GRANGE
grange (graynj).1.Hist. A farm furnished with all the necessities for husbandry, such as a barn,
granary, and stables; esp., an outlying farm that belonged to a religious establishment or a feudal
lord. 2. (cap.) A social, educational, and political organization, formally called the National
Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, that informs its members about agriculture-related legislation
and proposals, and represents farm interests in lobbying government. • The Grange was formed in
1867 and soon became the foundation of the Granger Movement, a 19th-century political force
that protested economic abuses that increased farmers’ costs while forcing down prices for
agricultural products. Movement followers (called Grangers) controlled several Midwest state
legislatures and passed Granger laws that set maximum rates for railroads, warehouses, and
elevators. Railroads and other interested parties challenged the constitutionality of these laws in
what have become known as the Granger Cases. [Blacks Law 8th]