The collection mostly consists of the Clubs’ scrapbooks, photographs, and awards, and other records documenting the Club’s activities, programs, and members.
Organizational History:
The Mount Pleasant Federated Garden Club #241 was organized in September 1961 and federated in September 1962. It is a member of District VI, Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan, Inc., the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., and its central region. Mrs. Mary Wickland was its first president. The Club participated in many community projects, such as planting flowers in the center court of Mount Pleasant High School, planters at Central Michigan Community Hospital, at the entrance of Island Park, the beautification, care, and maintenance at the Veterans Memorial Library and the Art Reach Center Constitutional Bi-Centennial Gardens, as well as donating gardening, landscaping, and flower arranging books to the library. The Club was instrumental in making the Gerald L. Poor Schoolhouse (formerly known as the Bohannon One Room Schoolhouse) a historical museum. The Club also planned the renovation of the building and landscaping and continues to groom the grounds. The annual Christmas Wreath sale is the only fundraiser conducted by the Club and a very popular project. Monies from the sale fund various scholarships for those entering the field of horticulture or related fields. Trees were purchased by the Club for the Playscape in Island Park. The Club supported and funded projects towards the completion of the Frederick Meijer Garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Club continues to support the education and beautification of Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas.
In 1994 a Standard Flower Show was co-sponsored with the Evening Bloomers Garden Club. The Evening Bloomers Garden Club was organized and federated in April 1991 as the second garden club in Mount Pleasant to fulfill the need for a garden club which met in the evening. Its members are involved in several community projects and co-sponsored a Standard Flower Show in 1994. The plant and maintain flower beds at the Central Michigan Community Hospital and at the City Hall Building. They also have a wildflower planting near the US 27-M 20 intersection. The goal of the Club is to stimulate knowledge and love for gardening among amateurs, to develop the artistic use of flowers, to aid in the conservation of the soil, native trees, flowers and birds, and to promote a helpful spirit of community fellowship. The collection is ongoing. (This information is from the collection.)
