2016-2 Remembrances Special Edition1
City of Schertz
Remembrances Special Edition 2016-2
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Source: Judy Womack Essay “The Grange On Main Street”
The Cibolo Grange
The “Grange”, also known as “Patrons of Husbandry” had its beginnings in the northern United States (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois) and was established in rural farm communities for the purpose of advancing methods of agriculture as well as promoting social and economic
needs of the farming communities. A Texas state Grange was established in 1874 and
experienced varying degrees of membership success during its early years. As of 1877 (arrival of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad), there were 455 farms in place among communities from Marion to Selma. In Cibolo, the idea of forming a Grange
caught hold and a first organizational meeting was held on February 6, 1941. The following
week a second meeting was held and agreement was had that Cibolo Grange officers should be elected. The first membership meeting drew 97 participants. The Cibolo Grange began community involvement projects with the area’s 4-H club, sponsoring needy youth, presenting educational programs and sponsoring legislative resolutions. The Grange’s first permanent
meeting place was at the Crescent Bend Dance Hall along Cibolo Creek. The dance hall was
also a suitable venue for holding fundraiser events such as dances and dinners. In 1946, the Grange sponsored a junior grange organization that initially enrolled 21 young students with the purpose of educating them on new farming ideas and crafts.
In 1947, the idea of a permanent Grange hall was raised and encouraged by the donation by Mr.
and Mrs. Ernst Schlather of one acre of land along Cibolo’s Main Street. A building was obtained and transported to Cibolo from Bastrop’s Camp Swift World War II Army base where it was restored and put into service as the Cibolo Community Hall. Throughout the 1950s, the Cibolo Grange stayed active in youth education, school safety, and in an assortment of
community improvement projects. For five different years during the 1950s the Cibolo Grange
received top honors at the Texas State Grange Community Service Award Banquet. Two years in the 1950s, the Cibolo Grange place second in the Community Service Award completion, once in third place, and three times received honorable mention. The Grange state level awards success extended into the decades of the latter half of the 20th century as well.
The members represent a variety of skill sets and talents. One such member group had musical talents in common and decided to form a Cibolo Grange band which, for many years, went on to perform at various dances and special events in the Cibolo Valley area .
By 1956, the Cibolo Grange had gathered enough money ($4,000.00) to pursue the idea of
forming a volunteer fire department in Cibolo. The first purchase was for a 1956 Ford two ton chassis which later was merged with a pumper unit. Through long hours of volunteer effort a fire house was constructed and funds to support it were derived from many sausage suppers.
2
The Grange continued its community service efforts in the 1960s and 1970s with voter
registration campaigns, dog vaccination drives, baking for servicemen, Grange hall restoration,
eye glasses for needy children and aid to the volunteer fire department. In 1974 alone, over 3800 volunteer service hours were donated by Grange members. Individual Grange member efforts were recognized at the 1990 State Convention when Elmo Rust and Alma Rust were both named Grangers of the Year. From time to time the Grange took positions on certain political issues
they believed affected the welfare of the Cibolo citizenry to include opposing a state income tax,
opposing attorney advertising on television and opposing government benefits to any persons not citizens for at least 20 years. Throughout the first decade of the 21st century membership in the Cibolo Grange began to falter
as the membership aged and fewer members were available to pursue community projects.
Consequently, the Cibolo Grange was declared inactive by the State Grange but not for long. The Grange was reactivated in March 2013 with a new cast of officers and many ambitious projects.
This year (2016) marks the 75th anniversary of the Cibolo Grange. The Cibolo community has
grown by 715 % during those seventy-five years. The contributions to Cibolo by Grange members over the years have been tremendous and the future looks good for the organization as new people join the community and one of its premier community service organizations, the Grange.
Cibolo Grange Hall, Main Street, Cibolo, Texas