Member: de Hart, Mrs. Alden (Dorothy Voorhis) '38

Mrs. Alden de Hart '38

photo circa 1950

Back of photo

May 8, 1951 Plainfield NJ Courier article

Social News

GARDEN CLUB PICNICS IN PARK – Members of the Plainfield Garden Club had a picnic lunch yesterday in the arboretum in Cedar Brook Park. Picnic marked the fifth anniversary of the arboretum and the 20th of the first dogwood plantings in the park. (L to R) Ralph Carver, Union County Park Commission horticulturalist; Mrs. Charles A. Eaton Jr.; Mrs. E. H. Ladd 3rd, president of club; Mrs. R. T. Stevens, new chairman of cornus committee; Miss Harriette R. Halloway, retiring chairman; Mrs. Thomas Van Boskerck, Mrs. Alden de Hart and W. R. Tracy of Union County Park commission

Handwritten date: May 7, 1951
Date on back of clipping: May 8, 1951

NOTE: This clipping was discovered April 2010 in a member's home who had been storing a leather case filled with old medals won by different Plainfield Garden Club members over the years. In this case included a Garden Club of America medal awarded to Harriette Halloway.

1936 Junior League Delgation, Plainfield

Anne Shepherd '77 presented this photo at the November 17, 2010 meeting held at Plainfield Country Club of the 1936 Junior League Delegation. Many of the women in the photograph were also Plainfield Garden Club members.

Anne's own mother, Mrs. Morrell, was a member of the Plainfield Garden Club.

Going from Left to Right:
Barbara Craig
Ruth Vermelier McKenny
Jean Anderson
Althea Steven
Dorothy DeHart
Jean Stuart
Nanette Hoy Nickerson
Peggy Burger
Nancy Kroll
Barbara Curbesier Stevenson

When shown to Barbara Sandford '54, who was in attendance, she recognized all the faces.

Anne added that the reason her mother had this photo was because she was "in charge of all the Junior League Provisionals" Anne is certain this photo was taken at 900 Charlotte, Plainfield, NJ

back of photo

1915 - 1965 History of the Plainfield Garden Club

page 17

1915 - 1965 History of the Plainfield Garden Club

page 18

1915 - 1965 History of the Plainfield Garden Club

page 19

1915 - 1965 History of the Plainfield Garden Club

page 21

1915 - 1965 History of the Plainfield Garden Club

page 22

January 3, 20011 memory of Mrs. de Hart by PGC member Jeanne Turner

Jeanne remembered Mrs. de Hart as being a lovely person and very interested in lace, as was Jeanne. She would invite Jeanne to her house to either give or sell her pieces of lace. After the transaction, they would have tea in the front window.

Jeanne remembers Plainfield Garden Club member Betty Hackman discussing Mrs. de Hart. Betty would often be partnered with Mrs. de Hart to do a flower arrangement. For a month, there would be a daily phone call from Mrs. de Hart discussing the arrangement from the most minute detail. Betty recalls that then a driver that worked for the de Harts, Sam, would come collect the arrangement at 5 AM and drive it to the flower show whether it be in New York of Philadelphia.

Award to Garden Club Result of Hard Work

Award to Garden Club Result of Hard Work
circa 1958 - 1960

by Mrs. William P. Elliott
(Exhibitions Chairman)
Plainfield Garden Club

The second prize awarded to the Plainfield Garden Club this week for te mosaic garden it staged at the International Flower Show in the New York Coliseum was not easily won. Our entry was the product of three months of concentrated effort.

Those who see our exhibit at the show, which opened Saturday and will remain open through Saturday, often ask: "How does one go about such a project."

This is how we did it. Our story starts with the arrival just before Christmas of the Garden Club of America's schedule of classes for the show. We studied it and decided to attempt an entry in the gardens class.

The requirements were: "Four competitive pool plantings, mosaic in design, Flowers and ground cover to be used. Flowers to be predominate. Color combinations, white-yellow, apricot, brown and green. Space approximately 10 feet by five feet. Free form shape. Plant material not to exceed two feet in height from the floor."

Committee Begins Work

As soon as our application was accepted, the committee I headed set to work. Our dedicated members were Mrs. F. Willoughby Frost, Mrs. Linden Stuart, Mrs. Alden de Hart, Mrs. Victor King, Mrs. Charles Detwiller and Mrs. Harry Brokaw Smith.

We conducted research in museums and libraries to find out everything possible about mosaics (both ancient and modern), their designs and techniques.

Trips to greenhouses followed. Our investigation of plant materials available caused us to travel many miles in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Incidentally, there are no finer people to deal with than the nurserymen we met.

The next stop involved our spending many hours with pencil and paper. Finally, we decided to use a design created by Mrs. Frost. Her inspiration was a picture of a mosaic walk in Alicante, Spain, which had been brought back by one of our members, Mrs. David Foster, who recently traveled there.

Mechanical Problems

We then put our "theories" into practice by working with sample plant materials on patterns cut to scale in order to determine the amounts of plant material required and the amount of real moss necessary to fill the given space. We also faced the mechanical problmes of "putting it together."

Then, followed the problem of transporting all our precious materials to the Coliseum March 3. Fortunately, we were able to find a wholesale florist in Scotch Plains who could provide a heated truck and a driver.

The morning of March 8 finally arrived, and with it the snow. What a blizzard that was! In spite of it all, however, our courageous driver collected and loaded the plants and other materials into the truck and set forth to battle the elements en route to the city. We are grateful to him for their safe arrival.

Meanwhile, our president, Mrs. Robert F. MacLeod, had braved the storm to drive to New York to receive our precious cargo upon its attival at the Coliseum. After her job was done, storm and traffic conditions made it impossible for her to return to Plainfield, and she had to spend the night with friends in the city.

Five of us left Plainfield at 7 a.m. the next day and, after a slow but safe drive, reached the Coliseum in time to take the final steps in our project. By 6 p.m. we were finished in more ways than one.

Award to Garden Club Result of Hard Work

Jeanne Turner's memory of Dorothy deHart

Dorothy DeHart did a lot of arrangements for Crescent Avenue. Her husband was a well known architect. Dorothy was a perfectionist. Every year Jane Burner would help Dorothy arrange the poinsettas at church. Jane would stand in the front and Doroty would stand all the way in the back. She would make Jane move the pots of poinsettas an inch in any direction until she decided they were perfect.

Everyone remembers Mrs. Frost as her sister. Mrs. Frost was considered younger and more glamorous than her older sister, Mrs. deHart.

Anne Shepherd's memory of Alden DeHart

He was an architect that worked on many homes. When my parents [Morrell] moved to their Rahway Avenue house, the former owners wanted the mantelpiece so they took it with them. My parents had Alden DeHart design a new one and he did something very clever with my father's initials carved into the mantel. I wonder if it is still there.

When the Ladds moved to Nepawin Lane, he designed their house there. On the front of the house he scrolled the initials "EHL" and if you drive by, you can see it. Again, I think it is still there.

1941 - 1947 Club History by Etheldreda Anderegg

May 17, 1957 Club Commemorates Founding of Iris Garden

Caption: GARDEN MARKER VIEWED – Standing before the marker commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Iris Garden in Cedar Brook Park are (left to right) Mrs. Frederick Lockwood, Victor B. King, Jr., John C. Wister, Mr. Richard Tracy and Miss Harriette R. Halloway, founder of this garden. (Courier photo by E. T. Wiggins)

The Plainfield Garden Club and guests yersterday dedicated the the entranceway of the of the Iris Garden in Cedar Brook Park.

Miss Harriette R. Halloway, found of the garden and chairman of the garden of the Iris Garden [not legible] the project was started in 1932, was presented a medal by Mrs. Frederick M. Lockwood, president of the Garden Club.

The medal is [not legible] "from the grateful members of the Plainfield Garden Club Harriette R. Halloway founder and director of the Iris gardens of Cedar Brook Park, Plainfield, 1932 - 1957."

[Not legible] viewed a recently installed [not legible] tablet marking the anniversary of the garden.

"Excercise in Perfection"
Victor R. King, president of the Union County Park Commission, led the gathering [not legible] the garden display was "an excercise in perfection is [not legible]," he said.

The park commission provides the setting for the garden and have [not legible] in the project [not legible]

W. [not legible] Tracy, executive had of the Park Commission when the Iris Garden was started paid tribute to Miss Halloway for her "tireless work and painstaking effort."

Another speaker was Dr. John C. Wister of Swarthmore, Pa., president of the American Iris Society when the garden was started and author of [not legible] article about the garden in the current issue of the Journal of the New York Botanical Gardens.

Miss Halloway spoke briefly and [not legible] on the work of the [not legible] who care for the Iris Garden. She introduced Kenneth Smith, one of the largest contributors of plants to the garden [not legible]

Mrs. Lockwood presided at the program. Guests included members of [not legible] garden clubs and contributors to the garden.

The Iris Garden Committee includes Mrs. Morris E. Benton, Mrs. Alden de Hart, Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Donald E. Luce, Mrs. William K. Dunbar, Jr., Mrs. C. Northrop Pond, Mrs. Webster Sandford, Mrs. Arthur D. Seybold, Mrs. John R. Wells, Mrs. Willian G. Wigton, Mrs. Robert MacLeod, vice chairman, and Miss Halloway, chairman.

Special slides [not legible] for the chairman were Mrs. Charles A. Eaton, Jr., Mrs. F. Willoughby Frost ad Mrs. Edwin M. Treat, Jr.

Mrs. Victor M. King was chairman of the special committee assisted by Mrs. J. Harold Loizeaux, Mrs. E. B. Newberry, and Miss Margaret Tyler. Also cooperating were Mrs. N. C. Barnhart, Jr., Mrs. William P. Elliott, Mrs. Homer Cochran and Mrs. H. I. Flanders.

Hostesses (not legible)
Other hostesses were Mrs. William W. Coriell, Mrs. Leslie E. Fort, Mrs. William A. Holliday, Mrs. Richard M. Lawton, Mrs. Robert T. Stevens, Mrs. C. Boardman Tyler, Mrs. William S. Tyler. Mrs. Thomas Van Boskerck and Mrs. Orville G. Waring.

