Three Rivers Garden Club Celebrates 62 Years

November 1949 was a very important and exciting day in the life of Three Rivers Garden Club.  A group of ladies met with the extension committee of Garden Study Garden Club to choose officers, committee chairmen and by laws to organize a new garden club in Rome.  That dream came true January 25, 1950 when Three Rivers Garden Club became the 9^th garden club in this beautiful city.  Mrs. Harold Hunter, President of Rome Federated Garden Clubs, Inc. assisted with the first meeting and recommended that Three Rivers Garden Club be accepted for membership on March 8, 1950.

There were 23 charter members, however, after 62 years none of those ladies are living today.  For Three Rivers Garden Club they left a legacy that Three Rivers still follows to this day.  Edith Gray and Jo Holder were invited to join in the late 1950’s and Mary Louis Dixon and Georgia Burns joined Three Rivers in the late 1970’s.  These members, as well as others, have been continuous members who actively participate in all phases of the Club from holding office to planting and cleaning our garden spot.  Two additional members, Linda Dean and Julienne Martin have now achieved 20 year member status.

Three Rivers has beautification heritage in Rome that began in late 1960.  It was 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 Avenue 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 Garden Club won the HANDS award of $50 that year for the best urban renewal project for this Forrest Garden.

The reclaimed train station was installed on Civic Center Hill in 1976 to serve as the Rome Welcome Center.  Three Rivers Garden Club again saw a need to beautify an unsightly spot.  No other club had two garden spots; however, the need was so great to have a lovely place for visitors and prospective new residents to come for information, this area was landscaped and is till 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 Three Rivers Garden Club to lead the Federation Project.  The club chose Pathway of Gold for the Olympic year to encourage Rome to plant golden areas accented with colors of the banners placed all over town to celebrate the Olympics.  The beautification and educational events won awards from The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.

Members of Three Rivers have served as officers and/or chairmen not only for Three Rivers, but also Rome Federated Garden Clubs, Laurel District, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. and Deep South Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc.  From 1991 – 1993, Georgia Burns served as Federation President and Mary Louise Dixon served as Rome Federated President from 2007 – 2009.  Georgia has served on the Laurel District Board, was elected Co-Director and served five years on the Garden Club of Georgia Board.  As the new administration took office in 2011, Dr. John Barnett is serving on Laurel District Board, Garden Club of Georgia Board and Deep South Region Board.  Mrs. Diane Harbin is also serving on Laurel District and Garden Club of Georgia Boards. 

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 expect volunteers on committees during our 62 year history.

Many awards have been won over the years and members hope to continue their tradition with our web site and during the 2009 – 2011 administration, leading the Federation project with Cultivating Young Minds, a hands-on gardening education program for the children at South Rome Boys and Girls Club.  Three Rivers Garden Club continues to accept the responsibility, leadership, and growth of Cultivating Young Minds.  Three Rivers began a Youth Club at South Rome Boys and Girls Club integrating Cultivating Young Minds and took ownership for the continuation of this project.

With the 2011 – 2013 administration, Three Rivers Garden Club elected Dr. John Barnett as President of the club, the first male member of Three Rivers.  With the officers leading the membership, Three Rivers is expecting great projects to continue and be instituted during this administration.