History of the Garden Club of Teaneck
The Town Manager, April, 1932, p. 7
Teaneck has no garden club of its own, that’s not news. But there is great probability that before the present season is far advanced, Teaneck will have a flourishing garden club; and when that probability has developed into a reality, that will be news of real significance and importance to Teaneck.
The probability is base principally on the fact that the conditions are right and the time is ripe for a movement to form such a club, and that the project is already being discussed by several who are interested and who stand ready to help form the organization and get it under way.
One of these was asked a few days ago why it is that Teaneck has no garden club or flower club of any kind, while many other smaller communities in Bergen County have successful clubs that hold annual shows, giving prizes for the best gardens, the finest dahlias or chrysanthemums and in other competitions; which tend to stimulate interest in beautifying their home towns and give the towns the most favorable kind of publicity.
His answer was there is no reason why Teaneck should not have such a club, and every good reason why it should have one. He went even farther, an volunteered the astonishing information that a neighboring municipality has a good, strong club, of which more than half the members are residents of Teaneck – people who joined the neighboring town’s club apparently for the sole reason that Teaneck has no such organization for them to join.
Teaneck now ranks third in population among the municipalities in the county, and expert opinion holds that within a few years it will rank first. Under these conditions it should require little effort to develop in Teaneck one of the strongest and most enthusiastic of the county’s garden Clubs, since beautifying of residence plots with attractive plantings of trees, flowering shrubs and flowers of all kinds is a marked characteristic of the residents in all part of the township.
Just the start the ball rolling, THE TOWN MANAGER is willing to help in the preliminary steps. All residents interested in the plan are invited to send words to that effect, with their addresses, to the following address: Secretary, The Town Manager, 249 Grayson Place, Teaneck, N. J.
All names and addresses received will be turned over to some of the gentlemen who have been talking about taking steps to form a garden Club, so that all may be notified later of the place and date for an informal meeting, to discuss the project in detail and organize.
Who’ll be the first? How many will help get a Teaneck Garden Club going? Can’t it be done at once, so that the Teaneck Garden Club can have effective and successful competitions at the close of the gardening season of 1932?
Send your names and addresses without delay!
The Town Manager, July 1932, p. 16
On Thursday evening, June 30, the Teaneck Garden Club became a reality. About fifty people gathered in Town Hall and formed this new club by electing C. J. Fleishman, of 353 Johnson Avenue, as its first president. Victor H. Palmer, of 184 Pinewood Place was elected vice president. Mr. Palmer has acted as temporary chairman of the group since its first meeting some weeks ago.
R. C. Halstead of 528 Hillcrest Street, was made secretary, Mrs. M. V. Martin, treasurer and Mrs. Halstead as corresponding secretary.
A constitution and by-law were adopted. The constitution states that the Club was organized “to stimulate interest in and spread the love and knowledge of gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds, and to give exhibitions when desirable and to encourage home gardening and civic beauty.”
Any resident of Teaneck interested in gardening may join the organizations, dues are 50 cents for charter membership, this rate will hold for the next three months when the charger membership will end. All who join after that period will pay $1 dues.
A vote of thanks was given Councilman Paquin, whose article in “The Town Manager” inspired the interested people to start this organization.
The newly elected president has had active garden club experience in Ridgefield Park.
Much discussion and interest was evidenced in a fall show, William E. Flackman will act as chairman of a committee which will consider plans for such an event. It was thought that an exhibition night be held this year in place of a flower contest.
An advisory board will be appointed by the president and they with the officials will make up the executive board.
W. Raymond Stone, county agricultural agent, addressed the meeting and assisted in its organization.
Many of those present brought flowers from their gardens, which were placed on display and inspected after the meeting.
The club will meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. It is thought that this club will prove very popular with Teaneck gardeners and that the next meeting will witness a heavy increase in membership.
The Town Manager, August 1932, p. 1 & p. 7
Seldom does a brand new organization of any kind get off to so fine a flying start as that of the Garden Club of Teaneck. And that, by the way, is its correct name – not “Teaneck Garden Club”, as it appeared in our last issue.
First suggested in April; temporary organization formed in May; permanent organization formed in June; three interesting speakers already heard; one trip make to visit a famous garden; plan laid for a flower show in September; forth-five members already enrolled and more joining at every meeting. Such is the record to date of this newest enthusiastic group of Teaneckers, banded together for mutual advantage to make their homes and their home town more attractive.
