Arts & Leisure
Old York Garden Club still growing after 75 years
By the Old York Garden Club
Old York Garden Club members who were awarded the Edith Burbank Junkins Bowl for Excellence in Horticulture, named for the club’s first president, include (standing, from left) Rose Glynn, Louisa Gillespie, Faith Webster, Becky Renner and Jeannine Peloquin, and (seated, from left) Barbara Perkins, Harold Radochia and Becky Linney. Not pictured are Eleanor Todd, Marcia Brazier and Donna Fancy. The bowl is now displayed in the library of the Old York Historical Society.
Courtesy photo
YORK - The Old York Garden celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007.
As part of this milestone in the club's history, articles will be included in The Independent to help spread the news of upcoming events scheduled throughout the year and to give some background and history of the club.
Club member Barbara Perkins has been researching past newspaper articles and minutes of club meetings to put together a comprehensive archive on the Old York Garden Club. There seems to be a lot of information missing from the 1930s to 1972. If anyone had a mother or grandmother in the club and knows of any notes, article clippings, photographs or other such information they may have collected please contact Barbara Perkins at 363-6312.
The Nov. 11, 1932, York Transcript noted the club was formed that fall because of the "Growing interest in gardens… Mrs. S.H. Junkins has been chosen as president, Mrs. L. N. Duval vice president, Mrs. Edward Cook recording secretary, Mrs. Fred Cressey corresponding secretary, Mrs. John J. Sullivan treasurer. The first meeting was held on Thursday evening at the home of Mrs. Francis Paul."
The early goals of the club were to stimulate knowledge of gardening among amateurs; to aid in the protection of trees, plants and birds; to encourage civic planting, and to participate in such activities as may be voted by the club. Over these 75 years, these objectives have been fulfilled by the organization in many different ways, always focusing on education, civic development, design, horticulture, conservation and legislation. One of the most noticeable activities of the club is the planting, care and maintenance of the many traffic islands located throughout York.
It seems evident that through the decades the OYGC, in its search for excellence in gardening and its related fields, has become a microcosm of societal values. Our 110 members, female and male, some active for 30 years, are stimulated by yearly additions of new and enthusiastic individuals. One member, Nancy Junkins, is actually distantly related by marriage to our first president, Edith Burbank Junkins.
As our 75th anniversary progresses, watch for more "flowery" details of our historical progress in The Independent newspaper.
