History

In 1910, J.E. Sherfey came to the Nebraska Sandhills with his wife, Tressie, as homesteaders. Early on, the ranch was named “Rackett” as a joke since the area was so quiet and isolated, and because another original homesteader, “Grandma” Devasier, wanted to name it after her hometown, Racket, Missouri.

Mr. Sherfey took over the local post office, added a small grocery store, and donated an acre of land to build Grange Hall #318 to bring families together to socialize and learn new farming techniques. Mr. Sherfey also allowed the use of his cattle corrals for horses competing in the July 4th, 1926 rodeo.

There were horse races and bucking exhibitions, as well as cow chip-throwing and slipper-kicking contests for the women and children. Although everyone had to do their ranch chores, they all came back for a night of dancing.

Floyd and Margaret Ferrell began purchasing ranch land in the 1930s. Floyd set up a local bank to help ranchers during the Great Depression. The Ferrell’s daughter, Marjorie, grew up enjoying the ranch and later married Hall of Famer Harold Habermann who worked the ranch with Marjorie for 20 years. Their daughter, Margaret Ann, was raised in the same tradition to respect and appreciate the land. As the third generation of owners, Margaret and her husband Stan Baker, a decorated Denver Police officer and investment banker, have taken over the role as caretakers of this historic and special place. Their twin sons will be the fourth generation of family members to carry on the long-held traditions of respect for the community, the land, and its abundant wildlife.

In 2001, the 1926 Grange Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The Bakers have carefully restored it to have a new life as the Rackett hunting clubhouse and dining hall, always remembering with reverence the history and stories that live on in its walls.

The Rackett Grange Hall in Rackett, Nebraska

The Rackett Grange Hall No. 318, also known as Rackett Community Hall and denoted NeHBS No. GD04-002, is a building in rural Garden County, Nebraska, United States, that was built in 1926. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It was located in the town of Rackett, which no longer exists; it is now located in a remote area within what is now Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Constructed in 1926 the hall, located at the former townsite of Rackett, is a one-story, false front commercial building. The Rackett Grange Hall #318 is significant for its association with the Patrons of Husbandry movement. This organization, also known as "the Grange," was originally conceived as a fraternal organization designed to bring farmers and their families together to socialize and to learn new farming techniques. The Rackett Grange Hall #318 was no exception. Based on historical records, it was the focal point of many social gatherings for the otherwise isolated community and surrounding area.

The false front first generation commercial one-story building is rectangular in shape measuring approximately 23 by 39 feet. Constructed of wood, the front fac?ade is clad with asphalt siding while wood shingles cover remaining three sides. Although neither of these siding materials are original to the building they are at least fifty years old. The gabled roof is covered with asphalt shingles. The foundation consists of poured concrete with a stucco overlay. The main fac?ade (which faces south) is symmetrical with a double door entrance flanked by a window on either side. Above the door is a sign with the inscription “Rackett Hall.” On the west side are three symmetrically placed windows and three basement windows. The east fac?ade also has three windows, but only one basement window. There is, however, a cellar door that leads into the basement. At the rear of the building is a chimney that is slightly off center.

The interior, which is intact, consists of one large open room with portable seating lining the walls. In the northwest corner is a partially enclosed stairwell leading to the basement. The basement is also an open space that served as a serving/refreshment area during Grange events.

Other buildings located on site include a small wood frame gable roofed shed to the east of the hall. Its construction date is unknown, but it was originally used to house a gasoline engine that provided power to the hall. After the introduction of electricity the gasoline was no longer required and the shed is now used for storage. The other building located north of the hall is a gabled, wood frame outhouse. A well and hand pump, a contributing object, is located east of the hall. Finally, there are two non-contributing objects, a propane tank located to the east of the outhouse and a fence that surrounds the property.

Although not historically associated with the Grange hall, the trees surrounding the site provide a unique setting amid the sandhills and sandhill valleys that dominate the region. Prior to the construction of the hall, Mr. J.E. Sherfrey, who donated the land for the Grange, planted a large number of trees. It was in the midst of which the hall was eventually built. Several rows of deciduous trees, primarily cottonwood, are located on the north and east sides of the Grange hall. On the west side of the building are rows cottonwood, fruit, and coniferous trees. This large stand of trees is in stark contrast to the generally treeless native of the sandhills.

The Rackett Grange Hall #318 is located at the former town site of Rackett in Garden County, just east of Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. The hall is eligible at the local level under Criterion A for its association with the Patrons of Husbandry movement. This organization, also known as “the Grange,” was originally conceived as a fraternal organization designed to bring farmers and their families together to socialize and to learn new farming techniques. While the Grange did eventually provide a political voice for the farmers, its primary function was as a social organization. The Rackett Grange Hall #318 was no exception. Based on historical records it was the focal point of many social gatherings for the otherwise isolated community and surrounding area. The Rackett Grange #318 is also significant at the local level under Criterion C, as a good example of a first generation false front commercial building. These false front buildings were once ubiquitous throughout the state, but are now rarely extant. The period of significance is 1926, the year the hall was constructed. The nomination consists of three buildings—the Grange Hall, a power shack, and an outhouse; and one object—a well and hand pump.

