Arts & Leisure
Looking Back at the Old York
Garden Club
By Barbara Perkins
Club Historian
Winners of Old York Garden Club’s “Christmas-tree-for-the-Birds” contest held in 1979, pictured here in this archive photograph, include, from the bottom left, winner Maureen Kleist, with honorable mention Andy Boston to the right. In the middle row, pictured from left to right, are Brian Kleist, Mary Kleist and Kathleen and Elizabeth Byrne, second-prize winners. In the third row is runner-up Chris Ulm.
Courtesy of Old York Garden Club
YORK - Birds, children and education; these three elements have been a priority over the years, from 1932 to the present time, with the Old York Garden Club.
As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, club members have been scouring past issues of our local newspapers to learn more about what the club was doing over all these years. This article will focus on activities for children during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
For several years during the late 1970s children, under the auspices of the club and in co-operation with the Girl Scouts, made bluebird nest houses. They also participated in the club's Harvest Festival, which was held on the grounds of the First Parish Church.
Among the junior gardeners who grew their own produce with the hope of winning an award were Cindy Allen, Matthew Baste, Sara Brazer, Christopher Chaka, Stephen and Ingrid Claesson, Sarah, Rachel and Laura Dow, Chris Gregg, Jane and Carolyn Hagerty, Robin and Rice Kendall, Liz Legrow, Christopher and Shanlee Linney, Skipper and Sarah Mace, Michelle and Renee Pezutte, Christopher and Tommy Robinson, David and Kimberly Rocray, Megan, Jeffery and Margo Simonds, Karen and Beth Stuart and Christopher and Josham Ulm.
From 1979 to 1983 club members taught children a good use for discarded Christmas trees. The children decorated them with popcorn, pudding cups, peanut butter seed balls and other delicacies for our feathered friends. These contests were judged and awards were given.
In 1983 the Education Committee published and sold booklets dedicated to all the children who had, for many years, entered the "Christmas Tree for the Birds contest." These booklets feature our State Bird, the Black Capped Chickadee, rules for happy birds and many delicious recipes for their culinary enjoyment.
