Agassiz Garden Club Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2147
Overview
This collection contains photographs of the Homme Dam area and the Pioneer Memorial Garden project worked on by the club.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1970-1989
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives
Biography
In 1954 Mrs. H.D. Long held an organizational meeting with nine other women for the purpose of creating the Agassiz Garden Club. The club served a large area including Walsh, Cavalier, and Nelson counties. At the first meeting Mrs. Long was elected the first president of the club, and Mrs. M.C. Flaten provided sample constitutions she had collected from other garden clubs. The name Agassiz was chosen in honor of Swiss horticulturalist, Dr. Lewis R. Agassiz. This name was considered appropriate as the region served by the garden club lies on the former bed of the ancient, glacial Lake Agassiz.
As North Dakota was not a member of the National Federation of Garden Clubs until 1966, the Agassiz Garden Club was affiliated with the South Dakota Federation of Garden Clubs from 1955 until 1958. In 1966 the garden club joined the North Dakota and the National Federation of Garden Clubs. One of the club members, Agnes Sticha, created the seal for the North Dakota State Federation of Garden Clubs. The design for the seal included a meadowlark and prairie roses and can be found in the club’s records.
The garden club meetings were held in the homes of the members between March and November. The club participated in a variety of activities including flower shows, flower sales, and other fundraisers. The club also applied for and received various grants and monetary awards in order to continue their work in the community. Proceeds from fundraisers generally went to garden development in the local community. Two of the earliest projects the club participated in included the donation of fundraising proceeds to the Park River swimming pool (1955), and to landscaping the grounds of St. Ansgar’s Hospital (1956). Beginning in 1959 the club’s primary project was the Homme Dam Recreational area near Park River, N.D. In this location the women chose to establish a Pioneer Memorial Garden, a bird sanctuary, and installed a marker for the Blue Star Highway project.
The actual planning for the Pioneer Memorial Garden began in 1955. The club wanted to establish the garden at the Homme Recreation Area, but first it was necessary to create a park board for Walsh County. The park board was created and acted as an intermediary between the garden club and the United States Army Corp of Engineers. This was all necessary in order for the club to get permission to establish a garden at the recreation area. The garden club was thus instrumental in establishing the Walsh County Park Board.
One of the fundraising projects the Agassiz Garden Club developed was the sale of the “Homesteading” spoon. This spoon was created for the garden club featuring an image taken from a well-known photograph that was originally taken in the area. The photo featured John Bakken and his family standing in front of a sod house. This image was also used as a United States stamp design commemorating the Homestead Act. Proceeds from the sale of the spoon were used by the club to develop the Pioneer Memorial Garden.
In 1970 the Pioneer Memorial Garden and the Homme Recreational Area were established as a bird sanctuary and listed in the National Audubon Society guide
The Blue Star Marker was a project of garden clubs across the nation, but was the first of its kind in North Dakota. It required state legislation allowing for the formal dedication and naming of a section of highway as an official Blue Star Highway. The purpose of this is to commemorate the men and women who have served, and will serve in all wars. For many years after the first dedication of the Blue Star Marker in 1971 along Highway #17, Memorial Day services were held in the Pioneer Memorial Garden.
As North Dakota was not a member of the National Federation of Garden Clubs until 1966, the Agassiz Garden Club was affiliated with the South Dakota Federation of Garden Clubs from 1955 until 1958. In 1966 the garden club joined the North Dakota and the National Federation of Garden Clubs. One of the club members, Agnes Sticha, created the seal for the North Dakota State Federation of Garden Clubs. The design for the seal included a meadowlark and prairie roses and can be found in the club’s records.
The garden club meetings were held in the homes of the members between March and November. The club participated in a variety of activities including flower shows, flower sales, and other fundraisers. The club also applied for and received various grants and monetary awards in order to continue their work in the community. Proceeds from fundraisers generally went to garden development in the local community. Two of the earliest projects the club participated in included the donation of fundraising proceeds to the Park River swimming pool (1955), and to landscaping the grounds of St. Ansgar’s Hospital (1956). Beginning in 1959 the club’s primary project was the Homme Dam Recreational area near Park River, N.D. In this location the women chose to establish a Pioneer Memorial Garden, a bird sanctuary, and installed a marker for the Blue Star Highway project.
The actual planning for the Pioneer Memorial Garden began in 1955. The club wanted to establish the garden at the Homme Recreation Area, but first it was necessary to create a park board for Walsh County. The park board was created and acted as an intermediary between the garden club and the United States Army Corp of Engineers. This was all necessary in order for the club to get permission to establish a garden at the recreation area. The garden club was thus instrumental in establishing the Walsh County Park Board.
One of the fundraising projects the Agassiz Garden Club developed was the sale of the “Homesteading” spoon. This spoon was created for the garden club featuring an image taken from a well-known photograph that was originally taken in the area. The photo featured John Bakken and his family standing in front of a sod house. This image was also used as a United States stamp design commemorating the Homestead Act. Proceeds from the sale of the spoon were used by the club to develop the Pioneer Memorial Garden.
In 1970 the Pioneer Memorial Garden and the Homme Recreational Area were established as a bird sanctuary and listed in the National Audubon Society guide
The Blue Star Marker was a project of garden clubs across the nation, but was the first of its kind in North Dakota. It required state legislation allowing for the formal dedication and naming of a section of highway as an official Blue Star Highway. The purpose of this is to commemorate the men and women who have served, and will serve in all wars. For many years after the first dedication of the Blue Star Marker in 1971 along Highway #17, Memorial Day services were held in the Pioneer Memorial Garden.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (Contains photographs and two news clippings on the Pioneer Memorial Garden.)
Language of Materials
English
Provenance
Donated by Marcella Melstead on October 6, 1997(Acc. 2486).
Property Rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- The Finding Aid to the Agassiz Garden Club Photograph Collection
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu