The Tyler Grange is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Friday, Nov. 12 with its annual "Harvest Dinner and Baked Goods Auction."
Tyler Grange has been the nucleus that has drawn the Tyler/Lance Hill community together since its organization, April 18, 1916.
After a short time of inactivity during the war years, the Tyler Grange again became a vital part of the community. Family names of early Cheney/Tyler settlers were among the membership: Brown, Watt, Betz, Konshuk, Ham, Harris, Aylsworth, Denny, Shea and many more.
The Grange met in the Tyler Community Church for a few years and then rented space in the Tyler school building. Money was scarce, so Grange members cut wood for the school to use and made repairs around the building in exchange for the $15 rent per year.
In 1942 and 1944, each Grange member contributed $1 to purchase war bonds. The ladies helped make bandages for the American Red Cross.
In 1944, C. R. Denney presented a petition to organize a fire district. In March 1949, Tyler was informed they could have a fire truck if they had a place to store it and men to man it. The Grange formed a committee to look into the matter. They reported they would be able to get the old Four Lakes truck, and in May they received the truck, with Johnnie Ham becoming the fire chief.
The Grange held a dance and all proceeds went to the fire district. After the Tyler school was consolidated with Cheney, the building sat empty so the Grange began negotiating to buy the school house and grounds. Remodeling and updating was done on the school building and Tyler Grange had a permanent home.
Then in 1960 tragedy struck and a surrounding wild fire swept through Tyler and the Grange Hall was among several buildings that burned to the ground. But this did not stop the Grange members.
Members began looking for ways of replacing the hall and voted to buy a surplus building at Fairchild Air Force Base to be moved to Tyler. It is the home of Tyler Grange today. Following the fire, the Grange ordered 1,000 trees to re-forest the burned area.
After 100 years of community service and fellowship gatherings, Tyler Grange is still striving to be a vital part of the Tyler community. Monthly meetings and annual events, such as the Tyler Daze flea market in June and the harvest dinner in the fall, are designed to bring the community together to make the community better.
Tyler Grange will officially celebrate 100 years of service to the community on Nov. 12 at its annual "Harvest Dinner and Baked Goods Auction" at 6 p.m. at the Tyler Grange Hall.
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