One July 14, at a special meeting in the council chamber at Town Hall, more than forth-five members and others heard an interesting talk by Mr. George J. Jackson of Hohokus on the subject of rock gardens, in which he is expert. At Mr. Jackson’s invitation, an equal number on the following Monday at dusk motored to Hohokus to inspect his beautiful, large gardens, which include several rock gardens; and as night fell and artificial colored lights were turned on, found themselves in a fairyland of beauty.
On July 28, at the regular monthly meeting, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Berdan, of Allendale, gave a talk and demonstration on the subject of flower arrangement, from which the members and other present gained many new and delightful ideas about the most effective groupings of blooms in vases, centerpieces, and in other ways, with reference to color harmonies and other details of artistic display.
Meetings of this club are refreshingly devoid of formality. Business gets short shrift, and the gatherings resolve themselves into informal receptions, where questions are asked and answered with no restraint, and decorum is observed as a matter of course, with no gavel to enforce it, because none is needed.
Members already enrolled and all others who join before October 1 will be regarded as founders of the Garden Club of Teaneck, and the club hopes by that time to have at least 100 founders. Its officers have asked that announcement be made in this article that all meetings are open to all who wish to attend, whether they are members, or intend to become members, or otherwise. It is planned to have an address given at each meeting by some interesting speaker, expert in some special line that is of interest to all lovers of gardens and flowers, and the club earnestly desires that as many as possible shall benefit by these addresses.
Regular meetings of the club are held on the fourth Thursday evening of each month, and it is expected that special meetings will be held at least once each month, in addition, until the season ends.
Plans are already under way for a flower show to be held about the middle of September, and the Board of Education has been asked to grant the use of space in one of the public schools for that purpose, and to select the school it considers most available. A committee of the club has been appointed to arrange details for the show and already has its work well in hand.
Due to the fact that the club is young and has developed no large treasury balance, it has been decided to give no expensive prizes or medals at this year’s show, but to recognize winners of places in various classes by presentation of ribbons. Completion of final details of this and other matters will be deferred pending the return of President C. J. Fleishman, who is now out of town, but it is expected that not later than the regular meeting on August 25 everything will be decided.
Don’t forget that date of the regular meeting, and watch under Teaneck news in the newspapers for announcement of special meetings, keeping in mind that fact that all are welcome, whether members or not.
The club has before it another invitation for a special trip. The proprietors of Firthcliffe Gardens at Pearl River, at its July 14 meeting, invited the club to visit their gardens on the second Sunday in August, making the visit the occasion for a picnic outing and an inspection of the display of gladiolas at Firthcliffe, which then should be at their best. At the time this issue went to press no definite action had been taken on this invitation, the club having decided to await the return of its president before acting.
The Town Manager, September 1932, p. 1 & p. 8
It is with unusual pleasure that The Town Manager presents in this issue the program for the first flower show of the Garden Club of Teaneck, a flourishing organization that came into existence as the result of a suggestion published first in this newspaper only a few months ago. Final organization was effected little more than two months ago. The club now has an enrollment of more than 65 members, and the number is steadily growing.
The club was worked with such enthusiasm and fine spirit that arrangements for its Fall Flower Show are already complete, and it presents a program of competition in 98 classes, comparing most favorably with shows staged by many older and larger garden clubs throughout the county.
The Board of Education granted the club’s request for use of one of the school buildings for the event, and the Fall Flower Show will be open to the public at School No.2, Forest Avenue and Teaneck Road, from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, and from 1 to 7 p.m., Sunday, September 18. No admission fee will be charged either Saturday or Sunday and the public is cordially invited by the officers of the club.
Some of the classes will be open for competition to club members only, but other sections have been provided in which all residents of Teaneck may compete. No entry fees are required, and awards will be in the form of ribbons as first, second and third prizes in each class.
Flower experts from out of town have been invited to act as judges and their names will be announced before the show. Ribbons awarded will be presented to winners by Mayor Van Wagner at a meeting of the club to be held in the council chamber at Town Hall the evening of Thursday, Sept. 22.
President C. J. Fleischman announces that the purpose of the Fall Flower Show is to demonstrate how well flowers in the various classes can be grown in Teaneck gardens, and that the club plans to make this event an annual feature in the regular club program of events.
The members of the Fall flower Show Committee of 1932 are: William Flackman, 40 church Street, Chairman; Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, 353 Johnson Avenue, Secretary and William Adams, Henry P. Bruns, J. H. Burber, Hugo Hagen, L. T. Hostetler, Mrs. L. T. Hostetler, Mrs. N. J. Jocelyn, Mrs. H. Langley, Mrs. A. Lorenzen, Mrs. C. I. Northrop and Victor H. Palmer.
