A Brief History
of the
Rockport Garden Club
In February 1928 sixty-two local women gathered to form the Rockport Garden Club. The town gave permission for their use of the Community House as a meeting place. In 1936 a new club raised $1,500 to purchase an area around Mill Pond. A club committee had plans drawn for the park to be called Millbrook Meadow.
In 1940 a Service Committee was established which continues to serve the citizens of Rockport and Cape Ann. From the 1940's until the 1970's, flower arranging occupied the members with elaborate flower shows held each summer at the Rockport Art Association. During the 1950's, as a fund raiser, the club presented a musical revue called "Garden Gaieties".
In May of 1968 a public plant sale was held in Harvey Park which evolved over the years to the present "Market Day". In 1982 in Millbrook Meadow, the club dedicated a small keystone bridge which is a miniature version of the classic keystone bridge on Granite St.
In 1992 the club established the Rena Kurth Scholarship, awarding $1000 annually to a local college student studying in a horticulture related field.
Today the club's Town Gardens Committee cares for over a dozen garden sites in Rockport with a working staff of close to eighty club members.
In these many ways the Rockport Garden Club has for over eighty years promoted its objectives of awareness in civic beauty, conservation, community service, ecology and flower arranging.
2010 Rockport Garden Club
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
President Pat Petrou
1st Vice President Gretchen Anderson
2nd Vice President Marilyn Thompson
Recording Secretary Eleanor Hoy
Treasurer Tacy SanAntonio
Directors 2010: Linda Adams
Jo-Ann Lavigne
Lillian Welcome
Directors 2011: Sonja Anciello
Debbie Hale
Lynda Wallack
Directors 2012: April Hiscock
Shirley Preston
Kate VanDemark
COMMITTEES
FundRaising
Chairs: Gretchen Anderson, Deborah Cowan
Plant Sale: Nan Blue, Mary Chaisson, Phyllis Krenn
Garden Shed: Judy Mallozzi, Gerre Wescott
Garden Tour:
Art: Nancy Caplan
Food: Debbie Hale, Marilyn Thompson
Plant Sale: Nan Blue
Public Relations: Sonja Anciello
Tickets/Ads: J0-Ann Lavigne, Deborah Shapiro
Volunteers: Linda Adams, Tacy SanAntonio
Horticulture
Chair: Nan Blue
Arborist: Barbara Sparks
Hospitality
Chairs: Sonja Anciello, Debbie Hale, Jo-Ann Lavigne
Membership
Chairs: Nancy Powlowsky, Shirley Preston
Shirley Christenson Chris Doyle
Mary Eirich Frances Fleming
Mary Francis Cheryl Goodman
Nominating
Chair: Debbie Hale
Program
Chair: Gretchen Anderson
Monthly Socials: Sonja Anciello, Deborah Cowan, Dot Matthews,
Inge Sullivan, Marilyn Thompson
Trip Chairs: Betsy Linsenmayer, Lillian Welcome
Public Relations
Chair: April Hiscock
Elaine Curry Betty Ann St. Germain
Kate VanDemark
Scholarship
Chair: Phyllis Krenn
Service
Chairs: Mim Maguire, Joan Tschalaer
Linda Adams Barbara Brackett
Pat Bresnaham Rosalie Katz
Eleanor King Ellen Lisi
Susan Patrick Faith Ronan
Lynda Wallack
Other Appointments
Historian: Dorothy Radville
Yearbook:
Elaine Curry, Betsy Linsenmayer