The Iris Garden now has more than 1,800 named varieties properly labeled, representing all types of Iris and totaling more than 75,000 plants.

The main part of the garden is [not legible] caring Iris [not legible] and is expected to be is good blooms thorugh the rest of the month.

May 19, 1980 Board Meeting Minutes

1987 Archives

From the Corresponding Secretary file

Contributors in Marge Ladd's Memory for the Shakespeare Garden

Mrs. Philip Nash
Mrs. Lawrence Heely
Mrs. Richard Eckert
Mrs. Webster Sandford
Mrs. June [not legible]
Standish Ave and Wood Ave
Mrs. Bruce Reid
Mrs. Northrop Pond
Mrs. Alden De Hart
Mrs. E. J. Fitzpatrick
Mrs. William Elliot
Mrs. Charles Eaton Jr.
Mrs. William Shepherd

Total $445.00

Email from Elisabeth Loizeaux to Susan Fraser February 12, 2011

Dear Susan,

Yes, I remember the postcard well. I believe it was a State wide project for GCA clubs to acquaint people with native plants (it could even have been a Nation wide project). I am sorry, but I can't recall what year it was undertaken . I would suggest you ask Barbara Sandford about Gerri Acomb. If I remember correctly, she grew up in Northern India and was a painter of botanical subjects, quite well known. I now wonder if PGC ever owned the original painting of the clematis? I remember endless trips to the printer, and I was never really happy with the colors .We all had to buy a certain number of cards and then sell them to our friends and acquaintances. If the date is really important, maybe GCA has records, I recall going to a meeting (maybe a Zone meeting) and seeing a large collection of other cards.

But do ask Barbara about Ms Acomb, she was an unusual person. In fact, please let me know what you find out. There are so many interesting stories about "old Plainfield" people, how they were related, how they intermarried etc. ––- I could not believe my eyes when I saw Beverley Reid's letter of resignation. She must have been really disappointed in us younger members. She was MRS Gardenclub, a super talented horticulturist and arranger, trained by the previous super GC members: The two sisters Mrs. Frost and Mrs. de Hart, Marge Elliot, Mrs. Ladd (who went to flower shows with her maid in attendance who had to hand her tools and flowers at her command, the way a nurse hands surgical instruments to the surgeon!)

Best regards,

Elisabeth

1941 - 1942 Club History by Etheldreda Anderegg, version 2

[Editor's note: The original document was too faded to scan. This is a different version of a history written by Mrs. Etheldreda Anderegg from 1941 – 1947]

Plainfield Garden Club History
Continued to 1947

On May 14th, 1941 – six years ago to-day in Cedarbrook Park – the Anniversary Dogwood Trees were formally presented to the Park Commission. In making the presentation, Mrs. Arthur Nelson, president, said the garden club wished to make a gift of lasting beauty to mark its anniversary. Mr. Tracey responding for the Park Commissioners commended the club for its civic interest and declared the trees would bring a touch of beauty to thousands of lives. The gift was identified by a large boulder bearing a bronze marker. Mrs. Holliday as chairman of the Dogwood Tree Committee and of the Boulder Committee arranged the anniversary celebration.

That year, 1941, an article appeared in Horticulture in praise of our Shakespeare Garden.

A teacher of the Jefferson School staff was sent to the Audubon Nature Camp in Maine.

Handsome new yearbooks containing a revised constitution, membership lists and permanent covers with loose leaves were issued. About this time some of our members looking back upon some of our achievements of the past, and forward for new horizons to explore, agreed that once more we should storm the ramparts of the Garden Club of America. No organization in garden club circles offers to its members such a wide field of opportunities and assured prestige. This reporter has sat in many important national and state conferences were the effect of this prestige could be observed. When important decisions were due there was an intangible inference in the atmosphere which stemmed to imply – "All those not members of the Garden State of America may now retire to the Jim Crow car."

Better to have failed in the high aim than to succeed vulgarly in the low one" said Browning.

So a committee to explore the possibilities of our being accepted for membership was named by Mrs. Nelson. With Mrs. Corriel as chairman, the committee consisted of Miss Elsie Harmon, Mrs. C. Boardman Tyler, Miss Elizabeth Browne, Miss William Tyler, Mrs. William A. Holliday, Mrs. James Devlin and your historian. Our search for new worlds to conquer began with a meeting at the home of Mrs. William Tyler, on February 21, 1941, when your historian read a letter she had been asked to write to Mrs. Frederic Kellogg, of Morristown Garden Club, prominent garden club personality. The letter would be interesting at this point, but unfortunately it has been lost. Suffice to say, our prise of ourselves was so completely uninhibited that the committee itself was profoundly impressed by the record of performance of the Plainfield Garden Club set forth therein. Shakespeare said "Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful." After all they could not know our worth unless we told them. This time we forestalled a verdict that we had "accomplished nothing."

It might be interjected here that during Mrs. Goddard's regime an effort was made to join the Garden Club of America. Mrs. Kellogg, approached on that occasion, graciously entertained Mrs. Goddard and Mrs. Holliday at luncheon, and they left with the impression that Plainfield, having rejected an invitation to become a charter member of that organization during Mrs. Herring's tenure, it would be futile ever to hope for membership.

