THE LONGFELLOW GARDEN CLUB, INC.
The garden in the Wadsworth Longfellow House in Portland, Maine, has been in continuous existence, in one form or another since the erection of the house in 1786 by General Peleg Wadsworth, grandfather of the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Upon the death in 1901 of Anne Longfellow Pierce, the younger sister of the poet, and last member of the family to reside in the house, the property was bequeathed to The Maine Historical Society, to be maintained as a memorial to the two families. Following the erection of the Society’s library upon the site of the old barn, the garden was cared for intermittently by members of the Society.
In 1924 after Mrs. William Wing had obtained permission to restore the garden to its early loveliness, the Longfellow Garden Club was organized for the purpose of financing and maintaining it. Many of the trees, shrubs, and plants were still in good condition.
Members of the Longfellow family assisted Mrs. Wing in her efforts to duplicate the garden as it was in the lifetime of the Poet. Surrounding high buildings, however, with the consequent lack of sunshine and circulation of air have necessitated the substitution of hardy shrubs and plants for the fruit trees and dainty perennials originally in the garden.
Here in the heart of our busy city it is hoped visitors will feel the serenity and joy which inspired Mistress Zilpah’s famous son to write, “The lilacs are in bloom, and the apple trees. The whole world is a flower garden; and all the birds are singing, singing, singing.
©Longfellow Garden Club, Inc. 1. Longfellow Garden - maintenance and restoration 487 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101 2. Longfellow Arboretum - donation and planting of trees and flowers Near Payson Park, Baxter Boulevard, Portland, ME 04103 A Nice City Park Used by All 3. Spring Plant Sale Andover College, Portland Supplying Usual & Unusual Plants to the Public Benefitting LGC & Community 4. Horticulture/Conservation Workshops Field trips and meetings Continuing Education for All Members 5. Maine Historical Society Building and grounds committee member Friday, September 16-Saturday, September 17, 2005 Maine Vocational Regional Ten 68 Church Street, Brunswick, ME 2. Donation and Planting of Trees and Flowers in Payson Park at the Longfellow Arboretum, Portland, ME 3. Membership Promotion LONGFELLOW GARDEN CLUB 1992 Luena Atwood and Helen Bruce 1993 Maria Card and Dorris Porter 1994 Clee Miller and Barbara Tolman 1995 Charlotte Sinnett and Charlotte Farrin 1996 Candi Oliver and Lucille Rideout 1997 Joan Burns and Lois Nichols 1998 Barbara Sawyer and Kay Bowker 1999 Loraine Crosby and Dolores Ellis 2000 Doris Homer and Marcia Willock 2001 Doris Gene Briggs and Laurel Parker 2002 Linda Frinsko and Marilyn Spencer 2003 Alex Turek and Carolyn Ferrante 2004 Bonnie Nelson and Joan Pierce
A Peaceful Respite for the Community
Chairman: Betty Umbel
Chairman: Linda Frinsko
Chairman: Candi Oliver
1. A Standard Flower Show
2005 Patty Caselden and Betty Umbel
Portland, Maine
Organized 1924
Federated 1931
Incorporated 1937
Member of:
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
New England Region
Garden Club Federation of Maine, INC.
Stroudwater District of the Garden Club Federation of Maine, Inc.
If you would like information about joining Longfellow Garden Club, please contact:
Membership Chairman: Barbara C. Tolman
7 Bayberry Lane
Scarborough, ME 04074
207-883-5530
Details of all the programs will be in Poet’s Corner. Every member is welcome to attend all field trips, programs, workshops, and board meetings.
In the event of inclement weather, please listen to radio station WGAN 560AM between 9 and 9:30am. If schools in Portland are cancelled the Longfellow Garden Club activities are also cancelled.