The Fremont Grange was granted a Charter in November of 1874.-The first regular election of officers was in December of 1874. Charles W. Stone was elected the first Master; he later was elected to Michigan State Legislature. Other officers elected were: Overseer James Misner; Lecturer M. Olds; Chaplain John Brotherton; Stewart E. Eldred; Assistant Steward T.H. Stuart; Treasurer Jamin Cole; Secretary J.B. Mallery; Gatekeeper John E. Kimball; Ceres Mrs. J. Misner; Pomona Mrs. H. Darling; Flora Mile J . Misner; Stewardess Mrs. J.B. Mallery.

The Fremont Grange had the distinction of being the oldest Grange in Newaygo County. It was organized with a charter membership of 34 men and 16 women.

For the first few years, the meetings were held in rented quarters. In 1876 they purchased the Carlisle property at the corner of Merchant St. and Sheridan Ave. The old building on the property was used as a hall until the new Grange Hall was built. In 1893 the Grange moved into their new brick building, one of the first few brick buildings in the area. The Grange sold the old hall for $100 in 1894 and the money was applied to their building debt. By the time the new building was ready for use in 1893, the Grange had contracted considerable debt, despite the fact that much of the building material, hauling and unskilled labor was donated by members. The final payment on the hall was made in 1916.

As early as 1896, Granges throughout the country were instrumental in convincing Congress to establish Rural Free Delivery Mail Service or R.F.D. It was in 1901 before R.F.D. was established in the area. In 1897 the Grange issued bonds in the amount of $1500 to take care of building debt.

The first Cow Testing Association in the United States was organized in the Fremont Grange Hall on Dec. 6, 1905. A bronze plaque was put on the hall near the west door in 1956.

The Fremont Grange held a successful corn Husking Contest at the Hathaway’s Farm in 1940 with more than 500 persons attending. By 1941, they had begun roller skating in their hall and in 1949 they celebrated the 75^th Anniversary of the Frem ont Grange.

In 1953 the Fremont Grange remodeled their hall, lowered their ceiling and painted the walls. Otis Shear was Master at this time. That same year they also arranged the first Older People’s Dinner in the hall. In 1956 they entered the Farm-to-Prosper Contest and installed new gas heaters. The Grange shared its building with many local organizations over the years, including clubs, societies, churches and Fremont Board of Education. In addition, scores of individuals and organizations have used the ha ll for special occasions. The Christian Science Church met regularly in the lower hall for many years.

Ervin Price was Master in 1958 and the Grangers cleared and cleaned the Pioneer Cemetery east of town. They planted several trees there. In 1959 Susan Jones was elected County Grange Princess. In 1962 the Fremont Grange hosted the Michigan Annual State Grange Meeting in October. With the Grange membership decreasing and the senses going higher in 1966, the Grange let the Newaygo County Historical Society use the upper floor for a Museum. On March 15, 1967 the deed to the Grange Hall #494 and the prop erty was presented by J. Avid Miller, Master of the Grange, to Charles White, President of the Newaygo County Historical Society, with the Grange retaining a life lease for the first floor as long as the Grange desired it. The second floor would be used f or the headquarters of the County Historical Society until the first floor became available.

In 1970, the Grangers remodeled the kitchen and installed paneling. In 1974, the Fremont Grange celebrated their Centennial Year. The officers at that time were: Master Mark Jones; Overseer Fred Miller; Lecturer Bernice Jones; Secretary Terresa Hanson; Treasurer Mary Pennington; Chaplain Margaret William; Stewart Arvid Miller; Assistant Stewart Earl Smith; Lady Assistant Marg Smith; Gatekeeper Loren Fitzpatrick; Ladies Activities Dewie Miller; Executive Board, Charles Bowman, Marl Smith and H. Preston.

The 41 Masters elected in the Fremont Grange in order of election were: Charles W. Stone. M. Olds, A. Upton, James Misner, John Brotherton, T.H. Stuart, David D. Hoppock, Geo. J.F. Raider, Wilkes Stuart, E.W. Eldred, John F. Freye, Augustine White, Cla rk Tinney, E.E. Giddings, Lafayette Waters, H. Alvin Fowler, Bert R. Miller, Carl Kimball, J. Elias Bennett, Homer Handy, Charles Gamble, George r. Warren, Ray Stuart, Peter M. Miller, John Beem, Dora Gamble, Harry Preston, Clifford Smith, Raymond Corrie, Howard Brumm, Ervin Price, Koos Karnemaat, Charles Andrews, J. Clyde Miller, Arthur Chrystler, Otis E. Shear, J. Arvid Miller, Freeman Kempf, Birdie Kempf Miller, and Mark Jones.

After several years, with Grange membership getting even smaller, they gave up their lease to the downstairs. The Historical Society tried to maintain the building for a while, but the windows kept getting broken and it needed a new roof. The Society , lacking sufficient money for repairs, was forced to sell the building and property to Oosting, Burt and Associates in 1994, with hopes that they might have been abled to restore the building. Now, with the burning of the 105-year-old building, another of Fremont’s older historical landmarks has disappeared.