JULY / AUGUST 2008 --
The Master of Litchfield Grange, Dick Healy, said it best, “We don’t know a lot about barn raising but we can raise some money!” After the suggestion of Taghhannuck Grange member, Myrtle Hayden, it was decided Mountain County Pomona would hold a barn dance to raise money for the Ray Damiani Family who lost their barn and a full season’s store of hay to arson during the winter.
The Litchfield Fire Department donated the use of their beautiful banquet facility for the dance and many members and merchants in the area donated gifts and gift baskets to be raffled off during the dance. As it turns out, the Pomona needed a gymnasium as over 200 Grange and community members poured into the hall to support this worthy cause. The entire Damiani family attended and helped set up, sweep up and close up.
Culver Griffin and his Country Spice Band donated their services for the evening and the success of this event is certainly due to their generous donation of their time and music.
At the May 22 meeting of Litchfield Grange, Pomona Master Todd Gelineau was pleased to present a check in the amount of $4,675 to a very grateful Damiani family. It is interesting to note that earlier that day, Pomona Treasurer Janet Healy was filling up her tank at her neighborhood gas station when someone recognized her as a Grange member and presented her with a $100 bill to be added to the money raised at the dance.
The Barn Dance not only helped the Damiani Family, it also helped bind the members of Mountain County Pomona together in a common cause. Hopefully this project will be a stepping stone to even greater projects in the future.
