ELMHURST GARDEN CLUB BLOSSOMING FOR 71 YEARS
On February 20, 1939 a small group of gardeners met at the home of Mrs. Clarence Eiper on Sandpoint Road. Under the guidance of Mrs. Frank Schick of Rose Garden Club and Mrs. Nelson Richey of Columbine Club, these 17 people founded the Elmhurst Garden Club. The membership list as printed in the first program book listed 21 members, so they accepted this list as the actual Charter members, according to the history of the Elmhurst Garden Club’s 40th Anniversary meeting written in 1979 by Virginia Meshberger.
The Charter members of the Elmhurst Garden Club are: Venieta Armitage, Lula Adams, Reba Barnes, Ruth Beeler, Nellie Brown, Genevieve Cleland, Gladys Coolidge, Mary Dautz, Mary Alice Cox, Della Barbara Frederick, Lois Goss, Neva Haller, Nettie Hires, Polly Kinerk, Cecelia Ann Lang, Virginia Meshberger, Memphis Miller, Ruby Pond, Mary Schalk, Wava Thomas, and Fanny Worgum.
In 1942 the club voted to have delphinium as their club flower, then in 1956 it was changed to the Flowering Crab Blossom. Also, this was the year that Katharine Meriwether withdrew from the club and moved to Decatur area, on a farm called “Quaker Trail Farm.” So in 1945 the club voted to name her an honorary member.
It was in 1944 that the club voted to decorate the Elmhurst gym for Elmhurst’s Baccalaureate and graduation exercises for use of the gym for their Flower Shows.
Dorcas Sprunger of the Berne Garden Club talked on “gathering and drying of weeds for arrangements” in 1950. It was also the year that they decided to have 12 meetings a year, instead of 24. Then in 1951 the dues were increased from $1 to $1.25 and later in 1955 they were increased to $3. As of 2010 annual dues are $5.
In 1952 a survey was taken, the members had planted 36 trees and 254 shrubs during the 13 years, and 145 Flowering Crabs. Back in 1941 the club ordered Eleyi Crab Trees and Maple trees, paying 25 cents for the crab trees and 8 cents for each Maple.
February of 1964 was the 25th anniversary of the club. Acres became more progressive and it was at this time that the club voted to join them. They established a Sustaining Membership in Acres in 1966, and retain this each year. As a special feature of this year’s program, Lois Goss reviewed “Silent Spring.” The club wrote a letter to the city protesting their method of river beautification.
An interesting program in 1967 was when Gilbert Whetzel from City Park Department spoke on lawns. This same year a display at the Home Show acquired 321 signatures on a petition to establish Fox Island.
On their 33rd Anniversary the club toured the new City County Building, with lunch at the beautiful historic old Hotel, the Rose Marie.
When the Elmhurst Garden Club was founded 71 years ago, ladies wore gloves and broad-brimmed hats to work in flowerbeds. Back then, most girls learned to garden from their mothers.
You get the feeling not all that much has changed for this club.
The club’s objectives haven’t changed: “To stimulate the knowledge and Love of gardening; To aid in the protection of native, trees, plants, and birds; To promote community and civic beautification; To encourage these things through the friendly association of its members.”
Area residents who have the prettiest petunias or the most dazzling daisies may want to put their green thumbs forward and join this 71-year old garden club.
Shirley Koegel-Kinder, member and current president of the garden club, wishes that more people would show an interest in the Elmhurst Garden Club. She said the club has 16 active members, which is about the norm during her years in involvement. On the second Tuesday of the month, usually at 1pm, gardening members meet. Sometimes at a member’s home, sometimes at a restaurant, and sometimes they do a tour. Educational sessions are part of the meetings.
One of the highlights of the club’s calendar is their Plant Sale. They each bring plants to sell and raise money for a charity by auctioning off their plants. Over the years they have donated to Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Acres Land Trust, Diehm Museum, to name a few.
Gardening is like any other hobby. It’s a love…a love to be outdoors, in the dirt, planting, repotting, digging, pruning, and raking. “It’s kinda like a therapy session,” remarked Shirley.
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. I have the feeling that many beautiful tomorrows are destined to be enjoyed in the Waynedale area.
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