FORMATIVE YEARS A club history

The Men's Garden Club of Youngstown was organized in 1930 to create a better understanding of gardening and to promote the beautification of the community by encouraging the planting, pruning and protection of ornamental plants and trees. Some highlights from the club's formative years are:
1931: The planting of Victory Gardens was vigorously promoted.
1932: Assisted the Garden Forum of the Greater Youngstown Area in the distribution of seeds and plants, provided through the Garden Relief Program, to some 7200 unemployed gardeners.
1933: Captured first prize for a rock garden and pool exhibit the club entered in the first flower show to be staged at Stambaugh Auditorium in cooperation with the Garden Forum. Helped promote the flowering crabapple as the flowering symbol of this area.
1934: Began efforts to obtain substantial backing for a rose garden and arboretum in Mill Creek Park.
1935: The civic project for the year was planting 17 flowering crab trees at the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard, and landscaping was undertaken at the American Legion Home on Spring Street.
1936: Year ended with a treasury balance of $4.68.
1937: The club boasted a membership of 90 able-bodied and industrious gardeners.
1941: The club decided to affiliate with the Men's Garden Clubs of America, a national organization.
1943: Victory Gardens were plotted and staked out at Tod Cemetery in cooperation with the county-wide Victory Garden Committee.
Compiled by David R. Metzger