OXFORD – The Oxford Garden Club (OGC) celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday, June 19, at the home of member Anne Jackson. Women from the Oxford Club as well as past presidents, honored guests, member guests from the four surrounding Garden Clubs of Chenango County plus the Garden Clubs of Sidney and Butternut Valley came to celebrate the Oxford Garden Club’s golden anniversary.
The Oxford Garden Club members all contributed to the preparations that included tending the gardens for viewing, a fantastic array of special cookies and cakes, and in every room, fantastic floral arrangements in stunning displays. The breathtakingly lovely setting was perfect for this gala honoring the club that has enriched the visual landscape for the enjoyment of the community for so many years!
The original charter members of the OGC in 1959 were Mae Andrews, Ruth Ardron, Grace Beach, Ruth Beaumont, Letra Cady, Marian Friar, Irene Landers, Pauline Moffatt, Mae Phoenix, Dorothy Roberts, Doris Seeley, Vinnie Foule, Blanche Thorpe, Marian Vigus and Jane Walker. Only one of the original charter members has remained a club member and she was the guest of honor.
The special guest of honor was Doris (Johnson) Seeley, 88, who has been a member since 1959. She helped to establish the goal for the club which was to stimulate the creation of private gardens and to work towards the beautification of homes and community. Doris, well known for her poetry, wrote a special poem titled, “50 Years and Growing” that was printed for all the Oxford Garden Club members. Doris, who had an antique store in Oxford for 40 years, has always had a thirst for knowledge and learned everything about the business. The eldest of 7 children, she started gardening at the age of four on the Johnson farm and never stopped. She fondly remembers when the Garden Club would have little flower shows in empty stores in Oxford. Doris has enjoyed trading perennial plant roots and tubers with other garden club members and garden walks at their home meetings, and still attends when she can.
Another special guest was the honorable Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark. The Mayor read a special proclamation commemorating and honoring the Oxford Garden Club for all their work in beautifying Oxford.
The award winning Oxford Garden Club is a not-for-profit member of the Federated Garden Clubs of NYS, Inc., (federated in 1973), 6th District, and the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. of the Central Atlantic Region. Since its inception, members have supported many community projects such as being part of the Beautification Committee of the Village of Oxford. They plant and maintain gardens around the bandstand and fountain in LaFayette Park, plant flowerbeds on Washington Park across from the Bida-Home, plant in front of the Village/Town Hall office, and at the Library on Fort Hill Park. They have also cleared nature trails along Route 12 and planted shrubbery. At Christmas time the Library is festively decorated by Club members and they visit the Bida Home to sing carols, bring cookies and give each resident a Christmas gift.
The OGC, with about two dozen members, not only participates in the beautification of the Village of Oxford, but they are also a social group with similar interests that accomplishes some very rewarding work. Each year the OGC has fund raisers, awards a scholarship to a (qualifying) Oxford Academy student, helps with the “Standard Flower Show” at the Chenango County Fair, has occasional trips to garden shows, and shares flower information.
The OGC meets the third Tuesday of each month, at different homes on a rotating basis, at 7:00 PM. New members are always welcome. For questions about the club contact Jeanne at: 843-6278 or email: jlcline@frontiernet.net or Joy at: 843-9209; email: joyful@frontiernet.net . On the web, visitoxfordny.com.