Rules and conditions that apply to the show are announced by the committee as follow:
“Some classes are open to amateur members of the Garden Club of Teaneck only, and others, as noted, are for non-members. In non-member and open-to-all classes exhibits will be restricted to amateur growers.
“An amateur member is one who does his own garden work except original soil preparation, and does not sell commercially.
“More than one entry permitted, unless otherwise specified.
“While not mandatory, it is desirable that the names of varieties be shown on small tags which may be obtained from the committee.
“All flowers and foliage used must be grown by the exhibitor, unless otherwise specified. Flowers must be arranged by exhibitors.
“The show committee will provide vases, but exhibitors may use their own receptables. Except in artistic arrangement classes, receptables will have no bearing in judging of exhibits. The scale of points as adopted by the Federation will prevail in judging exhibits. Decisions of judges shall be final.
“The exhibition hall will be open for the arrangement of exhibits on Saturday morning, Sept. 17th, at 9 a.m. and all exhibits must be staged by 2:30 p.m., at which time the judging will commence. No person will be permitted in the hall during time of judging.
“Ribbons will be awarded in all classes – blue for first, red for second, white for third. Additional awards will be made when exhibits are meritorious.
“Exhibits must not be removed before 7 p.m. Sunday. Committee will not be responsible for any loss, damage or breakage.”
In some classes there will be competitions confined to members of the club, but in the same classes other competitions are provided in which non-members can compete against club members and each other. In other words, they will be entirely open.
The Garden Club is now looking for a suitable Teaneck slogan to be adopted as the club’s slogan, and to be printed on its letter heads or other club stationery. As a prize the winner will be given membership in the club without dues. The slogan must be a suitable characterization of Teaneck, in a phrase that can be popularized, and that will help to stimulate community pride.
The Town Manager, October 1932, p. 1, p. 8 & p. 9
At an enthusiastic meeting of the Garden Club of Teaneck held in the council chamber at Town Hall on the evening of Sept. 22, Mayor Karl D. Van Wagner presented the ribbons awarded to winners of first, second and third places in various classes at the club’s first annual Fall Flower Show, which was visited by more than 1,200 people at School No. 2 on September 17 and 18.
There was ample reason for enthusiasm in the fact that the club’s first show was pronounced an astonishing success, considering especially that the club was organized less than four months before the show. Visitors from other towns in the county agreed that the show had seldom been equaled by any of the older clubs in this section and scarcely, if ever, surpassed in the number of quality of exhibits.
A most graceful courtesy was extended Teaneck’s newest club by the Ridgefield Park Garden Club, which installed a beautiful rock garden in the hall in which the show was held, not in competition for any prize or award but as a decoration of the hall, thus welcoming the Teaneck organization to the ranks of the clubs that are doing so much to promote cultivation of flowers and beautifying of homes throughout Bergen County.
There were 563 entries all told, including a large member from all over the county and several from outside the state, and the judges declared the exhibits better than they had seen in any other local show.
Judges in the main show were divided into two classes. The first group was composed of Mrs. C. T. Stran of Oradell, Mrs. A. Broadwell of Ridgewood and Mrs. H. D. Thomas of Paterson. These women judged the annuals, perennials, and artistic arrangement classes. For the dahlias and gladiolus, the judges were R. F. Fuhrman of Ramsey, Osmar Eickhoff of Teaneck and Mr. and Mrs. N. R. Romaine of Teaneck.
The show committee was headed by William Flackman. He was assisted by Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, Mrs. William J. Senn, Mrs. R. C. Halstead, William Adams, Henry P. Bruns, C. J. Fleischman, J. H. Furber, Hugo Hagen, L. T. Hostettler, M. H. Martin, Victor H. Palmer and V. Sigismundi.
A large group of women members of the club volunteered their services as hostesses during the show and assisted in directing the spectators through the exhibits and explaining the special points of interest. They were Mrs. Henry Bruns, Mrs. E. H. Crosby, Mrs. F. J. Cordes, Mrs. A. K. Deering, Mrs. William Flackman, Mrs. J. H. Furber, Mrs. R. C. Halstead, Mrs. L. T. Hosteller, Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. R. T. Humphrey, Mrs. N. S. Jocelyn, Mrs. Elwood Knapp, Mrs. William Lorenzen, Mrs. Harry Langley, Mrs. M. H. Martin, Mrs. C. L. Northrop, Mrs. V. Palmer, Mrs. S. Paguin, Mrs. Walter Spindler, Mrs. W. J. Senn, Mrs. Frank Shaffer, Mrs. W. E. Shadek, Mrs. A. Walker and Mrs. P. Zumpkley.
