North Carolina Newspapers

PAGE 4—THE HERALD, Ahoskie, N. C.—MILESTONE YEAR 1959 Garden Club Story Typifies Club Activities CLUB MEETING—Hundreds of Hertford County women busy themselves in the widespread work of clubs. Club activity covers nearly every field of community, home and personal life. The Ahoskie Garden Club is a typical representative of the more than 40 club groups into which Hertford women pour their service. Above: Garden Club members chat before a luncheon meet ing gets under way. By MRS. H. H. SMITH. JR. AHOSKIE—It was quite by ac cident that the Ahoskie Garden Club ever became a reality. If a lady from Raleigh had not forgotten her speaking engage ment in Ahoskie on December 11, 1950, it would probably still be the American Home Department of the Ahoskie Woman’s Club. Mrs. W. R. Raynor was chairman of this department and desperate for a program, persuaded the members to put on a Christmas festival—which they did in less than two weeks’ time! This first flower show turned out to be such a huge success and so much fun, that enthusiasm for a garden club abounded to the ex tent that the American Home De partment was changed to the American Home and Garden De partment of the Ahoskie Wom an’s Club. During the next three years, with growing membership and interest in this department, plans were being made to separate from the Woman’s Club. Mrs. R. B, Bolton from Rich Square visited with the group in the spring of 1953 and discussed the merits of federating with the Garden Club of North Carolina, Mrs. Dan Boyette, Jr., as chair man of the American Home and Garden Department at this time, presided at the May, 1953, meet ing the home of Mrs. W. H. Bas- night, and the vote to become a federated garden club was taken. First President Mrs. P. G. Sewell was elected to lead the first federated garden club in Ahoskie with the assist ance of Mrs. Hunter Sharp, Jr., vice president, and Mrs. J. B. Brown, secretary-treasurer. The 42 charter members voted to name the club the Ahoskie Garden Club and made plans to draw up a constitution and by laws. The charter members were: Mrs. R. A. Anderson, Mrs. Ralph Basnight, Mrs. W. H. Basnight, Mrs. Florence Beasley, Mrs. Dan Boyette, Jr., Mrs. J. B. Brown, Mrs. Earl Capps, Mrs. Otis Car ter, Mrs. Carlton Cherry, Mrs. C. B. Coggins, Mrs. R. R. Copeland, Mrs. C. S. Credle, Mrs. Orville Creech, Mrs. Archie Eagles, Mrs. Alvin Eley, Mrs. E. R. Evans, Mrs. W. B. Everett, Mrs. Norvin Gar rett, Mrs. C. S. Godwin, Jr., Mrs. N. S. Godwin, Mrs. William Greene, Mrs. J. A. Houston, Mrs, L. S. Jernigan, Jr., Mrs. R. H. Jer- nigan, Sr., Mrs. Ivey Johnson, Mrs. Lillian Josselson, Mrs. A. W. Lipsitz, Mrs. John Lockhart, Mrs. Dan Miller, Mrs. William Miller, Mrs. G. J. Newbern, Jr., Mrs. G. J. Newbern, Sr., Mrs. W. D. Odom, Mrs. Kern Ormand, Mrs. Francis T. Parham, Mrs. O. W. Pittman, Mrs. W. R. Raynor, Mrs. P. G. Sewell, Mrs. Hunter Sharp, Jr., Mrs. H. H. Smith, Jr., Mrs. T. R. Tunstall and Mrs. John White. The object of the club is to stim ulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, and to promote active interest in civic beautification and conservation. First Project One of the chief aims of a gar den club is the adoption of a worthwhile project. In 1953, the Ahoskie Garden Club decided to landscape, plant and maintain the strip of land on Railroad Street, from Main Street to Church Street. The Ahoskie Town Council volunteered to se cure legal agreement with the At lantic Coast Line Railroad and to clear and prepare the soil for planting. Mrs. Dan Boyette, Jr., chairman of the project committee, report ed in March, 1954, that the plot had been disked, dirt hauled in and made ready for planting, under the guidance of C. W. Cook sey. Hunter Sharp, Jr., was instru mental in obtaining the fertilizer given to the club by the Charles W, Priddy Company. Money to support the project was raised by selling pansy