 The Little Garden Club of Rye was founded in 1931, and in 1948 was granted membership in the Garden Club of America, during Mrs. Robert E. Gillie's presidency. Throughout the 75 years the club's focus has been on civic beautification, conservation and historic preservation.
In the thirties the club was involved in the Rye Library plantings and their maintenance.
In 1944 the LGC donated complete furnishings for a trained nurse's room, at the Rye Branch, Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross, for the care of wounded servicemen.
In the fifties the club continued its service to the community by carrying out many beautification projects one of which was landscaping at United Hospital; grading, laying a flagstone walk, planting trees, shrubs and bulbs, and arranging for major pruning. The club did further work at the Rye Library, concentrating on arrangements for the children's room and the main desk. The first national officer of the GCA from the LGC was Mrs. Breck McAllister who in 1959 became Vice Chairman for National Parks. Mrs. Frank Donahue was national Treasurer for several terms and later served as president of the Garden Club of America. Today LGC has an annual Kay Donahue Award for the member who best exemplifies Kay's beloved spirit.
In the sixties the LGC made donations to the Restoration Fund of the Rye Historical Society for trees to be planted along Purchase Street. In 1968 the stone watering trough which originally stood by the police booth on the Boston Post Road was resurrected from the dump at Disbrow Park and placed at the Rockridge traffic triangle and filled with seasonal flowers. In the early nineties roses were added, and other perennials. LGC members continued to maintain the plantings. In September 2004, LGC member Mrs. Robert Horne implemented a club approved new landscape plan which provides color both winter and summer.
In the early seventies, the massage bridge project from Oyster Bay into Rye was proposed under Nelson Rockefeller's administration. Its effect upon Rye would have been devastating. Presidents Mrs. Frank Donahue and Mrs. Carl Berntsen, along the other members, took an active roll in helping to defeat this project by writing letters and speaking out against it. Another project that the LGC with President Mrs. Harry E. Sohmer, Jr. undertook was the beautification of the railroad station, and the land surrounding it, to celebrate the Bicentennial in 1976. This was a long-range project for planting the station area, following a master plan drawn up by Mrs. Albert Richardson. President Mrs. Robert Mallory in collaboration with Mrs. Bayard Read of the Rye Garden Club was instrumental in helping to save the 44 acre Parson's Tract, which later became the Rye Nature Center. Here the LGC maintains a wildflower garden for its beauty and for educational purposes.
Some of our most recent civic projects include helping to plant and install an educational herb garden at the Knapp House, funded by a generous bequest from the estate of Kay Donahue. In April 1992 we had our fist Daffodil Show at The Osborn, spearheaded by Mrs. John McCullock and Mrs. Carl Bernsten. This event has continued over the years to the delight of the residents there. Both flower boxes and the garden at the Rye Post Office are maintained by our club.
The LGC has had many flower shows opened to the public and also in-house for the members only. These started in May 1961 and continued in 1963, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 2001, and 2006. The club has always had many talented members who have had their share in winning awards in both artistic flower arrangements and horticulture. Field trips have been numerous over the years, visiting nearby gardens in Stamford, the New York Botanical Garden, Wave Hill, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and the Philadelphia Flower Show; and more formal trips to Washington, Boston, and Natchez, and gardens in England, and Italy.
The LGC has a long history of fund-raising to support its civic activities. For many years Christmas sales were held annually at Christ's Church. Decorated wreaths, table arrangements, hand made gifts and our most famous item for fund raising was the Miniature Package Christmas Trees, made with live greens decorated with lights and beautifully wrapped packages. There were luncheons and silent auctions at the Apawamis Club, Christmas house tours, Christmas coffees and in 2002 there was our "Deck the Halls" tour of Rye's historical homes.
Creativity is a hallmark of our club. Our members enjoy each other's company; we serve our community generously, and are all proud to share the work of the GCA. |
