Club History
On November 9, 1948, in Hondo, Texas, a small group of ladies met to organize a garden club with the purpose of beautifying and improving their surroundings and better serving their community.
The club was federated
with Texas Garden Clubs, Inc., January 1950, and has maintained a Gold Club rating for most of those years.
The Club’s first major
project was conceived in 1949... to landscape a one-block area on Highway 90
between Avenue M and Avenue K, adjacent to the Southern Pacific Railroad depot. With the help and direction of the Highway Department landscape division,
the planting was completed in 1951. The
Garden Club and the City have received numerous awards for this beautification,
as well as favorable comments from appreciative travelers visiting Hondo from
throughout the country. Maintenance
proved to be quite costly. In order
to raise funds for this and this and other projects, in 1954, the Thrift Shop
was born.
The Thrift Shop, 2006
A Blue Star Memorial marker was awarded the club and placed on the Highway parkway with special plantings. Through the years, other beautification projects have been accomplished, including a 22nd Street median, landscaping and planting the City’s Memorial Square block, the Medina Memorial Hospital grounds, Hondo’s “new” (1965) Post Office and Municipal building, Medina County Museum, and the Hondo Public Library. The Club also provided the care and upkeep of the Hondo Cemetery for five years.
Blue Star Memorial Sign
In 1976, the Garden Club
initiated the planting of trees for the observance of our Country’s
Bi-Centennial. One club member
provided two hundred Red Oak seedlings which were planted in the community.
Also in 1976, application was approved for a Historical Marker for the
“Weimers Oak” (Maybelle Wiemers, a club member).
On October 16, 1977, the Garden Club held the dedication ceremony with
most members participating. This
beautiful oak is featured in the publication “Famous Trees of Texas.”
In 1982, the Garden Club also encouraged local citizens to plant a total
of 100 crepe myrtles to commemorate Hondo’s 100th birthday.
A large number of these shrubs were purchased by the Club and planted
along the driveway at Medina Memorial Hospital.
Two “Golden Age” teas
are hosted at each of the two local nursing homes generally around Christmas and
Easter. Plants are sold annually at
nominal cost so local citizens can beautify their yards at minimal expense.
Members are encouraged to
participate in the flower arrangement and horticulture exhibits at the Medina
County Fair each Fall.
In the late 1960's the
Garden Club was instrumental in the purchase and relocation of the old Southern
Pacific Depot to be used as a museum. Mannequins were also donated for the early clothing display.
It has become an interesting museum, housing many articles of early
Medina County history.
The Garden Club has worked
with children for many years. The
Club has sponsored the State and national Garden Club projects of Youth
Communication and Environmental Poster contests in the local schools, with
monetary prizes. Some posters have
even won at the State level. The
purpose is to make the children more aware of their environment and the need to
protect it, and hopefully make them better citizens of the future.
Middle school students also gather for the annual citywide clean up
drive. The Club coordinates the
drive, furnishing supplies, refreshments and prize money for the winning school
class.
In 1997, the Garden Club
created an annual $1,000 scholarship to be presented to a worthy student
planning to pursue the study of some form of horticulture, agriculture,
or environmental science.
In observance of the 50th
anniversary, the Club’s most recent project was the donation, installation,
and landscaping of a very attractive and impressive stone and iron entryway to
the Hondo City Park, (at a cost of $10,000).
The ground-breaking and dedication for this new structure was held
October, 1998, and was presented to the City of Hondo on November 6, 1998.
Through the years the Hondo Garden Club has followed the guidelines set forth by the National and State Garden Clubs, Inc., and participated in the projects they have outlined. Hondo has hosted four District Conventions in 1971, 1977, 1984, and 1996. Several members have held various offices and chairmanships at the District VII and State levels.
The
Hondo Garden Club has received awards which are far too numerous to list.
The most significant are probably in the area of civic development, such
at the National Cleanest Town contest (three times), work with exceptional
children, Hondo Chamber of Commerce award for Outstanding Organization, and the
Gold Club rating from the Texas Garden Clubs, Inc.
The Garden Club is working
with the City of Hondo in seeking a grant for a Birding and Nature Trail which
is part of the City of Hondo Master Parks Plan.
Monetary contributions of
sizeable amounts have been made throughout the years to worthwhile community
projects, including the Cemetery fund, Friends of the Library, Medina Community
Hospital, Museum, Volunteer Fire Department, Community EMS, Child Care Board,
Association for the handicapped, Special Olympics, Family Life Center, Salvation
Army, Goodwill Industries, Hondo High School Greenhouse Fund, Sponsorship of
Youth Projects, Hondo “Pride,” Hondo Nature Trail,
and many others amounting to many thousands of dollars.
Of course, all of this is made possible by the dedicated service of the
Garden Club members who operate the Thrift Shop as volunteers and feel this
serves a twofold purpose. Besides
the money that is given back to the community, it helps those in need clothe
their families and purchase small household items at a tremendous savings.
A garden is a friend you can visit!