Honoring and Remembering the Reading Grange
The Reading Grange, also referred to as Little Hall and Universalist Hall, has a vibrant and multifaceted history. The building was originally constructed in South Reading (exact location unknown) in 1893 and served as the South Reading Cheese Factory. After the cheese factory closed around 1902, the building was moved and reconstructed on its current location in the center of the Village.
Throughout the 20th century, the Reading Grange served as a social pillar of the community. From the 1940s through the 1960s the building hosted numerous public and private events. Friends, family and neighbors attended everything from penny bingo, square dances and bazaars, to community suppers, baby showers and wedding receptions in this historic building.
Recently, the building has had a quieter life. It is in need of a renovation to bring it up to current building code, and prepare it for its next set of uses. The Reading Community Trust intends to honor the great social tradition of this building, helping oversee its renovation and return to a prominent site of activity in the center of Felchville.
The Reading Community Trust would like to thank the Reading Historical Society and the Reading Library for providing the images and information used here.
From South Reading Cheese Factory to Community Heart
TIMELINE OF OWNERSHIP
1880s-1910: The Ira Gibbs Cheese Factory (South Reading)
1910-1970: The Universalist Hall / Grange / "Little Hall"
1970: Sold to private owner
Present day: Awaiting its next chapter.
THE 1910 TRANSFORMATION (The Traveling Factory)
In 1910, the Universalist Church of our Fathers orchestrated a massive logistical and financial effort to establish a new community hub in the village.
April 4, 1910: Purchased the Wolcott Lot (the destination) for $350. This site originally housed a blacksmith shop and a home.
July 2, 1910: Purchased the Ira Gibbs Cheese Factory in South Reading for $250.
The Move: The two-story factory structure was taken apart and relocated from South Reading to its current lot. By late 1910, deed records officially describe the site as having the "new building" thereon.
THE PUBLIC ERA (1910–1970)
For six decades, this building was the town’s intimate alternative to the Town Hall, serving as a "social timeshare" for local life.
1910-1960s: The Fraternal Foundation
The building established its identity as a hub for Grange No. 317, hosting agricultural lectures and state-level conventions.
It served as a shared space for the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs to hold rituals and community dinners.
1947-1955: The "Golden Era" of the Little Hall
Saturday Night Record Hops: A DJ from Springfield would bring the latest pop records to the second floor, making this the primary destination for local teenagers.
Friday Night Bingo: The ground floor (the former "making room") became the heartbeat of the town's weekly games.
1950s-1970: The Community Anchor
Even as fraternal membership shifted, the building remained a vital space for Universalist Church coffee hours and public suppers until its sale in 1970.