plants. The outstanding event of the club year was the lecture and demonstration on “Flower Ar ranging” by Mrs. Dorothy Biddle of Hawthorne, N. Y., nationally known garden club lecturer and authoress of several books on flower arranging and related mat ters. The event was opened to the public and being such a huge suc cess, it gave added incentive to the members in their work. Excellent programs were offer ed us that year as Mrs. O. W. Pitt man, chairman of the Program Committee, presented H. J. Davis, representative for California Spray - Chemical Corporation, sponsored by J. R. Harrell and Son, talking on “Plant Care and Insect Control”; Neal Thomas, member of the American Insti tute of Decorators of Cofers, Nor folk, on “Bringing the Garden into the Home”; John Harris, horticul turist with the North Carolina State College Extension Service on “Foundation Plants and Their Planting”; Kenneth Sprunt of Or ton Plantation on “Culture of Ca mellias and Azaleas”; Mrs. Cecil Wooten, Sr., of Kinston on “Table Setting”; Miss Pauline Gordon of North Carolina State College Ex tension Service on “Corsage Craft”; and Mrs. H. D. Walker of Elizabeth City on the Elizabethan Garden at Manteo. Other highlights of the year in cluded a Christmas Workshop, conducted by Mrs. R. B. Bolton, 10th District Director of the Gar den Club of North Carolina, who demonstrated how to make Christmas decorations, a Christ mas Pilgrimage to the homes of Mrs. John Lockhart, Mrs. W. H. Basnight, Mrs. C. S. Credle, Mrs. Hunter Sharp, Jr., and Mrs. J. B. Brown; the sponsoring of the Hertford County Heart Fund held during February; and a garden tour at “The Cedars,” home of Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Browne of Murfreesboro, who invited the club to view their iris gardens. In 1954-1955, with a member ship of 55, Mrs. P. G. Sewell again served as president. Mrs. R. A. Anderson, vice president; Mrs. Marion Odom, secretary; and Mrs. J B. Brown, treasurer, served with her. Everyone was pleased to hear that the club had received nation, al recognition from Mrs. Dorothy Biddle, as she wrote in her regu lar column in “Popular Garden ing” magazine of the attractive landscaping and planting of the railroad plot in the Town of Ahoskie by its Garden Club. The project for the year was to develop further and maintain this plot. Several hundred bulbs, do nated by Mrs. Hunter Sharp, Jr., were planted, and crape myrtles were added for color. The programs for the year in cluded Mrs. W. J. Poffenbaugh, Jr., of Kinston who spoke on “Drying and Arranging Flowers and Foliages”; Mrs. E. B. Pruitt of Tifton, Ga., on “Daylilies”; C. W. Cooksey on “Fall Planting and Landscaping”; J. W. Ballentine, Hertford County agent, on “Care and Culture of Camellias and Azaleas”; Mrs. Mary Proctor, in terior decorator of Rocky Mount on “The Home and Its Decora tion”; and Mrs. J. B. A. Daught- ridge, 10th District director of the Garden Club of North Carolina, on “National Council and State Work.” Two garden tours were included in the programs during the year, as the club visited the gardens of Jodie Blythe of Christian Harbor to see the various planting beds and the grounds of Mrs. Hunter Sharp, Jr., to examine the iris plantings and to hear George Evans of Conway speak on “Iris.’ The annual Christmas Pilgrim age was held in the homes of Mrs. W. R. Raynor, Mrs. T. A. Monk, Jr., Mrs. Marion Odom, Mrs. Ivey Johnson and Mrs. R. R, Copeland. It was also pleasing to note during this Christmas season that the fthree top winners jn the Christmas Decoration contest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, were Garden Club members. During February, 1955, the club again sponsored the Heart Fund for Hertford County. Flower Show The first flower show ever held by the federated Ahoskie Gar den Club was on May 11, 1955. Mrs. W. R. Raynor and Mrs. R. A. Anderson served as cochair men for this “Concert of Colour,’ whose entries were open to the public. The response was excel lent. Judges were: Mrs. J. E. Hoh' land, Holland, Va., and Mrs. J. C. Webb, Mrs. T. A. Jordan, Miss Margaret Jordan of Suffolk. One of the outstanding accom plishments of the Ahoskie Gar den Club was started during the club year of 1955-1956 as Mrs. R. A. Anderson served as presi dent, Mrs. Norvin Garrett, vice president; Mrs. Marion Odom, secretary; and Mrs. Carl Wilroy, Jr., treasurer. Plans were formulated for beautifying No-Man’s Land under the supervision of Mrs. W. B. Everett, chairman of the Project Committee. W. C. Cooksey was contracted to landscape the area, while Roy Parker offered 25 plants and Dick Newsome donated the fertilizer. Plans were made to use the area for a small park as well as a park ing area, by installing a drinking fountain and benches. The State Highway Department was to pave the parking area and the Town of Ahoskie was to maintain the area and share in the cost of the proj ect. Membership was 44 as money was raised by the sale of pansy plants, English daisy plants and North Carolina Gardener calen dars. Two bake sales were also held. On October 24, 1955, a tree was planted on the Roanoke-Chowan Hospital grounds in observance of United Nations Day. Programs included Mrs. Lyman Wilkins and Mrs. Helen Pruitt, Tifton, Ga., who spoke on “Flow er Arranging”; Mrs. M. D, West, Norfolk, on “Gathering and Dry ing Flowers, Leaves and Grasses”; R. D. Mahone, assistant director of landscape gardening at Colo nial Williamsburg on “Formal Gardens”; Ray Majette on “Water Conservation.” A Christmas Workshop, led by Mrs. J. B. A. Daughtridge of Rocky Mount, 10th District director of the Garden Club of North Carolina, and a Spring Garden Tour including the homes of Mrs. Lillian Josselson, Mrs. W. B. Everett and Mrs. Roy Parker, were features of the year, During this year a plaque was installed in the Municipal Build ing for listing the past presidents of the organization. Mrs. Norvin Garrett presided during 1956-1957 with the sistance of Mrs. O. W. Pittman, vice president; Mrs. R. A. Ander son, secretary; and Mrs. Carl Wil roy, Jr., treasurer. Club activity started with much enthusiasm as Mrs. J. B. Brown, chairman, and Mrs. Dan Boyette, Jr., cochairman, led the members into “Autumn Splendor,” the sec ond flower show staged by the Ahoskie Garden Club. Competition was open to resi dents of Ahoskie and was held in the Municipal Building on Octo ber 3, 1956. Judges were from out of town. Many lovely arrangements were entered and the Ahoskie Garden Club was nearing its goal of a Standard Flower Show, one which meets all the requirements set forth by the Garden Club of North Carolina. Project Work Project work continued unabat ed under the leadership of Mrs. Alex Lipsitz. After much delay, permission was finally received from the Atlantic Coast Line Rail road to complete the paving of No-Man’s Land. This would com plete the project- started in 1955. Mrs. W. R. Raynor and Mrs. Marion Odom, cochairmen of the Program Committee, presented Mrs. H. R. Totten of Chapel Hill, who talked on “Landscape De sign” and Mrs. Sam Mitchell, 10th District director of the Garden Club of North Carolina, who spoke of District and State work. Other programs enjoyed during the year were presented by club members and included a program on birds, during which time it was noted that the City of Ahos kie had adopted the ordinance making Ahoskie a Bird Sanctuary, and a skit on shrubbery identifi cation. The annual Christmas Work shop was held in December as the members worked to make Christ mas favors for the hospital trays and evergreen arrangements for the hospital lobby and shut-ins. The annual Spring Garden Tour was held in Murfreesboro in A,pril. 1957, which the Ahoskie Garden Club attended in a group. The club was very proud of the honor bestowed on Mrs. R. R. Copeland at the annual