In addition to growing their own food the Moran's enjoyed growing flowers, big shade trees and at one time they had a grape arbor. Or more specifically the grape arbor was an agricultural experiment of Uncle Bruds which didn't produce many grapes but it did provide a lovely addition to the grounds.
Uncle Brud was very much ahead of his time in terms of farming and being green. He was constantly trying to improve the land, looking for crops that improve soil conditions and all in all being a good steward of the planet. He loved planting trees and was given the nickname Johnny Appleseed. One of his projects involved planting pecan trees along Highway 22 for which he received approval from the county highway department. But later when the highway was widened the trees were all cut down.
Virginia and Jim Moran loved traveling and along their travels they would visit places like Cypress Gardens and Ash Lawn. Virginia particularly enjoyed the cultivation of flowers.
So it was no surprise to come across a folder full of brochures about growing flowers and plants from the USDA, Farmers bulletins, and newsletters from gardening societies and guilds. The really interesting booklets came from the Dresden and Union City Garden Clubs because they tell us who was a member and what the club was involved in.
We have four Dresden Yearbooks from 1939 to 1941. We also have a Union city Garden Club Yearbook 1939/1940. The first page of each yearbook tells who the book belonged to, in our case each one says Mrs. J.H. Moran (insert year), Dresden, Tennessee. It explains what a woman's club is, when it was organized and the club motto. There are lists of members, past officers, committee assignments, by-laws, minutes of meetings and more.
I particularly like the 1941 yearbook because the cover is hand printed with artwork. So, I've selected 1941 as the edition to showcase here. At some point I will transcribe the entire yearbook so that the content is searchable.
So far I have transcribed through page 10.
page 2
What is a Woman's Club?
"A meeting ground for those of purpose
Great and broad and strong;
Whose aim is in the stars; who ever
Longs to make the listening world resound
With sweeter music, freer tones.
A place where kindly lifting words
Are sailed; kindlier deeds are done;
Where hearts are fed; where wealth of
Brain for poverty atones; where hand
Grasps hand and souls find touch with
Souls."
page 3
The Garden Club of Dresden, Tennessee
Organized March 9, 1936.
Flower..........The Rose
Shrub.............Crepe Myrtle
Evergreen.......Boxwood
Bulb................Daffodil
Motto..................."Watch Us Grow."
page 4
The Collect.
Help us O God, to grow in Spirit and
in truth; Lead us in thought, word and deed.
Let us be kindly one toward another reserving all
hasty judgment.
Save us to be straight-forward and unafraid.
May we grow calm, serene, and become
gentlewomen willing to work and wait for
the fullness of our plans.
Remembering always that we are as one in the
big things of life.
O Lord God, give us love and understanding
as a key to unlock the hearts of womankind
and bestow our gifts of truth and beauty.
page 5
Club Membership
Charter Members
Mrs. I.L. Banks Mrs. Mary Irvine
Miss Ida Baxter Mrs. J.E. Jones
Mrs. J.N. Brasfield Mrs. H.E. Jones
Mrs. W.D. Brasfield Mrs. R.E. Maiden
Mrs. Roy Brasfield Mrs. L.D. Maiden
Mrs. Lee Brasfield Mrs. J.H. Moran
Mrs. Allen Brasfield Mrs. W.G. Nall
Mrs. Claud Brock Mrs. Warren Pettigrew
Mrs. H.O. Cashon Mrs. Peter Porch
Mrs. M.E. Chandler Mrs. W.H. Pritchett
Mrs. R.A. Elkins Mrs. J.E. Shannon
Mrs. H.C. Frazier Mrs. F.G. Smith
Mrs. Tom Grooms Mrs. Raymond Smith
Mrs. Pete Harris Mrs. Ruben Taylor
Mrs. S.L. Hastings Mrs. J.W. Thomas
Mrs. J.C. Holbrook Mrs. A.G. Thomason
Mrs. M.D. Ingram Mrs. J.C. Vaughn
Mrs. King Webb
Honorary
Miss Lettie Clement Mrs. Fred Mayo
Mrs. W.E. Mischke Mrs. Cayce Pentecost
Mrs. G.T. Mayo Mrs. A.D. Stubblefield
Mrs. A.N. Walker
page 6
In Memoriam
Mrs. J.E. Jones . . . . . . Died December 7, 1938
Mrs. M.E. Chandler. . . Died April 23, 1939
Our Gardens
"The little worlds all set apart,
So loved by many a wistful heart,
Our gardens fair and green and still,
Where lovely flowers their sweetness spill.
