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.
2011 Rockport Garden Club
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
President Gretchen Anderson
Vice President Marilyn Thompson
Secretary Eleanor King
Treasurer Tacy SanAntonio
Directors 2011: Sonja Anciello
Debbie Hale
Lynda Wallack
Directors 2012: April Hiscock
Shirley Preston
Kate VanDemark
Directors 2013: Rosemary Bigelow
Rita Calnan
Cheryl Goodman
COMMITTEES
FundRaising
Plant Sale: Nan Blue, Mary Chaisson, Phyllis Krenn
Garden Tour: Deborah Cowan, Tacy SanAntonio
Art: Eleanor Hoy, Jean Hurst, Jill Solomon
Luncheon: Debbie Hale, Marilyn Thompson
Volunteers: Elaine Hassler, Judy Leach
Tickets: Cheryl Goodman, Jo-Ann Lavigne
Public Relations: April Hiscock, Sonja Anciello
Horticulture
Chair: Nan Blue
Arborist: Barbara Sparks
Hospitality
Chairs: Debbie Hale, Jo-Ann Lavigne
Membership
Chairs: Nancy Powlowsky, Shirley Preston
Nominating
Chair: Debbie Hale
Program
Chair: Marilyn Thompson
Nan Blue Deborah Cowan
John Sparks Inge Sullivan
Lillian Welcome
Public Relations
Chair: April Hiscock
Elaine Curry Julie Fariel
Judy O'Malley Kate VanDemark
Scholarship
Chair: Kate VanDemark
Service
Chairs: Linda Adams, Joan Tschalaer
Other Appointments
Historian: Dorothy Radville
Yearbook:
Nancy Powlowsky
Ad Hoc Education Committee: Kate VanDemark
Community House Liason: Phyllis Krenn
Mailing Address: Rockport Garden Club, PO Box 712, Rockport, MA 01966