An active campaign was launched by all who had relatives or friends in member clubs. This was accelerated when it was learned that a neighboring club had an identical ambition, and had found a sponsor. Because of geographical allocation, we realized that only one of us would be admitted. When it became apparent that we had aroused interest, and had a semblance of chance for acceptance, a special meeting was called at the home of Mrs. Corriel, and the advantages of membership in the Garden Club of America, as well as the financial obligations thoroughly explored. The club was asked to decide whether they wished the committee to proceed with the negotiations. The vote was unanimously affirmative.

Subsequently Mrs. Kellogg requested that the Morristown Club have the pleasure of proposing us, and Mrs. Lauderdale of Short Hills offered to have that club second us. While we waited for the verdict, our campaign never waned.

On May 11th, 1941, tenth anniversary of Iris Garden, the executive board gave a tea to honor Miss Halloway. Mrs. Holliday arranged a delightful affair in the field house. Members of the garden club and thirty guests were invited. Miss Halloway's friends came from far and near while the Iris Garden glowed in a rainbow of colors for the occasion.

The war which was sweeping over France while Mrs. VanBoskerck's history concluded had now reached our shores. "Come to open purple testament of bleeding war." (King Richard) Our members were working for the U.S.O., the Red Cross and Camp Kilmer, apart and in conjunction with the garden club. Plans were sent to the camp to enhance its barren scenes, and seeds to Brittain. Victory gardens were planted, two new chairmanships were added to the executive board – War Activities and Victory Gardens.

In May 1943, we provided vases and began to send flowers regularly to the chapels at Camp Kilmer. This is still being done. Garden books from the Garden Center were placed in the Public Library. Because of gasoline and food rationing it was becoming difficult to hold meetings. Speakers were reluctant to use scarce gasoline and tires for small groups. The war organizations were asking for more things, more effort and more money. The garden club was striving to provide all three.

In June 1943 a delegation from the Garden Club of America came to inspect our members' gardens. Those gardens chosen to head the list were duly explored and approved, but unfortunately the sand of time ran out before they could see them all, and they will never realize all they missed. However, they did see the dogwood planting, the Shakespeare and Iris gardens.

At the annual meeting Mrs. Samuel Carter gave a particularly interesting history of the Shakespeare garden, which was later read by request at the Shakespeare Club. Mrs. Carter said in part: "It has been said that we of the Western World love flowers for what they are, and that the peoples in the East love them for what they suggest. A Shakespeare Garden is full of suggestions, a speaking garden revealing the tradition, folklore and romance of the ancient and timeless plants." Mr. Tracey quoted an authority on the subject as saying that Mrs. Carter's was the finest Shakespeare Garden in the country and that over 15,000 people visited it last year.

Mrs. Coriell announced at the executive board meeting February 2nd, 1944, that Plainfield Garden Club had been elected to membership in the Garden Club of America, and letters of welcome received from sponsoring clubs. It had required three years to reach the new horizons, but a poet once said, "A horizon is nothing but the limit of our sight" so each one attained shows another beckoning in the distance.

Because of rationing, meetings were held in semi-public places of central location. Speakers stressed every phase of conservation. Garden club members were working hard at Camp Kilmer, for the Red Cross and the U.S.O.

In 1945 we became a Founder of the Blue Star Drive, our members contributing generously to this beautiful tribute to the men who served in the armed forces. It is hoped, and the hope is rapidly being fulfilled, that ultimately it will stretch from New Jersey to California.

A new custom was instituted, that of sending a sum of money to the Red Wood Tribute Grove in memory of deceased members. This year, 1945, a dance recital was given to help defray expenses of war activities. Naturally it was under the chairmanship of Miss Maud vonBoskerck, whose motto might well be "Music is my talent – my dearest one." It was very successful artistically and financially.

We helped the New York Botanical Garden celebrate its Fiftieth Anniversary by sending hostesses every day for a week, and by a substantial sum of money for plant research.

In 1945 Lyons Hospital was included on our flower and plant list, and we have continued to supply it weekly for two months of each year. Flowering trees were planted along Blue Star Drive in memory of members' sons lost in the war.

Mrs. Samuel Carter and Miss Harriette Halloway received awards from the Garden Club of New Jersey for their work in Shakespeare and Iris gardens respectively.

Besides bouquets were made twice a week for the wards at Camp Kilmer, beginning in May. Our members volunteered to arrange them.

By this time we were discovering that those "new worlds to conquer" for which we had longed, were providing more opportunities than we could well cope with, and so a junior membership was formed, now numbering six.

The associate membership was enlarged to thirty-five so that active members might be enabled to transfer to it. A questionnaire was sent of work they wished to do. In a Garden Club of America contest for a year's program, Miss Halloway's won honorable mention.