So Sweet are they the soul forgets
All fear and longing and regrets;
For in these gardens worlds apart
The seeking one finds Peace O'Heart."
"Go make thy garden as far as thou cans't
Thou workest never alone.
"Perchance he whose plot is next to thine
Will see it and mend his own."
page 7
Members for 1941
Mrs. J.O. Alexander Mrs. H.E. Jones
Miss Ida Baxter Mrs. R.E. Maiden
Mrs. O.W. Beard Mrs. L.D. Maiden
Mrs. J.N. Brasfield Mrs. Hobson Mayo
Mrs. W.D. Brasfield Mrs. J.H. Moran
Mrs. H.O. Cashon Mrs. Cayce Pentecost
Mrs. H.W. Davis Mrs. Peter Porch
Mrs. R.E. Ellis Mrs. W.H. Pritchett
Mrs. R.A. Elkins Mrs. J.E. Shannon
Mrs. S.L. Hastings Mrs. H.A. Taylor (Maggie Fisher)
Mrs. Joe Hilliard Mrs. A.G. Thomason
Mrs. M.D. Ingram Mrs. J.W. Thomas
Mrs. King Webb
Miss Elsie Henderson
Mrs. John Smith
Honorary
Miss Lettie Clement Mrs. G.T. Mayo
Mrs. Fred Mayo Mrs. J.B. Underwood
Mrs. Harold Watson Mrs. Lyn Claybrook
page 8
Officers
Ex-Presidents
Mrs. J.E. Shannon. . .1936, 1937, 1938
Mrs. H.O. Cashon. . .1939, 1940
Officers for 1941
President. . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. R.A. Ellis
1st Vice-President. . . .Mrs. R.E. Maiden
2nd Vice-President. . .Mrs A.G. Thomason
Secretary. . . . . . . . . . Mrs. L.D. Maiden
Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. L.D. Maiden
Reporter. . . . . . . . . . .Ms. A.G. thomason
Historian. . . . . . . . . . .Miss Ida Baxter
Time of Meeting
Second Friday in Each Month
"Give fools their gold and knaves their power,
Let fortune's bubble rise and fall.
Who sows a field or trains a flower
Or plants a tree is more than all.
For God and man shall own his worth
Who toils to leave as his bequest
An added beauty to the earth.
Page 9
Committes
Program and Year Book:
Mrs. Joe Hilliard
Mrs. J.W. Thomas
Mrs. H.E. Jones
Mrs. O.W. Beard
Nomination:
Mrs. L.D. Maiden
Mrs. J.E. Shannon
Mrs. H.O. Cashon
Membership:
Miss Ida Baxter
Mrs. J.N. Brasfield
Mrs. M.D. Ingram
Publication:
Mrs. A.J. Thomason
Telephone:
Mrs. H.O. Cashon
Mrs. Hobson Mayo
Mrs. H.W. Davis
Courtesy:
Mrs. R.A. Elkins
Mrs. R.A. Taylor
Mrs. King Webb
page 10
Flower Show:
Mrs. H.E. Jones
Mrs. R.E. Maiden
Mrs. H.W. Pritchett
Mrs. S.L. Hastings
City Beautiful:
Mrs. J.H. Moran
Mrs. J.O. Alexander
Mrs. Peter Porch
Mrs. Cayce Pentecost
Mrs. W.D. Brasfield
Mrs. J.N. Brasfield
Rules for the Flower Exhibit
Cut Flower exhibits shall be classified
into two groups:
I. Arrangement--Consisting of Same Kind of Flowers
or mixed varieties
No comments:
Post a Comment