Roots, Shoots, and Hoots
Helen Goforth, Historian
Summer 2008
Ahhhh, the 50s! Shagging…’57 Chevys…pony tails and bobby socks! What great memories! Even if you weren’t fortunate enough to live your teen years through those rockin’ years, you have, at least, “Rocked Around the Clock” on New Year’s Eve. Or were you the cute little girl in the poodle skirt on Halloween night?
While we were shagging or tipping the seats on the Ferris wheel at the Pavilion, our founders were attending the 21st Convention at Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach with 387 members and visitors present. With a balance of $1,759.35 in the bank, “Grandma’s garden club,” elegant in their “Sunday” dresses, hats, and matching gloves and “evening” gowns with long white gloves, were poised to demonstrate their clout in SC. (Yes, we loved digging in the dirt, too!) Having survived the war and twenty years as an organization, we were on a roll and rebuilding was our goal! The 50s were momentous years for GCSC.
Life Memberships were established during the convention, and the first Life Member was SAR Director, Hessie T. Morrah, who produced $25 along with her motion, “That the proceeds from this enrollment be designated as a Scholarship Fund.” Almost immediately, 52 ladies added their names to the “roll of Honor.”
Do you recall stopping at a roadside park to enjoy a picnic lunch? Roadside parks were GCSC’s highway beautification project in 1950. Blue Star Highways, established in 1948, were convenient and highly-visible locations for GCSC clubs and councils to erect markers at the parks on the highways. GCSC was awarded a National Council Bronze Medal for State Achievement.
Every child learned a catchy phrase in the early 50s, “Don’t be a Litterbug! Let’s clean up our roadways and go after that litterbug TODAY!” GCSC’s first roadside improvement project was to oppose the proliferation of “tacky” billboards and unsightly “dumping” on SC’s roads. The conservation movement gathered momentum as GCSC’s numbers and influence increased.
The slogan, “Keep South Carolina Green,” was adopted in 1954. The first Youth Conservation Camp, co-sponsored by GCSC and SC Wildlife Federation, was held in 1955 at Camp Forest, Cheraw. The daily schedule included three “sick calls” for campers, but the “most interested and cooperative bunch of young people” didn’t let the usual mishaps stop them. The word heard at the end of camp was “How can I come back again next year?” It would be re-named Camp Wildwood, and the number of campers has doubled for the week-long camp now held at Kings Mountain.
The first South Carolina Engagement Calendar was available in 1953 for $1.03, tax included. The calendars sold out before they could be advertised in the next South Carolina Bulletin. Because of these publications, we have many impressive photographs of the early years and development of Memorial Garden. Gardens of SC were spotlighted in some editions, and, today, we have a pictorial history of gardens to be researched for SC Historic Landscape Initiative.
Mrs. Bedford Moore (Elizabeth Finlay Moore) worked tirelessly as the Briggs design became a reality in Memorial Garden, and kept meticulous records on the progress. Photographs, letters from Loutrel Briggs, the first history of the garden, 1957 Dedication photos and articles, scribbled computations of estimates for little garden statues, newspaper articles, wedding announcements, letters and donations from clubs and members, and lists for everything considered valuable, or not, were saved in scrapbooks. They tell a fascinating story!
GCSC celebrated its Silver Anniversary in 1955 at the magnificent Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston. “The Banquet Hall was bedecked with pink flowers in silver baskets on soft green table covers…. a fairyland of loveliness in pastel shades of pink, rose and silver.” The festivities surrounding the opening of the convention were tempered with the passing of Mrs. Sheffield Phelps on the eve of the convention. Her wish for love and gratitude to be extended to the Board was made barely a month before the convention. Her message of 1933 became her legacy. “I think no woman present at that small gathering could have envisioned the present Garden Club of South Carolina; its size, its influence, and the pleasure and profit we have derived from it.”
ROOTS, SHOOTS, AND HOOTS
Fall 2008
At the end a long, arduous war, the well-planned succession of GCSC Officers was in jeopardy. Leaders emerged, but a game of “Hot Potato” ensued as potential candidates were unable to fulfill commitments for service. National’s theme, “It Is to Be All Made of Faith and Service,” encouraged members to return to their clubs. SC answered the charge with the election of a lovely woman from the Piedmont District to the GCSC Board.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! Enter, HESSIE THOMSON MORRAH
Accomplished in Piano and Voice, Hessie graduated from Converse College in 1909 with a B.S. degree and a Teacher’s Certificate. If you are imagining a serious, introspective student, erase that image from your mind. “Monk” created quite a stir at Converse when she instigated a mock music festival, performing a “hilarious ‘spoof’ of a professor so cleverly that the poor man didn’t even catch on.” Talented in art and drama, she was a popular student, and was remembered as being “full of life, witty, and charming.” She married her roommate’s brother in 1911 after graduation and teaching for two years. She and her husband, Patrick Bradley Morrah, lived in their first home in Lancaster ten years before moving to their Paris Mountain home, “Rock Terrace,” in Greenville. He was a broker in textiles, and the couple was active in civic beautification and their church. They reared three precocious children. Content with her busy life, she perfected, naturally, skills in art, sewing, gardening, horticulture, lecturing, writing, and traveling.
From the presidency of a 35-member garden club in Greenville, Hessie caught the discerning eye of Pres. Guion, and her exuberance captured the hearts of GCSC’s leaders. Mrs. Guion wisely reasoned that Hessie would be the person uniquely gifted for renewing enthusiasm in garden club service. Hessie was Program Chairman on April 11, 1946 when Annual Meetings resumed at the end of the war. National encouraged garden clubs to create living memorials, rather than stone monuments, to veterans returning home from the war. GCSC responded quickly with plans for a memorial.
Loutrel Briggs presented his ideas to the delegates for a memorial garden during the meeting. Mrs. W. Bedford Moore, Jr., First Vice President, relished the opportunity to serve as Chairman of Memorial Garden, the nation’s first “living memorial.” Hessie was installed as GCSC Eighth President, 1946 – 1948, at the end of the meeting. After adjournment, delegates gathered in the recently-named Memorial Garden for a formal opening and reception.
This “younger New President” embraced the responsibility of the Office with wisdom and compassion, and was rewarded with unfailing trust, cooperation, admiration, and loyalty of members. “She was always a willing and gracious ‘pinch hit’ performer on any program, impromptu or otherwise, at any time.” Hessie was elected South Atlantic Region Director in 1949 and served until 1951. She was installed as Fourteenth National President on May 27, 1955, and served until 1957.
Known for having a flair for drama, delegates to the Semi-Annual meeting in 1948 in Tucson, Arizona were entertained with a mock hold-up on the train enroute to a movie set. Gun-toting robbers “fired” shots and entered the car while hysterical, screaming women scrambled for safety. Fearing the worst, Hessie hid her jewelry and purse. After hearing gales of laughter from the pranksters, she proved she could take a joke as well! My favorite photograph of Hessie appeared in the March, 1956 SC Gardener. With an Imogene Coco-ish smile, proper pose, and white chapeau, she is pictured clutching her purse with both white-gloved hands!
Accolades for “Our Beloved Hessie” are numerous. Grand expectations for a bright future for GCSC were realized during her term as she mentored future leaders, visited garden clubs and shows, and traveled across the States.
Her unexpected death on September 1, 1962 occurred at her granddaughter’s wedding. She was remembered as a “charming lady of gracious culture, who possessed a most delightful gift of wit, humor and compassion for others, which was coupled with ardent devotion to family and friends.” (Fulfilling the Dream, Story of National Garden Clubs, Inc.)
ROOTS, SHOOTS, AND HOOTS
Spring 2009
1970s: The last combat troops left Vietnam. Dr. Atkins published Diet Revolution….just in time for women who needed new reading material while their husbands cheer “Monday Night Football.” Nixon traveled to China. “Unchecked inflation threatened the nation’s economic health and political turmoil appeared the norm.” (Fulfilling the Dream, The Story of National Garden Clubs, Inc.) Déjà vu?
NGC adopted the theme, “A Cleaner, Greener Land.” Sanity prevailed because “Grandma’s garden club” simply carried on to “save the planet” by joining National’s umbrella committee, ACE (Action Committee for the Environment). Seven National conferences developed land use and natural resource solutions through EIP (Environmental Improvement), and P.A.T.E. (People and Their Environment).
GCSC Presidents, Lou Riddle, Charlotte Prout/Lombard, Clara Elmore, “Babs” Barnette and Georgia Robinson, worked tirelessly to ensure GCSC’s success in environmental and preservation projects. With its membership totaling over 12,000, GCSC never shied away from tackling tough issues. GCSC, once again, led the nation in conservation and education by providing support for Conservation Curriculum Guides, Anti-Litter Promotions, recycling, and PATE which were integrated into all schools at all grade levels.
Thousands of trees were planted across South Carolina. “Prout (oak) Trees,” were suggested for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Arbor Day. “Liberty Trees” were planted along the “Liberty Trail” of 30 Revolutionary War sites. “Birthday Trees,” 15,900 seedlings of magnolia, dogwood, and crape myrtle, were planted along highways in honor of GCSC’s Fiftieth Anniversary. Over 2,500 crape myrtles planted along Interstate 26 in preparation of our Nation’s Bicentennial, created a colorful, picturesque entrance to Columbia. The next time you breeze into Columbia on I-26 and see the trees in bloom, be happy you’re a part of GCSC.
Membership growth has always been important to the vitality of our organization, but one President seemed to have a Board with a unique manner of winning future prospects. The minutes during Lou’s administration recorded numerous messages of congratulations to Board members on the births of their children!
The SC Bulletin was re-named The SC Gardener, September, October, 1971 (Vol. 40, Issue 1). The publication emphasized educational material for club programs, which were informative, and usually humorous and entertaining. Information included “how-to” sections on everything from growing vegetables to eating flowers...more about digestion suggestions upon request…to “becoming a garden club member.” Fortunately, today’s award-winning “Gardener” staff continues to inform, inspire, and amuse us. I imagine they can agree with the Editor of 1972 who included a witty sidebar, “Why Editors Get Gray.”
“Getting out this magazine is no picnic. If we print jokes, people say we are silly. If we don’t, they say we’re too serious….If we edit the other fellow’s write up, we’re too critical; if we don’t, we’re asleep. If we clip things from other publications, we are too lazy to write them ourselves. If we don’t, we are stuck on our own stuff. Now, like it or not, some person will say we swiped this from some magazine…we did!” (South Dakota Messenger). (The South Carolina Gardener, April-May, 1972)
“ ‘Operation Wildflower’ captured the imagination of more than garden club members.” Fulfilling the Dream, The Story of National Garden Clubs, Inc. A designer with Springs Mills was caught in a thunderstorm while driving from Lancaster to Charlotte, and pulled to the side of the road until the storm cleared. There she saw a sign, “Operation Wildflower,” and had a “brainstorm!” Our lovely wildflowers became the inspiration for a new line of linens. After negotiations with National, the linens became a popular item and were sold exclusively by J.C. Penney. Royalties were invested in a restricted fund, and totaled $2.5 million when the line was discontinued at the end of 2003.
It was during this era that one of SC’s 2 ½ National Presidents served her term. Did you read one-half? Yes. National’s 23rd President, Mary Badham Kittel, a Charleston native transplanted in Fort Worth, Texas, met GCSC’s 22nd President, Babs Barnette. And that’s another story!
ROOTS, SHOOTS, AND HOOTS
Summer 2009
1980: Happy 50th Anniversary, GCSC and NGC! Members promoted “Plant Gold in ‘79” in anticipation of two Golden events. Members sported “I Got One” buttons for enlisting a member, and the big day for GCSC finally arrived. What a party! North Myrtle Beach welcomed over 400 delegates to Convention the weekend of April 22 – 24, 1980.
The 80s ushered in an era of golden opportunities for the future, and former Presidents, Billie Jackson, Corrie Whitlock, Joyce Sanders, Shirley LaGarde, Loraine Huckabee, and Dorothy Hunter led over 12,000 GCSC members in garden club service. They did, after all, have “People Power,” “Pride In The Land!” and new microwave ovens. The popular “golden parachute” wasn’t expected, and members enjoyed “jogging” with a Walkman and relaxing with Trivial Pursuit.
A Blue Bird Trail, from the mountains to the coast, was established when over 500 boxes were erected along I-26. “Operation Pink Cloud,” “Plant A Tree,” “Plant A Legacy,” and “Each One Plant One” resulted in many SC towns being named “Tree Cities, USA.” “Wildflower Welcome” gardens were planted at all SC Welcome Centers on our interstates.
Joyce designed the flag of GCSC with the Seal centered on a white field. Original Reflections, a book of prayers, blessings, invocations and installations was published.
Prior to the signing of Proclamation 5462 in 1986, National Garden Week often coincided with the celebration of Arbor Day. Garden club members realized the significance of establishing a celebration with its unique identity, and National Garden Week and National Garden Month were born.
Ever vigilant in “the interlocking rings of conservation, horticulture, and education,” SC was the first state to hold a Regional Waste Awareness Conference. A petition, “Save Our Topsoil,” was sent to Washington, and a Hazardous Waste Resolution to the S. C. legislators in Columbia.
Hurricane Hugo devastated large areas of SC, and GCSC responded by providing donations for tree replacement in towns, cities, and counties affected by the storm. “Project Storm, Healing the Hurts of Hurricane Hugo” donations were received from other states, too.
From the restoration of the Statue of Liberty on its 100th anniversary to over 100 historical garden projects, GCSC worked for the preservation of our country and state’s treasures. The most significant was Memorial Garden.
Photographs in Memorial Garden scrapbooks reveal the good and bad occurrences in the garden. Picture, if you will, a thick sheet of ice cascading from the frozen flagstone entrance to the steps and to the sidewalk and street. Trees broke under the weight of the ice, crashed to the ground and on shrubs, and left the garden littered with limbs.
Later, President Shirley LaGarde, 1985 – 1987, began the much-needed restoration. “Due to the age of the shrubbery (much of it put in by original owner before 1945), the Garden needed to be partially re-landscaped. Landscape Design Architect, Steve Livingston, donated a landscape restoration plan, and in 1986-87 an effort was made to refurbish the garden. The GCSC invested $8,272.07 in the landscaping project and the following things were achieved: the fountain was repaired, flagstones taken up and re-laid at front and back, walks laid at front, mowing strip down each side of garden laid, cyclone fence painted Charleston green, benches stripped, soldered and repainted, 47 new plants put in (Burfordi holly, crape myrtle, azaleas, yellow Jessamine vines, mondo grass, Lady Banksia rose, aucuba, Japanese snowball, pansies for winter, periwinkle for summer, and bulbs.” (History of Memorial Garden, Floride Wood, undated, possibly 1987)
Additional repairs and expenses, including replacement of a worrisome sprinkler system, brought the total to $12,000 for the renovation of the garden. A flower show was held in the Governor’s Complex, and visitors strolled through the garden.
A copy of the plan for the garden, designed by Mr. Livingston, FASLA, Landscape Architect, is in one of four Memorial Garden scrapbooks. Mr. Livingston, son of former President, Loraine Huckabee, designed Waterfront Park in Charleston.
A canopy of trees, perfectly pruned, colorful azaleas skirted with an attractive brick mowing strip, and a freshly painted, gleaming gate house and tool house created a beautiful setting for GCSC’s “60th Anniversary Celebration” during National Garden Week, June 3-6, 1990. A capsule, due to be opened on our Centennial anniversary, was buried during the festivities. Members and visitors were treated to trolley rides, and that was the “only breeze that was felt all day” one member recalled. Wide-brimmed hats and summer dresses kept the ladies from succumbing to “the vapors,” and a great time was had by all!
Roots, Shoots and Hoots
Fall 2009
In the 1990s, we ran for miles on our treadmills, stationed in front of televisions which entertained us with “soaps” we had recorded on our VCR. The Clinton and OJ sagas and Desert Storm flooded the screen nightly. How many rare Beanie Babies did you purchase for your grandchild’s burgeoning collection? The World Wide Web was born, overtaking surface mail. Harry Potter…Titanic…Furby…DVDs…digital cameras…technology was progressing with mach speed.
Former Presidents, Martha Claire Farmer, Jessie Dale McCollough, the late Donna Marsh, and Kathy Kelly, guided GCSC through busy, productive years and logged many miles criss-crossing SC.
The State Botanical Garden at Clemson University was officially dedicated on October 10, 1992, and a two-day celebration was well attended by garden club members. The 256-acre facility was designed to become one of the finest resource centers in the country emphasizing nature and cultural programs.
The “Teaching K.A.T.E.” (“Teaching Kids About The Environment”) pilot program was held at a camp in Aiken.
A successful SAR Unified Project, “Planting Trees,” resulted in 53,500 dogwood seedlings, redbud trees, and crepe myrtles being added to beautify landscapes across the state. Natchez White Crepe Myrtle trees were planted on interstate highways at state borders. A “Plant a Tree and Watch Them Grow Together” program was started as a means of commemorating the birth of a baby with the planting of a tree.
The first South Carolina Life Membership Banquet was held at the State Convention in 1992. “All money from the sale of Life Memberships will be used to fund scholarships.”
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The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 1995, and Jessie Dale urged members to plant “A Splash of White” in honor of this anniversary.
The South Carolina legislature adopted the Tiger Swallowtail as the official State Butterfly. An original painting by Dr. Helen Fuseler of Greenville of a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Yellow Jessamine was adopted as the official painting of GCSC and a copy was presented to the Governor’s Mansion in February, 1995.
A cookbook, “Entertaining With Food and Flair,” was published and contained complete menus from all of the members of the Executive Board. This was very well received throughout the state and received a National Award.
September 30, 1993: After years of searching for affordable property with adequate meeting and office space, the GCSC State Headquarters Committee proposed and recommended GCSC establish a “Headquarters Room” in the new Botanical Garden Visitors’ Center located at Riverbanks Zoological Park. Jessie Dale signed the agreement on December 6, 1993. GCSC began to hold Board meetings in the Magnolia Room. The Headquarters Room was elegantly furnished with an impressive conference table, Presidents’ portraits and silver service awards.
Donna held the first President’s Picnic (Presidents’ Fair) and “Presidents’ Pow Wow,” an informal question and answer session prior to District meetings, in an effort to meet club presidents who had specific interests and concerns.
Butterfly -Wildflower “Dream Stops” (Discover, Refresh, Enjoy And Meditate Stops) were planted and dedicated at South Carolina Welcome Centers. “Dream Stops” were an interpretation of South Atlantic Region Unified Project, “Gardens for the Body and Soul,” in South Carolina.
A Home and Garden Show, “Dare to Dream,” was held in Clemson on June 13 and 14, 1998 at Southern Living’s Wren House at South Carolina Botanical Garden. Tickets for “A Southern Garden Gala,” featuring a silent auction, earned thousands of dollars for the Botanical Garden’s Southern Living Project.
Wildflower Explosions were held throughout the state in the spring of 1997. The workshops were sponsored jointly with SCDOT, and were held in three different areas of the state for community leaders, interested citizens, garden club members, and students. Heritage Trails were established in partnership with SCDOT.
A total of $4,214.00 was collected for the National President’s project of beautifying the National Headquarters in St. Louis. Just who was that vivacious National President? Oops, I think I’m out of space…later!