Shortly after the Civil War farmers as a group, thought the country’s economic policies and industry (particularly the railroads) were responsible for their perceived poor economic situation. But acting as individual farmers lacked the political clout to bring about the kind of changes they believed were necessary. This began to change when Oliver Hudson Kelley, a young government clerk, traveled across the South following the Civil War. Shocked at the plight of the poor farmers, he founded the Patrons of Husbandry in 1867. The goal of this organization was to improve the lives of farmers and broaden their horizons. Local chapters, called “granges” brought farmers and their families together to socialize and to learn new farming techniques. The Grangers sponsored fairs, picnics, dances, lectures—anything to break the bleakness of farm life. After a slow start the Grange movement grew quickly. By 1875 there were 800,000 members in 20,000 local chapters, located primarily in the Midwest, South, and Southwest.

At first the Grangers declined to enter the political fray. But in a pattern often repeated in companion oriented organizations, socializing led to economic and then to political action. By pooling their money to buy supplies and equipment to store and market their crops, Grangers could avoid the high charges of intermediaries. By the early 1870s they were also lobbying mid-western legislatures to adopt “Granger laws” regulating rates charged by railroads, grain elevator operators, and other intermediates. While moving into the world of politics they continued the fraternal and social aspects of the Grange.

It was not long after the founding of the Patrons of Husbandry that the first Grange chapter appeared in Nebraska. On January 1, 1872 the state’s initial Grange was organized in Alma City, Harlan County. The Grange movement enjoyed some early success in opening new chapters throughout the state. However, by 1890 the Farmers Alliance (an association of newly created farm parties) began to supplant the Grange as the voice of the farmer. This led to a decline in the number of active Grange chapters, members, and consequently political clout.

By 1911, however, the Farmers Alliance began losing support primarily because their political positions were either implemented or absorbed by the two main parties, especially the Democrats. Conversely the Grange began a resurgence. The Grange still espoused the political views of farmers, but the renewed popularity stemmed from the fact they continued to offer the fraternal, social, and educational aspects that were so important to the farmer. These activities allowed the otherwise isolated families to interact with each other and exchange ideas on a number of subjects. Expanding on this concept, in 1912 home economics gained stronger emphasis within the Grange to the extent that “home economics stations” were established in the halls.

For Garden County the establishment of Grange chapters began in 1923. Eventually, there were four Grange chapters in the county. One of the earliest new organizations was in Rackett. The inaugural meeting was held at District 12 School on October 25, 1924. While the Rackett Grange #318 continued to hold its meetings at District 12 School (no longer extant) the chapter moved quickly to establish its permanency. At the third meeting of Rackett Grange #318 a building committee was established to determine the feasibility of constructing their own hall. On February 3, 1925 the building committee reported that money could be obtained for the construction of such a structure. The Grange borrowed seven hundred dollars from the Bank of Bingham (SH02-001) to help build the new hall. At a meeting held on August 8, 1925 members decided the hall would be of frame construction and accepted one acre of land that Mr. J.E. Sherfrey offered to donate as a site for the building.

On June 25, 1926 the Garden County News reported “Many of the Grangers are hauling lumber for the new Grange hall this week.” In the same edition the newspaper stated that Sam Mardis was given the contract to build the hall. Construction was completed on July 3, 1926 when the dedication occurred, followed by a celebration on July 4th.
The bi-weekly meetings continued on a consistent basis at the new facility after its completion. The Garden County News regularly reported dates of the upcoming meetings and what occurred at them. Some of these were business oriented, but most were social gatherings. Once again this demonstrates the traditional important function the Grange played as a fraternal organization for the farmers.

The Rackett Grange Hall #318 is also significant under Criterion C. It is a good example of a first generation false front commercial building that were once ubiquitous throughout the state, but today are rarely extant. These types of structures were generally built during the early Euroamerican settlement of Nebraska. As indicated by the newspaper article this type of building could be built in a short period of time (in this case one week). Also, they were cheap and easy to build. To distract from the simplicity the false front provided a more imposing image. Together these factors indicate the first generation false front commercial buildings were not meant to be permanent structures. Usually made of wood, and vulnerable to fire, they were gradually replaced by more substantial buildings constructed of more permanent materials.

According to the Nebraska Historic Building Survey there are only three other first generation false front commercial buildings in Garden County. Two are located in Lewellen and one in Lisco. While the integrity of these structures is not known the Rackett Grange Hall #318 retains good integrity.

The Rackett Grange #318 finally disbanded in the 1940s as a result of declining membership. However, the Rackett Community Club took possession of the building. This organization has preserved the building and continues to use it for social events. The Rackett Grange Hall #318 is significant at the local level under Criterion A for its association with the Patrons of Husbandry movement and is the only Grange meeting hall still extant in Garden County. Additionally, aside from not being an active Grange chapter it still performs one of its original main functions, that is, as a gathering place for social activities. The Rackett Grange Hall #318 is also significant at the local level under Criterion C as a property type rarely extant in Garden County. The imposing false front helped disguise the relatively cheap and easy construction of the building. Although this first generation commercial building type was not meant to be permanent, the Rackett Grange Hall #318 is still extant and retains a high degree of integrity.

PDF of the Historic Register