The Butte Grange No. 148 was organized in April 1874, and this name remained until October 28, 1946, when it was renamed the Tigard Grange. The year 2024 marked the 150th anniversary of the Tigard Grange. The word Grange comes from a Latin word for grain and, by extension, a granary or farm. It is an organization that protects the farmers of the U.S. on the community, county, state, and national levels. Butte was the original name of Tigard, hence the Butte Grange. The modern Tigard Grange building built in 1926 remains today in 2025 on Pacific Highway. Originally, the Grange was formally called The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
The national organization began after the Civil War in 1867 and was founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley in Washington, D.C. Kelley toured the war-torn South and witnessed outdated farming practices, which the Grange would seek to replace with progressive agricultural techniques. The Grange sought to bring farmers together for mutual cooperation. It rapidly developed local organizations like the Butte local Grange No. 148 and was an advocacy group for agrarian interests. The Grange advocated for lower rates to be charged by railroads to ship farm commodities, lobbied for rural free delivery of mail, solicited for the easing of farm credit, advocated for the direct election of Senators to Congress, and for women’s suffrage. The Grange members also sought to introduce temperance. The Grange was nonpartisan and welcomed women as well as men to membership above the age of 14 (the age old enough to work a plow).
Wilson Tigard, after whom Tigard would be named, donated an acre in 1875 on which Butte Grange was built on the site where the Tigard Grange is today. The Butte Grange was originally organized in the home of W.W. Graham on April 22, 1874, and the first official meeting for all community members was held on May 6, 1874. H.S. Stott was elected first steward of Butte Grange No. 148. Most people in early Tigard were farmers, and most farmers joined the local Grange, a powerful social organization. Butte Grange held dances, meetings, rallies, educational sessions, hosted speakers and touring lecturers, musicals, quilting parties, and even spelling bees that awarded prizes. The original Butte Grange building built on the Wilson Tigard donated acre was incorporated into the new and current building on Pacific Highway in 1926. It remains a historic Tigard landmark today.
Many local Granges organized consumer cooperatives supplied by wholesaler Montgomery Ward, and rural postal delivery allowed farmers to purchase supplies through catalogs, including the Montgomery Ward and Sears catalogs.
In modern times, the Grange encourages free trade and advocates for imposing no tariffs on agricultural exports. The Mission statement of the Grange is “Strengthening individuals, families, and communities through service, education, nonpartisan grassroots advocacy, and agricultural awareness.” The Junior Grange, composed of children ages 5 to 14, encourages farmers’ heirs to remain in the farming sector and to continue to work the land. The current farming interests encourage scientific farming and technological innovations to attract and inspire young and new farmers. This is due to the fact that the number of American farmers has fallen from one-third of the U.S. population in the early 20th Century to less than 2% of America’s population today.
The Tigard Grange building is available for rentals for private and community gatherings and supports their Community Food project and St. Pauly’s clothing donation box to benefit the Caring Closet. The Tigard Grange is at 13770 SW Pacific Highway and currently is accepting new members.
Visit www.tigardhistorical.org to become a member, volunteer, or for more information about the Tigard Historical Association.
