice cream socials held, carnivals and chicken suppers sponsored with money going to pay off the debt. Finally on October 23, 1942, a potluck supper and program was enjoyed by all members and the mortgage was burned.

Degree work has always had an important place in Victor Grange. Candidates for membership received all four degrees before belonging to the Grange. In 1925, the first and third degree teams won prizes in a contest. In recent years, Victor Grange has conferred the beautiful fourth degree at a county degree night.

The following people have been Masters of Victor Grange: Henry Ahrens, Lawrence Decatur, Ralph Longley, George Decatur, John Waldbusser, Henry Lauger, Perry Turner, Lester Adkins, Claire Jackson, Fred Murphy, Ray G. White, Alvan Cox, Adolph Altemeier, Howard Young, Gilmore Robbins. Jr., Harold Fleener, James McKibben, Gerald Rankin, David H. Krumm, Hillard Turner, Kenneth Keenan, Virgil Doud and Alfred Couch.

Victor Grange currently meets the first Monday of each month and has a membership of about 70.

Some of Victor Granges latest community service projects have been donating furniture, bedding and other household items to local needy people. Helping the Grinnell General Hospital on Tag Day and making bibs and stuffed toys. They also furnished lumber for and built a patio deck so a blind person could get outdoors in nice weather. They have donated money to CARE for many years and also the Grange Deaf Fund. Many pairs of eyeglasses have been donated to the VOSH program. (Volunteer Optimetric Services to Humanity).

The Junior Grange was organized in 1930. It was made up of children from five to fourteen years of age. Mrs. John Ahrens was the first Matron and Leo Ahrens was the first Junior Master. For several years the Junior Grange was dormant because of a lack of members, but is now active.

Rock Creek Grange Camp

Charles P. Starrett, a long time Granger, had the vision that the Grange should have their own camp site to be used for meetings, youth and junior Grange camps and for special Grange functions as well as a community and Grange picnic grounds.

October 13, 1955, he presented his proposal to the members of Jasper Pomona Grange at a meeting in the Richland Grange Hall. A motion prevailed that committee be appointed by Master Loren Murphy to investigate the possibility of purchasing a plot of land on the newly developed Rock Creek Lake. The committee appointed included Charles Starrett, George Selbers, Fred Murphy, and Charles Gharrett. Later two more were added, Morris Reynolds and Delwin Cross.

During the Jasper Pomona Grange meeting December 8, 1955, it was decided to proceed with the purchase of the camp site on Rock Creek Lake. The site was then what was left of the Ralph Parker farmstead after purchase of land by the State for Rock Creek Lake - if money could be raised. I believe there were others on the site selection committee consisting of Pomona Officers but are not named in Jasper Pomona minutes.

Jasper Pomona Grange voted to finance the cost of forming a corporation for the purpose of raising money, incorporation and purchase of a camp site at a cost of $51.60.

Money for the project was raised by donation, sale of non-interest bearing bonds and in July 1957, breakfasts at the camp site were started with Jet Adams as chairman of this event.

Enough money was raised to purchase the property - 13.6 acres - from the Parkers in early 1956 with Ralph Parker holding a first mortgage until the balance of the money could be raised.

The bonds were sold throughout the Grange area in Iowa. They were sold to Grangers, Granges and interested people wanting to help the Grange with this project.

The first camps were held in the old farm buildings with extensive remodeling and building throughout the years to follow. Many Grangers in Iowa and this area have served on the Board of Directors and received no compensation while many others have donated time and materials to remodel and build the camp to its present condition. Two men who directed much of the rebuilding were John Waldbusser, Victor Grange and Jasper Hatch, Buena Vista Grange. They were long time Grange members.

Since 1957 the Grange breakfasts have been held April through November until last year when the April and November dates were dropped due to adverse weather. These breakfasts have provided the major funds needed to maintain and up-date the Rock Creek Grange Camp.

Kellogg Historical Society - Vol.III - 1983