The Clayton Grange, severely gutted in an arson fire almost two years ago, won the top prize in this year’s state Grange Hall Improvement contest.

Exterior brick walls were all that remained after the arson fire on May 29, 2005. After the blaze, grange members were faced with the dilemma: they had $120,000 in insurance proceeds and reconstruction bids between $500,000-$750,000. They decided to retain the remaining brick shell and serve as their own contractor to save money.

Several months after the fire, members were able to secure building permits to begin the reconstruction.  By September 2006, enough work had been accomplished to accommodate the resumption of the grange’s monthly pancake feed.

Throughout the construction process, non-grange members were also mobilized. These volunteers donated cash, materials and labor.

“This building project has provided a link between the community and the Grange that helps to really show the impact that the Grange organization has in the area,” according to the Clayton Grange’s contest entry. “A lot of hard work and teamwork has gone into making this all happen so far and we are very thankful for this.”

Members hope to have the reconstruction completed this year.

“Our tiny Grange is going to be bigger and better,” according to the grange’s entry notebook.