Historic Grange Hall to get facelift
Altona Grange seeks funds for restoration to its 1894 roots
The Altona Grange Hall, an historic Boulder County landmark, is to receive a facelift and return to its 1895 origins, but it must first match a $9,900 historic preservation grant from Boulder County, according to a news release.
In August, Boulder County’s Historic Preservation Advisory Board recommended that the Grange Hall at 9386 N. 39th St. be awarded the $9,900 grant for its restoration project to help cover the cost of replacing seven windows to the original size, new drain gutters, historic sign restoration, caulking and a final coat of paint.
The total cost of restoration is estimated to be almost $20,000, according to the Altona Grange Hall news release. To secure the grant and cover all of the necessary restoration costs, Altona Grange volunteers need the support of the broader community. There are three ways in which people can do that:
• Send a tax deductible donation to Altona Preservation Alliance, P.O. Box 28, Hygiene, CO 80533. • Rent the Grange Hall for an upcoming wedding, work event, party, seminar, concert or class.
• Visit the Altona Grange’s open house Food and Flea market, which is 3 to 7 p.m. each Wednesday through Sept. 29.
The Altona Grange Hall was built in 1895 by a group of farmers at Nelson Road and North 39th
Street near the former town of Altona. It was constructed as a meeting place for the Patrons of Husbandry, a state and national fraternal organization supporting farmers and ranchers after the Civil War.
In light of its cultural and historical significance, the Altona Grange site was recognized and designated a Boulder County Historical Landmark in 1999.
In 2006, Altona Grange volunteers started to restore the property and revive the Grange Hall to its original appearance with the goal of maintaining it as a community resource to be used as an affordable gathering space for residents of the county. Most recently, the original clapboard siding and the original window size from 1895 were revealed after the removal of 1950’s asphalt siding from the building. This revelation spurred the next round of renovations that the Altona Grange is now pursuing.
Further information about the Altona Grange Hall can be viewed online, at altonagrange.org.