Winners were as follows:
Annuals – Members Only:
Asters – Mrs. F. C. Barger, H. W. Stumpf.
African marigolds – William Adams, Adelaide Halstead, Mrs. C. L. Northrop.
French Marigolds – H. A. Stumpf, Mr. F. F. McClelland, Mrs. Anna Lorentzen.
Phlox – Henry Bruns, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman. Zinnias – Mrs. W. E. Shadek. Pom-pom zinnias – Mrs. A. H. Hanna, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, H. W. Stumpf. Cosmos – Mrs. L. S. bruchs, Mrs. F. Cordes. Scabiosa – Mrs. W. J. Senn, Mrs. F. F. McClelland, Mrs. A. M. Hanna.
Snapdragon – H. W. Stumpf, Mrs. C. L. Northrop. Coxcomb – Mrs. F. E. Shaffer, George L. Errick, Mrs. A. M. Hanna. Centaurea – Mrs. J. H. Furber.
Calendula – Mrs. W. J. Senne, Mrs. C. L. Northrop. Strawflowers – George L. Errick. Petunias – Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. F. Cordes, Mrs. A. M. Hanna. Any other annual – Mrs. H. Langley, Mrs. C. L. Northrop, Mrs. M. H. Martin.
Perennials – Members Only
Delphinium – William Adams, Mrs. A. M. Hanna. Lilies – George E. Errick. Phlox – Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman. Gaillardia – Mrs. F. Cordes, Henry Bruns, Mrs. A. M. Hanna. Tritoma – Mrs. A. M. Hanna. Any other perennial – Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. F. F. McClelland.
Gladiolus – Members Only
Best primulinus – V. Sigismundi, Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Best five grandiflorous types – Mrs. C. J. Fleischman. Best three grandiflorous – Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, Mrs. C. L. Northrop. Best grandiflorous – Mrs. C. J. Fleischman, Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman. Arrangement in vase – Mrs. M. H. Martin, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman. Arrangement in basket – Mrs. C. J. Fleischman.
Roses – Open to All
Best three – Mrs. H. Langley, Mrs. W. Spindler, Gordon Johnson. Best rose – Mrs. F. Cordes, C. G. Dettmer. Arrangement in vase – Mrs. W. Spindler, H. W. Stumpf.
Annuals – Non-Members Only
Asters – John Bernard, Littler Ferry; Mrs. W. Copley. African Marigolds – Mrs. M. A. Dinnen, Ramsey; Miss Ruth Frey, Miss C. Blair. French marigolds – Mrs. M. L. Blair, Ramsey; Mrs. M. A. Dinneen. Zinnias – Mrs. M. L. Blair, Ramsey. Pom-pom zinnias – Mrs. M. A. Dinneen, Ramsey; Miss C. Blair.
Cosmos – Mrs. R. E. Talbert, Mrs. McPartlandt. Scabiosa – Mrs. M. L. Blair, Ramsey; Miss C. Blair, John Bernard. Sanpdragon – John Bergard, Little Ferry. Coxcomb – Miss Helen Levy, Hackensack; A. P. Werkhoven, Miss Helen Levy. Calendula – Mrs. M. A. Dinneen. Petunias – Elmer Miller. Vase of any other annual – John Bernard, Mrs. H. Stumpf, A. H. Schlesinger.
Perennials – Non-members Only
Lilies – Mrs. M. L. Blair. Gaillardia – Mrs. Arthur R. Gahl. Any other perennial – A. H. Schlesinger, Rochelle Park.
Gladiolus – Non-members Only
Best three premulinus – R. T. Kiahre, Bogota. Best primulinus spike – R. T. Klahre. Best five grandiflorous types – Elmer Miller. Best three grandiflorous – R. T. Klahre. Best spike grandiflorous – Mrs. M. M. Blair, Mrs. M. A. Dinneen, R. T. Klahre. Arrangement in baskets – R. T. Klahre.
Artistic Arrangements – Open to all
In case not over six inches high – Mrs. A. M. Hanna, A. W. Pfeiffer, Mrs. M. H. Martin.
In bowl not over six inches high – Mrs. M. H. Martin, Mrs. F. Cordes, Mrs. M. H. Martin
In vase over six inches high – Mrs. C. L. Northrop, Mrs. A. M. Hanna, Mrs. C. L. Northrop.
