Orcas Island Grange in 1931: Jane Barfoot-Hodde Was There!

Jane Barfoot-Hodde will be honored on April 16 at the San Juan Grange

April 16 Ceremony on San Juan Island to Honor Pioneer in Person

By Tom Welch

Jane Barfoot-Hodde joined the Washington Grange in 1931 at the age of 18, following in her mother’s footsteps. Growing up on the Willis family farm near Obstruction Pass homesteaded by her grandparents in 1886, the tenets of the Grange – Faith in God, Honesty, Patriotism – spoke powerfully to Jane, and matched her own beliefs. Equally strong in her estimation is the Creed sworn by all Grange members that “I will not wrong or defraud a Brother or a Sister, nor will I let it be done.” These are strong words for anyone to live by, and Jane’s life has been a testimony to her sincere belief in them.

Consider Orcas Island in 1931 for a minute: transportation to the mainland relied on the ‘Mosquito Fleet’ of small, diverse steamboats in constant competition for mail routes, passengers, and freight. Docks and vessels alike were often in poor repair, making a trip to the mainland occasionally more exciting than the occasion warranted, on a schedule that was more faithful in the breach than the observance. Electricity was available if you had a generating plant, as a few homes and most resorts did in those days before OPALCO, but otherwise you relied on lanterns for light and a woodstove for heat and cooking. Although most homes had telephones, the road wasn’t paved to most parts of the island, and island schools weren’t yet fully consolidated at Eastsound. There was no television, of course, but radios were common appliances. Most islanders fished or farmed for a living, and ‘investments’ were what you put in the ground, in the form of seed, or in the farm or boat, in the form of labor.

The Grange, also known as the ‘Patrons of Husbandry’, was founded in Minnesota in 1857. Organized to gather all people who lived close to the land in a unified body, the Grange was the first of the so-called ‘secret societies’ to admit women as full members. Stimulating cooperation with one another through Farmer’s Cooperatives, voter education, and social activities centered around the Grange, the organization was a very powerful force for good at a time when small farmers dominated the economic landscape.

Jane Barfoot-Hodde served for 33 years as Secretary of the Orcas Island Grange, which originally met at the West Sound Grange Hall (now the West Sound Yacht Club). The pins, medals and awards seen in the accompanying photos reflect her many achievements and years of membership, culminating in the award for 75 years as a member. She earns her 80 Year award this year. Jane has been honored many times for her service in the Grange, receiving the state Leadership Award in 2006, and she has been designated a Special Deputy.

Saturday, April 16, all Grange members in San Juan County are invited to attend the Rededication of San Juan Island Grange #966. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a special Degree team from Snohomish County will be conferring the first four degrees of the Grange. This event is open to all Grange members, whether you have seen this before or not – all Grange members are encouraged to attend this day of celebration and degree work. The full ritual degree work of the first four degrees of the Grange as traditionally conducted for over a century is a great opportunity to renew your understanding of the Grange. It is quite beautiful and very powerful. At the end of the day there will be a contra dance with a live caller, all in time for a return home on the ferry.

Jane plans to attend the festivities, and will bring with her the blue altar cloth (seen as background in the photo of her pins and awards) and other crocheted cloths she made for the event. And, in case you’re wondering…..that took one hundred hours of crocheting. If, as we’ve long been told, idle hands make for the devil’s work….I think Jane’s in little danger.

When I interviewed Jane Barfoot-Hodde for this article I asked if she had any advice to give, and wasn’t surprised when she declined to offer any. I’m sure that Jane would say that it is better to offer an example than mere words of advice. We’re fortunate to have such an exemplary example among us as Jane Barfoot-Hodde.