Beginning early in December members of the club met every day in Mrs. Boardman Tyler's studio to make Christmas decorations for the hospital at Camp Kilmer. A big fire blazed in the stove, tons of varied evergreens were provided as well as all other necessary equipment. The studio hummed like Santa Claus' workshop, and great quantities of wreaths with large red bows, small bouquets and other favors emerged to cheer the soldiers at Camp Kilmer and Lyons Hospitals. Joyce Kilmer, for whom the camp was named, wrote of his experience in the other World War: "My shoulders ache beneath my pack, Lie easier cross upon his back" We hoped we eased their burden just a little.

The opportunities offered by the Garden Club of America in the field of conservation are so many and so varied, it was necessary to choose which tangent to pursue. In view of the community and national problems of vandalism and child delinquency, it was thought wise to concentrate the major effort in combating these evils. Working through the public schools seemed the most logical procedure. Mr. Wimer of Jefferson School and Mrs. Rulison of the Park Commission have offered sympathetic cooperation. The first step in the program is the establishment of school gardens, now in process of being planted. The garden club provided the funds. A trial garden, or proving bed was started in Cedarbrook Park in 1946. This year many new perennials were added.

Mrs. Hubble's artistic ability was employed so successfully in redecorating the Garden Center, this observer could scarcely recognize it.

The Garden Club of New Jersey bestowed an award upon us for meritorious work at Camp Kilmer. Miss Halloway has made additions to the peony, Iris and Narcissus gardens. It again became necessary to raise money, and a repeat performance by request, of the dance recital was staged by Miss Van Boskerck.

A suggestion from the Garden Club of New Jersey that we plant a tree to honor garden weekled, after consultation with Mr. Tracey, to the beginning of a dogwood arboretum comprising all the varieties that will grow in this vicinity. Twenty-five varieties have already been planted.

Santa Claus helpers gathered again in Mrs. Tyler's studio to make decorations for Camp Kilmer, and surpassed their effort of the previous year. Our work in this Project was not equaled by that of any club either year.

A thrill of pride must have quivered through our membership from founders to newest recruits, triumphs of our members who exhibited in the New York Flower Show. In the realm of flower arrangement there is no more coveted award than the Fenwick Medal. Our Mrs. deHart was runner up fro that prize last year. This year four exhibits won three blue ribbons and two special awards. It was a magnificent performance which won for us third place in the sweepstakes.

Chapel flowers still are sent to Camp Kilmer. Our members arrange them. We take our turn with the other clubs supplying flowers for the entire hospital regularly from gardens when possible, from florists in cold weather. Two gray Ladies representing Plainfield Garden Club, arrange and distribute the flowers through the wards. The by-laws were again revised and new books issued for the permanent covers.

The executive committee has not overlooked the fact that a War Memorial is of paramount interest to the garden club. Much time as been spent in discussion and deep thought given the matter. Mrs. Boardman Tyler has been named a member of the committee. This year we are sending a teacher to the Audubon Nature Camp in Maine, and another to the Conservation Workshop in Trenton.

Several members have been invited to speak on varied subjects, notably Mrs. Garret Smith on Church Gardens, and Miss Halloway on horticultural subjects. Mrs. Garret has been honored as founder of the Little Garden Club of New York City, of which she is honorary president.

A big of biographical information picked up while perusing the minutes is that our new president, Mrs. Loziuex, became a member of the club in 1940, second vice president in 1942, again in 1945, first vice president in 1946 and president in 1947.

Having been a member of the club only ten years, your historian cannot speak with absolute authority, but thinks it probably that the club reached greater heights of achievement under this administration of Mrs. Tyler than during any comparable period of time. This is partly true because of the new opportunities offered by affiliation with the Garden Club of America, and partly due to Mrs. Tyler's dynamic energy and her determination that the Plainfield Garden Club take advantage of these opportunities and assume its rightful position in the vanguard of progressive garden clubs.

Junius described Mrs. Tyler perfectly when he wrote: "the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct and the hand to execute."

We notice as we go over the chronicles of the garden club, the absence of names once listed so frequently:

Those whom we loved so long, and see no more
Loved and still love,
Not dead, but gone before.

If we ever adopt a coat of arms, it might well show crossed trowels over a field of flower arrangements, the other expounding the futility of vandalism to a young cub. And the motto? It must be from Shakespeare, and it is from The Tempest: Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground.

Or if we choose to abandon the classics: Never a dull moment!

Etheldreda Anderegg
Historian, 1947

Hillside Cemetery

September 14, 2011
Photo by S. Fraser

Hillside Cemetery

Anne Shepherd shared a memory that years later after Mrs. de Hart passed, she ran into the woman who took care of her in her dotage. Complimenting her, Anne said she really admired how nice the woman had been to Mrs. de Hart. Without a pause, the woman answered, "Mrs. de Hart was an easy person to be nice to." That always struck Anne to the point she recalled it at the graveside.

Courier News articles

DeHart Carrie (Brokaw) husband Sidney I. 5/18/1956 News
DeHart Carrie (Brokaw) husband Sidney I. 5/17/1961 News
DeHart Fred 8/24/1972 News death
DeHart Sidney I. wife Carrie (Brokaw) 5/18/1956 News
DeHart Sidney I. wife Carrie (Brokaw) 5/17/1961 News
DeHart Sidney I. wife Carrie (Brokaw) 7/11/1963 Obituary

1974 Junior League Designer Showcase: The Martine House

1974 Designer Showcase Martine House Cover to Page 25

1974 Designer Showcase Martine House Page 26 to End

In addition to saving the 1988 Program for the Designers Showhouse of Cedar Brook Farm (aka The Martine House) which was organized by the Muhlenberg Auxiliary, PGC Member Anne Shepherd also kept the 1974 Designers Showcase of the very same home, organized by the Junior League.