disMct meeting, when she was appointed District Beautification chairman. AniX Mrs. Garrett, president, could point with pride to the fact that the Ahoskie Garden Club was listed, for the first time, on the Garden Club of North Carolina Honor Roll, signifying that the Club earned the necessary points and met all state requirements for the year. Mrs. 0. W. Pittman, president; Mrs. Marion Odom, vice presi dent; Mrs. R. A. Anderson, secre tary; and Mrs. Norvin Garrett, treasurer; led the Ahoskie Gar den Club in 1957-1958. Another project of considerable size was undertaken with Mrs. Alex Lipsitz as chairman of the Project Committee. The club vot ed to beautify the Ahoskie Ceme tery with the financial support of the Town Council, which appro priated $1,000 for this work. Dur ing the year, all shade trees were planted in accordance with the design drawn up by C. W. Cook sey, and other flowering trees and shrubs are to be planted in the near futime. Won Award The club was notified in May of 1958 that the Ahoskie Garden Club had won the State Award of the Powell Bowl for Beautiiica- tion Program for its project work started November 1955 and completed October 1957. Quoting from the State Award Applica tion: “In the fall of 1955 the Ahoskie Garden Club adopted as a project the beautification of a plot of land adjoining the railroad in the cen ter of our town, known as ‘no man’s land.’ This had long been a dream of the citizens of Ahos kie, but each previous attempt had failed due to legal complica tions over actual ownership of this land between the Town of Ahoskie and the Atlantic Coast- Line Railroad. “After a persistent barrage of phone calls, correspondence and appearances before committees and councils, the women of the Ahoskie Garden Club won long- sought after permission to beauti fy the eye-sore in the center of our town. “We then embarked upon our project of beautifying a plot 186’ X 77’ with the stipulation that we leave the parking facilities neces sary for our business district. This left an area of 18’ x 186’ for planting purposes, and we chose the area bordering the railroad to screen the tracks. “Plants were chosen and placed with this in mind. A border of 81 Ligustrum Lucidum outline the plot with 2 Pyracantha Coccines and 2 Cedrus Deodar used as orn amental shrubs. The Cedrus De odar are planned for future nat ural Christmas trees. “A beautiful drinking fountain was given as a memorial by one of our members, and this was placed in the center with an oval walk around it. The rest of the area was paved, curbed and mark ed off for organized parking, which almost doubled the parking facilities for that area. “Club members laid the ground work for this project and obtained the plans. The planting was done by a local nurseryman. The plant ing was financed to the amount of $100 by the club, and the cost of the paving was assumed by the town. “The paving and curbing, which so enhance the beauty of the area, would definitely not have been done if this project had not been undertaken by the Garden Club. Our funds for financing the proj ect and maintaining it have been derived from an annual pansy and English daisy sale.” Mrs. Marion Odom and Mrs. Eugene Freeman, cochairmen of the Program Committee, planned programs with the theme “Plan ning Today’s Garden for Tomor row’s Flowers” and presented Miss Delphia Rawls, home econ omist of VEPCO, who spoke on “Outdoor Lighting for Outdoor Living” and Mrs. Sam Mitchell, 10th District director of the Gar den Club of North Carolina, who talked on “State and National Projects of the Federated Gar den Clubs.” Other programs, given by mem bers, included “Growing Exhibi tion Floral Material,” “The Uses and Abuses of Christmas Greens,” and “Leaves from a Flower Show Notebook.” The annual Spring Pilgrimage was made to several Franklin gardens in April. Due to the number of projects being maintained at this time, the Ways and Means Committee, Mrs. P. G. Sewell, chairman, was ex tremely active. Club members sold pansy and English daisy plants, auto-litterbug bags, blue bird houses, flower arrangement holders and held “vanishing parties” in order to support these projects. Mrs. Pittman, president, an nounced in March, 1958, that a three-cent stamp honoring Gar dening and Horticulture would be available on March 15, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Liberty Hyde Bailey, the noted horticul turist. The 50 members actively sup ported the state-wide “Litterbug” campaign, by presenting a pro gram in the public school and dis tributing “Litterbug” stickers. “Save the Bluebird,” another State Garden Club project, was also led by Mrs W. R. Raynor. The club established the begin ning of a Garden Center this year with a book shelf in the local li brary. Mrs. Carl Wilroy, Jr., was appointed book chairman. Books on arranging, horticul ture, birds, conseirvation and wild flowers have been given by the club and individuals. Librarian is supervising this at present in cooperation with the club. Mrs. W. L. Foy was appointed to rep resent the Garden Club on the Library Board. Junior Club In September, 1957, the first Junior Garden Club was estab lished in Ahoskie, sponsored by the Ahoskie Garden Club. Mrs. H. H. Smith, Jr., counselor, was assisted by Mrs. J. L. Frank. Among the many “firsts” of the Ahoskie Garden Club was the sponsoring of a Christmas Dec oration contest in the town. Nine categories were suggested for the people to enter. Judges for the oc casion were Mrs. J. H. Boyce, Mrs. N. L. Turner and Mrs. Vigil Boomer, all of- Rich Square. Rib bons were awarded to the win ning contestants. “Spring Holidays,” the first standard flower show, was staged on March 26, •1958, in the Mu nicipal Building. •'Mrs. Dan Boy ette, Jr., served ia's chairman, and Mrs. T. A, Monk, Jr., as cochair man. It was a lovely affair with en tries limited to Garden Club mem bers. Leading the club in 1958-1959 are Mrs. Marion Odom, president; Mrs. Dan Boyette, Jr., vice presi dent; Mrs. Charles Savin, secre tary; Mrs. Norvin Garrett, treas urer. Mrs. O. W. Pittman has been appointed state chairman of the Home and Garden Tour, a signal honor for the club. (This article was based on club records of the Ahoskie Garden Club. The writer is a member of the club.) 1048-1959 What SPECIAL Means to Us.. We agree with Mr. Webster that special means “Distinguished By Some Unusual Quality.” The products we offer our customers, we believe, are special . . . we sell QUALITY MEATS . . . you buy good meat . . . not specially priced meat here. Since 1948 our hallmark has been QUALITY and we pledge oiirselves to offer the same high quality in the years to come. We join our fellow citizens in celebrating the 200th Anniversary of our own Hertford County. MERVIN'S MARKET AHOSKIE, NORTH CAROLINA WE CARE aboyt yoor clothes For the past ]2 years we have endeavored to give the citizens of our. area "Handle With Care" Service. We have grown through your good patronage and we try to show our appreciation by constantly trying to improve our L aundry Service. AHOSKIE LAUNDRY 623 N. Mitchell Phone 2546 1928-1959 24 Hours a Day...for 36 Years No, we havent worked 24 hours every day for 36 years but we have been on call in time of need every hour of every day since we opened in 1923. Guarding your health has been our duty, pleasure and business through the years and in the future we stand ever ready in time'of ill ness to supply you with the prescription called for by your doctor. Accuracy is o hallmark with us. We thank the citizens of Hertford County for their confidence, friendship and patronage during the past 36 years. We join our friends and neighbors in celebrating the 200th Anniversary of our own Hertford County ... AMilestone in the history of our State. Walfcer-Boone Dni^ Co. Ahoskie, N. C.