NAOMI FLETCHER, LECTURER
14685 25.75 Road
Rapid River, MI 49878
Tel: 906-399-2815
Naomi.fletcher54@gmail.com
JULY/AUGUST 2025 GRANGE NEWS
As I write this looking out my front window, a storm has just passed through with more to come. We need the rain, but we certainly don’t need the devastation that comes with too much as my neighbors in the lower peninsula have witnessed this last week. And just when you think the wildlife has found other means of sustenance, a bear (large or small with bandit eyes) has taken out my birdfeeders. Again!
As I write this looking out my front window, a storm has just passed through with more to come. We need the rain, but we certainly don’t need the devastation that comes with too much as my neighbors in the lower peninsula have witnessed this last week. And just when you think the wildlife has found other means of sustenance, a bear (large or small with bandit eyes) has taken out my birdfeeders. Again!
This leads me to my story of perseverance. As the bear continues to seek out easy pickings, he is persevering in his own preservation. But my little story is all about a rock. My father was a rockhound. Definition: one who seeks out rocks to make pretty things with them, like jewelry, bookends, and, in my dad’s case, miniature houses. My dad was witty and wrote small stories. This is the only story I have by
him that I’ve been able to find. Maybe the rest went with him to the Grange above. Anyway, I digress. I was provided the honor to be the student speaker at my local community college during graduation ceremonies. And I carried a marble with me as part of the story. One of the instructors asked me what it was for, and I asked him to just listen.
You see, there were two piles of rocks, one all white pile on the beach. We’ll call them sunstones. The other pile was red up on the shore. We’ll call them garnets. One day a sunstone saw how much fun the red stones were having. People were admiring them, picking them up and letting the sun shine through them. The sunstone for some reason couldn’t have light shine through like the pretty red garnets. People were actually taking them home. But why, asked the sunstone? I’m going to find out.
As fate would have it, one day a wave helped him move off the pile of his buddies about 2” closer to the shore. He saw an opportunity. And after many such waves, and a little help from the wind, and many years of persevering to reach his goal of the red stone pile, he was still only a few feet along on his journey. He waited for the next big wave and gusts of wind until he finally made it to the red stone pile. The red stone pile wasn’t as big as it used to be because of all of those that went home with people. But what he saw to replace them were marbles. TONS of marbles. Different shapes and colors and sizes. Hm. I wonder what that’s all about.
One day, a man came along and saw this little sunstone amongst all the red garnets and marbles, and asked himself why this little white stone is here. I don’t see any other white stones nearby. So this must make this one stone special. The man picked it up and put it in his pocket. To replace the stone, he removed a marble from his pocket and put it on the Sunstone’s place. His trip to the shoreline to look for that special stone was complete. He never ventured further to discover the white pile of stones. He took that sunstone home and turned it into a beautiful piece of jewelry that he gave to his granddaughter. So, the perseverance of that little stone helped him achieve his goal of not only seeing what all the fuss was about with the red garnets, but also to become a beautiful present for someone.
So, my friends, carry marbles in your pocket. Pick up that special stone. Turn it into a special piece, or use it as a worry stone in your pocket. Skip it across a pond, or put it in your garden. But most of all, lose all your marbles. Then you’ll truly be a Rockhound. Because you would have persevered to be the best person you can. But don’t stop at the shoreline. Keep heading toward the beach. Making special decisions, feeding the hungry, helping the fatherless and the widows, and keeping yourself unspotted from the world.
Question of the month: What inspires you to persevere?
MAY/JUNE 2025 GRANGE NEWS
Ice. We enjoy it in a cold drink, we keep foods cold in a cooler with it, we even use it on sore joints. But what we normally don't use it on is taking out 3 million acres of forest in northern Michigan. The Ice Storm of 2025 was devastating to over 500,000 people, some still without power even as I write this on Easter Saturday, three weeks after the storm. Cutting a swath from a parallel line from Grayling to the Mackinac Bridge, ice accumulated on everything and anything. We didn't get it as bad here in the Central UP, but we did lose branches on our farm. Nothing compared to our neighbors to the east and south. I'm sure there's a need for financial assistance for the area, including replacing food stores in homes. Dedicating a fund-raiser to the area would be greatly appreciated.
Day of Learning: The Day of Learning at Fredonia Grange was very informative for those who attended. We learned about each department's programs and had a great lunch. We even made mini barn quilts! And everyone went home with a door prize or two. I hope you'll put it on your calendar for next year. I'd also like to thank the Granges who donated quilts to the UP All-Female Honor Flight traveling to Washington DC in May.
Day of Learning: The Day of Learning at Fredonia Grange was very informative for those who attended. We learned about each department's programs and had a great lunch. We even made mini barn quilts! And everyone went home with a door prize or two. I hope you'll put it on your calendar for next year. I'd also like to thank the Granges who donated quilts to the UP All-Female Honor Flight traveling to Washington DC in May.
Mother’s Day: Mother's Day is coming up in May, so I thought I'd give you a little history about it. In the mid 1800's, Ann Jarvis started Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to quell infant mortality by creating more sanitary conditions in homes. Ann had 13 children, 4 of whom survived to adulthood during trying times. "In the wake of the Civil War in 1868, Ann Reeves Jarvis coordinates a Mothers’ Friendship Day in West Virginia to bring former foes on the battlefield back together again. The initially tense day goes well, with veterans from the North and South weeping and shaking hands for the first time in years. Two years later, Julia Ward Howe, a mother and another forerunner of modern-day Mother’s Day celebrations, suggests a “Mothers’ Peace Day.” She makes the case that war is a preventable evil and mothers have a “sacred right” to protect the lives of
their boys. In 1873 the inaugural celebration of Howe’s “Mothers’ Day” takes place in June ." Sadly, Ann Jarvis passes away in 1905 on the 2nd Sunday of May.
Daughter, Anna Jarvis, decided to honor her mother with an unofficial holiday in 1908. The day was marked by small events in Grafton, West Virginia, and celebrated in Philadelphia, where Anna Jarvis resided. At the church where her mother taught Sunday School, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations — her mother’s favorite—to be worn by the sons and daughters in their mother's honor. The governor of West Virginia makes Mother’s Day an official holiday on the second Sunday in May 1910. Anna Jarvis spread the word of Mother’s Day by writing countless letters and to advocate for a worldwide recognition of Mothers. Congress made Mother's Day an official holiday in 1914. Canada followed in 1915. Unfortunately, Anna's campaign to keep the holiday humble and out of commercial hands failed miserably. She died a pauper in a sanatorium in 1948 at 84. She is buried next to her mother. She never had any children of her own." (Text from UNAVF Website)
Question of the Month: What is the unofficial drink of the Michigan State Grange?
Daughter, Anna Jarvis, decided to honor her mother with an unofficial holiday in 1908. The day was marked by small events in Grafton, West Virginia, and celebrated in Philadelphia, where Anna Jarvis resided. At the church where her mother taught Sunday School, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations — her mother’s favorite—to be worn by the sons and daughters in their mother's honor. The governor of West Virginia makes Mother’s Day an official holiday on the second Sunday in May 1910. Anna Jarvis spread the word of Mother’s Day by writing countless letters and to advocate for a worldwide recognition of Mothers. Congress made Mother's Day an official holiday in 1914. Canada followed in 1915. Unfortunately, Anna's campaign to keep the holiday humble and out of commercial hands failed miserably. She died a pauper in a sanatorium in 1948 at 84. She is buried next to her mother. She never had any children of her own." (Text from UNAVF Website)
Question of the Month: What is the unofficial drink of the Michigan State Grange?
Grangers vs. Patrons (Mifflin Grange #1725)
If you are familiar with, or a member of our Order, you have undoubtedly heard the term “Granger” applied to our members. It is interesting to note, that the proper nomenclature is “Patrons,” and that while we often use these terms interchangeably, there was a point where the former was used as a derogatory remark!
During the strained years of the struggle between farmers and monopolies, the term “Grangers,” emerged as a term of ridicule as the opponents of our farming organization sought to belittle both our position and our organization.
During the strained years of the struggle between farmers and monopolies, the term “Grangers,” emerged as a term of ridicule as the opponents of our farming organization sought to belittle both our position and our organization.
To quote Rev. A. B. Gross, one of our founders, on the subject:
“As to deriving the name for our members from the place where they meet, instead of using the correct name of Patrons, it is just as improper as it would be to call Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars, Lodgers; Or Sons of Temperance, Divisioner’s or Rechabites and Sons of Jonadab, Tenters. Propriety and justice
demand that each organization have its own chosen name, whatever that may be: In this case the chosen
chartered name is Patrons; in full, Patrons of Husbandry.
Despite the earnest efforts of Mr. Gross, as well as others, the use of the term “Granger” not only persists, but has stood the test of our Patrons and in many ways become quite our own. Time has healed the original slur so fully, that we no longer realize it was ever a point of contention. We are proud of our rich history in this, our Country and equally proud to hold the title of Patron...or Granger, whichever association and title links us in your minds with the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry
Despite the earnest efforts of Mr. Gross, as well as others, the use of the term “Granger” not only persists, but has stood the test of our Patrons and in many ways become quite our own. Time has healed the original slur so fully, that we no longer realize it was ever a point of contention. We are proud of our rich history in this, our Country and equally proud to hold the title of Patron...or Granger, whichever association and title links us in your minds with the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry
