Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Hammond Garden Club, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Mar. 2001
Typed by Belford Carver
Written by by Edna F. Campbell
Copyrighted by Edna F. Campbell
With special thanks to her family for permission to use her works.

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

HAMMOND HAS COLORFUL GARDEN CLUB HISTORY

Since 1931 when the late Mrs. F. W. Reimers, a native of Rock Island, Ill., 
founded the Hammond Garden Club, garden clubs in Hammond have come a long way.  
Today, there are five clubs with intentions to unite in an effort to beautify 
Hammond's newly organized historic district.

Outstanding among the gardeners is Mrs. Powell P. Vail, only living charter member 
of the original Hammond garden Club, who remains active in the club, headed by Mrs. 
Sam Mannio.  Other clubs are Town and Country,with Mrs. M. V. Brewer as president; 
Pine Cone, Mrs. A. E. Morgan; Ridge Row, Mrs. Louis Booth; and The Belle Oaks, Mrs. 
Art Spearman.

On a cold dreary day in January, Mrs. Reimers called a special meeting at the 
Hammond City Hall to discuss the formation of the Hammond Garden Club.  As plans 
progressed, representatives from a New Orleans club met with Mrs. Reimers and 
members to assist in the organization.

In 1934 the club was included in the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.  First 
president was Mrs. Jared Y. Sanders, wife of a Louisiana governor.

Goal of the new club was to beautify Hammond, with the planting of crape myrtles 
as the main project.

An outstanding achievement was the transplanting of the walnut tree grown from a 
seed from George Washington's home at Mount Vernon to the Hammond Post Office 
grounds.  The club had planted the seed in 1932 and the tree has grown and 
flourished.  Pompous Bicentennial rites marked the addition of a plaque to the
tree base in 1969.

In 1955 the club divided members into circles; seven years later it reverted to 
its single unit again.  Hammond's second club was organized in 1947 as the Sprig a
nd Twig garden Club, later changing its name to Pine Cone Club, founder was Mrs. 
Gladney Jack Tinsley, wife of the Southeastern University president, now residing 
in Bastrop.  First president was Mrs. C. R. Todd.

The club was first to inaugurate the project of warding a garden of the month 
plaque for garden spots deserving of the honor.  It was federated in 1948.

Mrs. Thomas C. Patin and Mrs. J. Allwin Fagan, past presidents, were instrumental 
in erecting the first Blue Star Highway Memorial Plaque.

Hammond's third garden club, Town and Country, was organized in 1957 with Mrs. 
J. R. Davidson as first president.  The club made real strides with Mrs. R. M. 
Allen as program chairman and Mrs. C. C. Carpenter as floral design instructor.  
Mrs., Carpenter was one of the few members in the area on the National Council of 
Flower Show Judges.

In 1977 Ridge Row was formed from residents of Southwood Academy vicinity as 
members.  First president-instigator was Mrs. E. A. Roper.

Street Planning and ceremonial tree plantings on Arbor Day have been the leanings 
of this club, which does things like assist a childrenís home in Covington 
following a fire that destroyed its girls dormitory during the Christmas holidays.

Fifth and newest garden club, Belle Oaks, is made up of residents of  Belleville 
and Oak Ridge, adjoining subdivisions, near Oak Knoll Country Club.  The club 
carried on with the traditional Christmas lighting contest despite the energy 
crisis last year and has shown eagerness in city beautification.

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, X, 1979, by Edna Campbell)

(See also Vol. IV about garden clubs.)