In baskets – Mrs. E. M. McCracken, Bogota; Mrs. C. Horrocks, Mrs. C. J. Fleischman.
Dahlias – Members Only
Three semi-cactus – V. Sigismundi, H. W. Stumpf. Three formal decorative – Mrs. W. Spindler. Three informal decorative – William Flackman, H. W. Stumpf.
Three ball – H. W. Stumpf. Three pompoms – H. W. Stumpf. Best cactus – M. H. Martin. Best semi-cactus – Henry Bruns.
Best formal decorative – William Flackman, V. Sigismundi, William Flackman. Best informal decorative – V. Sigismundi.
Best ball – H. W. Stumpf, V. Sigismundi, W. J. Adams. Best pompom – Mrs. A. M. Hanna, M. H. Martin. Best unnamed seedling – V. Sigismundi, Henry Bruns.
Dahlias – Non-members Only
Three formal decorative – A. H. Schlesinger, Theo. Penisis.
Three informal decorative – R. T. Klahre, A. H. Schlesinger, R. T. Klahre.
Three ball – Mrs. McPartlandt. Three Pompoms – Mrs. H. W. Stumpf, Macopin; Mrs. M. A. Dinneen, H. W. Stumpf.
Best semi-cactus – A. H. Schlessinger, R. T. Klahre.
Best formal decorative – Theo. Panisis, Bogota; R. T. Klahre, Mrs. R. E. Talbert.
Best informal decorative – R. t. Klahre, Theo. Panisis, R. T. Klahre.
Best ball – Mrs. H. W. Stumpf, William Winquist, best pompom – mrs. H. W. Stumpf, Gloria Gonzalez, Best unnamed seedling – John Bernard. Arrangement in vase – William Flackman. Arrangement in basket – mrs. A. M. Hanna.
Best Dahlia in show – William Flackman (with bloom, Kathleen Norris).
Girl Scout Show
Class- Miss Betty Bixler, Miss Ruth Frey. Class 2 – Miss Ruth Frey. Class 3 – Miss Carmel Bower, Miss Ruth Frey, Miss Blache Sholin
The Town Manager, April 1933, p. 1 & p. 9
Upon recommendation of its executive committee, the Garden Club of Teaneck, now entering upon its first full year of normal club activity, has adopted a program of events that will keep its members and committees busy for some time to come.
First will be an all-day sale of plants on April 28 in a vacant store on Cedar Lane not far from the Teaneck Railway station for which Mrs. Cordes has been appointed chairman.
This will be followed on May 20 by a spring flower exhibition and competitive at the same location, when there will be competition in classes for tulips, narcissus, daffodils and other flowering plants and shrubs. The chief purpose of this show will be educational, and it will include a generous display of flowers grown by club members arranged by varieties.
Meantime a spring garden competition will be conducted by the club on May 11 and 12, in accordance with the rules of competition established by the New York Herald Tribune. All residents of Teaneck who wish to take part in this event can do so by registering their names at the regular April meeting of the club on Thursday evening, April 27, in the Council Chamber at Town Hall, or by getting in touch with the chairman of this competition, Mr. John Furber, 241 Elm Avenue, Teaneck.
The principal event toward which the club is now directing its energies, however, is the Spring flower show, which the executive committee, has recommended shall be held at School No.2, Forrest Avenue and Teaneck Road, on June 16. For that event there will be competitive exhibits in all classes suitable to that time of year. All classes will be open to any resident of Teaneck, whether a member of the club or not, and while there will be no cash or other prizes, ribbons will be awarded for first, second, and their places in each class.
For this Spring flower show and exhibition, Mrs. C. B. Curtis of Taft Road, has bee appointed General Chairman, and will have the following assistants:
Program Committee – V. H. Palmer, W. Flackman and C. Fleischman.
Hostesses – Mrs. Langley, Mrs. Lonsby, Mrs. Esslinger and Mrs. Cordes.
Tea Room – Mrs. Martin, chairman; Mrs. Halstead, Mrs. Furber and Mrs. Palmer.
Hall Decorations – Mrs. William Senn.
Secretaries – Mrs. Dering, Mrs. Flackman and Mrs. Schaffer.
The club, membership in which is open to any lover of flowers for an annual membership fee of one dollar, holds regular meetings the fourth Thursday evening of each month at Town Hall. An interesting speaker is provided to address each meeting and the public is cordially invited, to attend, as well as members.
Information as to the various classes in the Spring flower show can be secured from the Chairman, or at any regular meeting of the Mrs. C. B. Curtis, 1332 Taft Road, Club.