Over the last months I’ve written about various buildings in North Rochester; the old telephone office, the boarding house/ tavern/ private home and others. There is one that I haven’t mentioned and that is a house at 765 Snipatuit Rd. Now a private residence, it was first the site of the North Rochester Social Union.
The North Rochester Social Union was an organization created before 1879, and its members were families from the area. At first, the group met in the homes of up to 40-50 members. However, records show two deeds from August 5, 1879. In one, Jason White sold a lot of land on Snipatuit Rd. to George F. Bartlett for a dollar. The second has Bartlett selling the land (again for $1.00) to Jason White, Allen G. Ashley, George B. Allen, Richard N. Clark, Marcus Maxim, Clarence W. Maxim and Charles Maxim.
This group of men purchased the property for “the use and benefit” of the organization. It is not clear when the building was constructed, but it is believed that it wasn’t long after the purchase of the land. Most likely it was between 1879 and 1883. A deed from Dec. 18, 1903 mentions the existence of a building on the site.
The North Rochester Social Union saw the building “as a place of meeting for social, recreational, charitable and patriotic uses”. While the North Rochester Social Club never officially disbanded, it more or less faded away. The hall became known simply as Union Hall, and in 1906, the Rochester Grange #257 was organized on Feb.12 and held its first meeting there. At one time, there was a move to name it Sippican Grange, but the idea was not well supported.
The hall was described as a “small area lit by oil lamps”. There was a kitchen and dining space upstairs on the second floor. The hall had no water so when it was needed, it was brought from the neighbor, George Allen’s house. The Grange not only held meetings here but also suppers and dances to raise money for the organization. By 1923, they had enough money to build their own hall. They moved there in 1924 and are still there today.
The last trustee of the North Rochester Social Union was Clarence W. Maxim who died in July of 1931. Before his death, he appointed three new trustees who went on to sell the land and buildings to Clara (Bennett) Rice and Mary E. Bennett for $675.00. The sisters were downsizing from their home at Bennett Farm, also in North Rochester.
By Connie Eshbach