Club News
The January meeting of the Lena Day Garden Club was held at the design boutique of Brittany May Fisher in Quitman.
Fisher has been a member of the club since 2019. She recently opened her store, which features natural designs, at 923 Richards Street Prior to a tour of her store, members met at the Speakeasy Coffee Shop in downtown Quitman for refreshments prepared by Brittany. The coffee shop, located across the street from the Wood County Courthouse, once was reportedly a speakeasy during Prohibition.
The club met in the upstairs loft called the Tattler, where a little bit of gossip may go on. Fisher presented a program of upcoming design secrets.
She suggested that “color” was coming back into style. She noted that people were tired of pandemic tan.
Natural greens and blues fill the color palette. She also said that indoor plants, both live and artificial, are a renewed trend. When the club removed to her store, the members saw and bought many of the design elements she had mentioned.
Her store is just open on Thursdays and Fridays. Adjoining her store is the Texas Timber works, which makes wood products, some of which were featured in her store. Especially attractive was a massive wooden serving tray with real antler handles.
Fisher represents one of the new younger members of the club, which is keeping traditions going. Celebrating its anniversary, the Lena Day Garden Club begins its 70th year. The club began in 1953, when a group of young matrons wanted assistance in planning their yards and gardens.
They asked Mrs. H.O. (Lena) Day, a local gardener, if she would advise them. The ladies began in March meeting twice a month at the First Christian Church.
The first officers of the club were President Mrs. John C. Collins; Vice-president Mrs. H.B. Sickles; Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. Jack Grant; Historian Mrs. Joe Moore; Parliamentarian Mrs. Malcolm Z. Bailey; and Reporter Mrs. Harold Morris.
Charter members of the Lena Day Garden Club were Mrs. J.E. Allen, B.F. Ashcroft, Malcolm Z. Bailey, Dan E. Bonner,Tipton Branch, Lynn Chapman, John C. Collins, Jack Grant, Harold Hines, Roy Holder, James L. King, A.F. Massingill, Joe Moore, Harold Morris, Gilbert Mc-Grede, Charles McIntyre, Mike Pribble, Gerald Prim, J.G. Reynolds, Jr., Moore Rhodes, H.B. Sickles, Leeman W. Teetes, Dozier W. Thornton, George H. Ward and Tom Frank Worsham. It was not until 1989 that the members were listed by their first names, rather than their husbands.
Although not a charter member, Mrs. Bill Jack (Margie Dale) Hathcox became a member, when the club was a few months old. At 102 years old, she is still an active member of the club. She has served as president multiple times and has held all the offices. She has also hosted meetings, luncheons, Christmas parties, picnics and presented programs.
Programs for the first year of the club covered garden design; soil preparation; spraying; planting and growing dahlias and chrysanthemums; and biennials, perennials and annuals from seed. The club also had a flower arrangement show. Club members purposely did not become a federated club. Certain rules and regulations were required in a federated club. However, the members did participate in some activities like the federated clubs, such as having a judged flower show. The club year ended in February of 1954.
Membership of the club was set at 25 ladies. The calendar was changed to follow the school year and the club meeting date became the fourth Tuesday of each month from September to May.
According to the yearbooks, current members of the club and the year they became a member are as follows: Thuan Bennett (2009); Pat Burnett (2017); Regena Filak (2010); Wanda Galyean (2010); Judy Gilreath (1978); Mary Groner (2011); Ruthmary Hall (1996); Margie Dale Hathcox (1953); VaLinda Hathcox (2007); Charlotte Henderson (2019); Freddie Hughes (2000); Joyce Ann Jackson (2022); Hailey Jackson (2022); Pat Johnson (1975); Patsy Johnson (2011); Barb Julian (2004); Brittany May (2019); Charlotte McDowell (2012); Susie Roth (2017); Liz Steinsiek (2015); Barbara Stewart (2012); Carolyn Stewart (1995); Judy Temples (2019); Janette Watson (2008); Anne Willmann (2007); and Carol Worsham (2019).
Pat Burnett recently resigned due to family obligations.
Carolyn Stewart has indicated that she must resign. Susie Roth asked to become a star member until she can return full time. With the exceptions of Pat, Carolyn and Susie, every active member listed above was present for the January meeting, except for Anne Willmann and Judy Temples.