Within the program pages, you will find mentioned many PGC members. They include: Clawson, MacLeod, Kroll, Davis, Wyckoff, Stevens, Loizeaux, Swain, Hunziker, Connell, Foster, Dunbar, Elliott, Fitzpatrick, Gaston, Hackman, Holman, Lockwood, Morrison, Royes, Rushmore, Sanders, Williams, Barnhart, Bellows, Burger, Burner, Carter, Clendenin, DeHart, Detwiller, Eaton, Eckert, Fort, Frost, Gonder, Keating, Laidlaw, Loosli, Madsen, Mann, Marshall, Miller, Moody, Moon, Morse, Murray, Mygatt, Barrett, Peek, Perkins, Pfefferkorn, Pomeroy, Pond, Royes, Samek, Sandford, Sheble, Stevens, Shepherd, Stewart, Stout, Trewin, Vivian, Zeller, Cochran, Mooney and Hall.

February 8, 2012 from Elisabeth Loizeaux

Do we remember Virginia Frost? We do, as well as her sister Mrs. deHart (both lived on Rahway Road). I used to occasionally help my mother-in-law arrange the flowers at Crescent Avenue Church, and when those two ladies were there, it was like having a master class in flower arranging – you didn't want to make a wrong move and you better paid attention. –– Mrs. deHart had one of her arrangements featured in a book, it was in an antique candle mold, just exquisite in its restrained perfection.

May I suggest that "info" sign her messages?

Elisabeth

March 1, 1979 Costumes & Old Lace at Cannonball House

http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1979/1979-03-01/pg_0003.pdf

An exhibit of old-lace and period costumes will be featured at Cannonball House Museum, 1840 Front Street, Scotch Plains, on
Sunday,. March 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Mrs. Alden deHart of
Plainfield, who has been collecting antique lace for many
years will be on hand t tell about her interesting lace pieces. Antique dresses, petticoats and children's clothing will be displayed in
both the Colonial and the Victorian rooms of the historic old house.
Mrs. deHart says that it is quite difficult to identify accurately
old lace patterns as there are so many types and designs made in so many countries. The most common typo of lace has a net
background with floral designs superimposed upon it.
Lace as we know it today, developed in Italy in the 1400's. It grew out of the cut work, or open pattern in embroidery. Most lace is now
made by machine. However, in some countries such ns Belgium, lovely hand made bobbin lace is still made. Throughout the ages there
was rarely a time when milady's gown was not trimmed svith a bit of lace at the nect or wrists, and in Victorian times, wide panels of lace were often inserted into the skirts. Beads, pearls and colorful ribbons also were added to further embellish the lace.

The public is cordially invited to visit Cannonball House Museum and enjoy the many antique collections. The museum is maintained by
the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood.

April 20, 1961 Westfield Leader

http://archive.wmlnj.org/TheWestfieldLeader/1961/1961-04-20/pg_0009.pdf

Historic House to Have New Garden

Plans for landscaping the grounds of the historic Drake House, Plainfield, were presented at a meeting of the Drake House Council last week. Mrs. Alden deHart who represented the Plainfield Garden Club announced that the club would supervise the landscaping and would also solicit for funds to carry out the proposed plan. The plans which were designed by Ronald Hebblewhite were donated by the club.

The current plans for the landscaping of the Colonial home on West Front street, Plainfield, include large formal and informal gardens and an herb garden, all to be connected by brick pathways. In addition more adequate parking facilities will be installed. The Garden Club of the Junior League of Plainfield has made arrangements for the painting of the Drake House sign. A donation of a red maple tree, to be planted on Arbor Day, April 28, has been made by the student council of the Plainfield High School.

Attending from Westfield were: Mrs. Gardner R. Cunningham, vice president, Mrs. John Enders, Mrs. Frank G. Hewitt and Mrs. Ian D. Robinson, all from the Junior League.

The council's annual meeting will be held May 3, when a sub-commitee composed of Herbert Taylor, Mrs. Alfred W. Green and Mrs. Arhur Smith will present a plan to enlarge the Drake House Council in order to better facilitate the development of Drake House. The council is composed of representatives from the Historical Society, the DAR, and the Junior League of Plainfield.

Plainfield Public Library Archives

MIRACLE OF FLOWERS – Mrs. Alden de Hart of Second Pl. is admiring two flowers that sprouted from cactus leaves which she placed in a sealed box in the basement of her home recently. Mrs. de Hart, somewhat of an expert in the breeding of flowers, was recently a successful exhibitor at the International Flower Show in New York

Thursday, April 5, 1956

Plainfield Public Library Archive

GARDEN FAIR WORK BEGINS – Four members of the Plainfield Garden Club, which will sponsor a garden fair Friday and Saturday at Park Ave. and Crescent Ave. began actual work yesterday in preparing the ground for exhibit purposes. Two gardens will be exhibited and several types of plant material will be on sale. A "Country Cupboard" also will be featured. Left to right are: Mrs. F. W. Frost, exhivition chairman; Mrs. Charles Eaton Jr., horticulture chairman; Mrs. John S. Anderegg, executive board member; and Mrs. Alden deHart, horticulture committee member.

