Three Rivers Garden Club History

“After Sixty Years”

A dream came true in November of 1949 when ladies interested in gardening met with the extension committee of Garden Study Garden Club to choose officers, committee chairmen and by laws which would organize a new garden club. Following this preliminary planning, an official meeting to form Three Rivers Garden Club was held on January 25, 1950 at the home of a charter member. Three Rivers became the ninth garden club in Rome, Ga. Mrs. Harold Hunter, President of Rome Federated Garden Clubs assisted with this meeting and recommended at the next Federation meeting on March 8, 1950 that Three Rivers be accepted for membership. 

There were 23 charter members. Sixty years later none of those ladies are still alive, but they have left a legacy of active garden club members. Edith Gray and Jo Holder were invited to join in the late1950s and Mary Louise Dixon and Georgia Burns in the late1970s. All these ladies have been continuous members who have actively participated in all phases of the club, from holding office to planting and cleaning our garden spots. Two additional members, Linda Dean and Julienne Martin, have now achieved 20-year-member status.   

Three Rivers has a beautification heritage in Rome that began in late1960 when they decided to improve an area in downtown Rome. A quote from the February 2, 1961 newspaper states, “The most conspicuous civic beautification project in Rome is the miniature public park on Fifth Ave. beside the Forrest Hotel. Everyone having anything to do with this project has the thanks of every Roman who appreciates passing an area of beauty, especially when it was formerly such an unattractive spot along the city’s main street.” The park was designed by Thomas Williams of UGA who provided the blueprint including Ginkgo trees, Burfordi Holly, Convexa Holly and Azaleas. Three Rivers won the HANDS award of $50 that year for the best urban renewal project for this Forrest Garden.

In 1976 when the reclaimed train station was installed on Civic Center Hill to serve as the Rome Welcome Center, Three Rivers again saw a need to beautify an unsightly spot. No other club had two garden spots, but the need was so great to have a lovely place for visitors and prospective new residents to come to for information, that this area was landscaped and is still maintained by the club. Unfortunately as the size of the club decreased over the years, it became difficult to continue the high level of work and money required to plant and maintain two such large areas. The city took over the Forrest Garden and eventually another club adopted it when they were forced to abandon their garden spot.

Beautification continued when it was our turn again to lead the Federation Project. We chose Pathways of Gold for the Olympic year (1996) and encouraged Rome to plant golden areas accented with the colors of the banners we placed all over town to celebrate the Olympics. The beautification and educational events won awards from The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.

Our members have been willing to serve as officers and/or chairmen not only for Three Rivers, but also Rome Federated Garden Clubs, Laurel District and The Garden Club of Georgia. From 1991-93 Georgia Burns served as Federation President and Mary Louise held this office from 2007-09. Georgia has served on the Laurel District Board since 1991, was elected Co Director for 2 year terms in both 2001 and 2007 and served 5 years on the Garden Club of Georgia Board from 1998-2003. Mary Louise has served two years on the Laurel Board. Courses provided by GCG have trained our Flower Show Judges, Landscape Design Consultant and Environmental Consultant. In addition, members have served Rome and Floyd County as expert volunteers on committees during our 60 year history.

Many awards have been won over the years and we hope to continue our tradition with our new web site and leadership again for the Federation project this term with Cultivating Young Minds, a hands-on gardening education program for the children at the new Boys and Girls Club.  

This article was written by Georgia Burns in September 2009 from information in old scrapbooks and other sources.