Records indicate that Garden Fairs were held at this location 1952, 1953, 1954

Plainfield Public Library Archive

Plainfield Public Library Archive

Plainfield Public Library Archive

May 10, 2012 GCA Zone IV Meeting and Awards Luncheon

PGC Members Jeanne Turner, Patti Dunstan and Phyllis Alexander researched over 275 members chronicled on our website, www.plainfieldgardenclub.org, and chose the following ladies as "themes" for the luncheon tables:

Eight Notable Women of the PGC

1952 Check Book

No. 956
June 27, 1952
Dorothy de Hart
N.Y. Exhibit (1952)
$10.00

1952 Check Book

No. 946
May 28, 1952
Dorothy de Hart
Expense for Plant Sale
$18.20

1953 Check Book

No. 1024
May 25, 1953
Eber's
Plant sale - garden furniture
$84.90

No. 1025
May 25, 1953
Dorothy de Hart
for Paoletti nurseries
white azalea 45.00
columbine 11.80
plos??? 1.00
potter board 1.00
$58.50

No. 1026
May 15, 1953
Doane's Inc.
plants received 325.35
plants returned 171.30
total sold 153.95
less 20% 30.79
due to Doane's 123.16
$123.16

1954 Check Book

No. 1072
Mar. 18, 1954
Jeanette W. Stuart
exhibtion in N. Y. Whos
$12.50

No. 1073
Mar 18, 1954
Virginia V. Frost
exhibition in N.Y. Show
1/2 exhibit
$18.75

No. 1074
Mar. 18, 1954
Dorothy V. de Hart
exhibition in N.Y. Show
1/2 exhibit
$6.25

1954 Check Book

No. 1090
May 18, 1954
N. J. Roadside Council
Dues - June 54 - 55
$5.00

No. 1091
May 19, 1954
Mrs. Herbert Case
Choco (original 322 Ryan St. , Hillside, Nj
pottery - corner cupboard
$12.85

No. 1092
May 21, 1954
Dorothy V. de Hart
2 azaleas @10.00
4 azaleas @5.00
$40.00

(Laurel Gardens)

1955 Check Book

No. 1159
June 21, 1955
New Jersey Roadside Council
membership June 1955 - June 1956
$5.00

No. 1160
June 25, 1955
Dorothy V. de Hart
expenses for Westfield Show
May - 1955
(Garden Club Exhibit)
$40.00

No. 1161
July 2, 1955
Treasurer, Monday Afternoon Club
Sept. program labor
expenses for moving 3 large tables fomr basement
$6.00

1956 Check Book

No. 1209
May 21, 1956
Dorothy de Hart
expenses for exhibit in
N. Y. flower show
$25.00

1957 Check Book

No. 1282
Dec. 16, 1957
Dorothy V. de Hart
Exhibit - benefit N.Y.
Botanical Gardens
$26.75

1958 Check Book

No. 1333
Dec. 17, 1958
Dorothy de Hart
$28.07

1947 Check Book

No. 637
Apr. 1, 1947
Dorothy V. de Hart
Budget (flower show exhibitor)
$10.00

1948 Check Book

No. 700
Mar. 9, 1948
Margaret C. Ladd
Flower Show
Exhibitions
$10.00

No. 701
Mar. 9, 1948
Dorothy V. de Hart
Flower Show
Exhibitions
$10.00

No. 702
Mar. 9, 1948
Margaret Tyler
Flower Show
Exhibitions
$10.00

1948 Check Book

No. 712
April 28, 1948
Ethel T. Anderegg
Flower Show Exhibition
extra money taken from Mrs. Anderegg's contribution of 33.25
$13.30

No. 713
April 28, 1948
Dorothy V. de Hart
Flower Show Exhibitor
extra as alone
$6.65

No. 714
April 28, 1948
Margaret C. Ladd
Flower Show Exhibitor
Extra as alone
$6.65

1949 Check Book

No. 781
June 21, 1949
James Smith
Flats for Shakespeare Garden
$16.00

No. 782
June 21, 1949
Dorothy de Hart
N. Y. Flower Show Exhibitor
$7.00

No. 783
June 21, 1949
Virginia Stillman
N. Y. Flower Show Exhibitor
$7.00

1949 Check Book

No. 787
June 21, 1949
Marjory Elliott
N. Y. Flower Show Exhibitor
$7.00

No. 788
June 21, 1949
The Garden Club of America
In memory of Mrs. Walter McGee – Redwood Grove
$5.00

No. 789
July 29, 1949
Dorothy de Hart
annual meeting
$100.00

1950 Check Book

No. 853
Nov. 8, 1950
Dorothy de Hart
poster board, rubber cement
stamps
"Open Houses"
$2.65

No. 854
Nov. 8, 1950
Elizabeth King
Open Houses
poster board, cord & seals
and sherer ? signs
$7.62

No. 855
Nov. 8, 1950
The Mansard Inn
"Open Houses"
$90.00

1950 Check Book

No. 865
Nov. 17, 1950
7 & 7 Nurseries
for Forsythia plants
60 plants @ 100
6.50 shipping
For Sale
Cancelled
$56.50

No. 866
Nov. 20, 1950
Dorothy de Hart
in place of above check
Forsythia bushes for sale
$56.50

No. 867
Nov. 22, 1950
Collection of Internal Revenue
tax on 530 tickets of
"Open House" @ .25 ea.
Oct. 27
$132.50

1951 Check Book

No. 889
March 21, 1951
S. Helena Rosse
(speaker)
$56.00

No. 890
Mar. 30, 1951
Dorothy de Hart
expenses paid by same for the
store window at the New York Flower Show
$333.63

No. 891
Mar. 30, 1951
Virginia Frost
expenses paid by same for the
store window N. Y. Flower Show
$24.89

1951 Check Book

No. 898
June 11, 1951
N. J. State School of Conservation
Conser. Com.
Summer Workshop
Reserve
$90.00

No. 899
June 12, 1951
Rita Rink
Conserva. Com. Reserve
paid on application
$10.00

No. 900
June 12, 1951
Dorothy de Hart
Annual Meeting
registration 26.00
prints (misc) .63
$26.63

A Fond Memory of a Heck of a Lady

May 2001 Newsletter

Mrs. Willoughby Frost

Word has come that Mrs. Willoughby Frost has passed to her reward – and a "great reward" it should be!

Virginia, as you may be aware, is one of the Plainfield Garden Club's honorary members, an honor well deserved. We are all so proud of her exceptional talents – we were often in awe of what she could accomplish in so many fields.

One of her projects which I remember was with others running the Junior League Garden Club – it was a great way to inform the uniformed about gardening, and mostly about flower arranging, so there would be people somewhat trained to join the Plainfield Garden Club.

We had regular classes and projects to work out, beginning with three flowers (unbought – one had to grow or steal the flowers) and greens. Then Virginia or her sister, Dorothy de Hart, or Marion Loizeaux would criticize our work and highlight our errors. That was the fun part! She could be funny – "Well, clearly someone spent money on this one," or "You didn't need to cut down the whole tree for a few greens. Go out, look up, and find a branch that is growing the direction the way you want it – then cut that branch!"

Virginia was a respected GCA judge. She worked hard in the Shakespeare Garden – trimmed the topiaries, etc. She was also a landscapist in planning a project – or pointing out how to bring back to size a too large or vigorous Victorian shrub, removing a tree, or suggesting an improvement in design.

The Plainfield Garden Club decided to put in a "vest-pocket" park (which were the current rage at the time), and we found a narrow plot on Park Avenue which would suit the purpose. Virginia drew the plans and we planted it accordingly – letting her beatus into visiting the park each day for watering and trash pick-up. It was duly admired and very successful.

Another first for Plainfield city streets: Virginia and I guessed Jean Stewart went to a GCA meeting and came home with the idea to plant trees in the sidewalks along the curbs! After much study as to variety and spacing, the club bought a dozen Moraine Locusts with tiny blow-away leaves to give filtered shade. They turned out to be a real demonstration, as the city went ahead the next season and bought seventy-five more! Though 35 - 40 years old now, they still line Front Street, and Park Avenue from Front to the railroad bridge.

When the annual Flower Show was announced in New York City, Virginia and the girls all put their heads together to compete. Several times there were big landscape classes – a back door landscaped wiht proper planting – Virginia always in the thick ot if, bringing home the blues.

Or if she competed on her own, she got her material, books and containers, and locked herself in an upstairs room, sometimes for days, until all was set. Soak the wisteria vine in the bathtub, curve it this way or (change) that – the bed was important. The family was "on its own" at these times – but this meant so much to Virginia, there were often tears of frustration. She cared, she wanted it right, and the "blues" flowed in.

Mrs. Frost knew her duty, too: drove the Hartridge carpool, worked endlessly at the church (behind the scenes), had punch parties before dancing school, and all that. A wonderful entertainer, with everything "just so". She had her feisty side too – I have to mention that to give a well-rounded picture – but she could speak up at times for us all to hear.

Barbara Sandford


2001 Jan Mar Apr May Newsletters

Residence of Warren R. Voorhis, Rahway Road

In this illustrated book, the Courier-News has sought to present some of the representative homes of The Plainfields and adjoining territory, together with such other buildings of interest and importance as would serve to convey an idea of the physical attractioins of one of the most beautiful and healthful cities in the Metropolitan District. The homes reflect the desirability of this community as a place of residence.

The churches, schools, clubs and public buildings pictured serve to give the stranger some conceptions of the beauty of the city and its right to be termed the "Queen City" of New Jersey.

With picturesque Watchung Hills as a background, this section with all its natural advantages, plus a progressive spirit, coupled with high class local governing bodies and a live Chamber of Commerce, is pecularily adapted for home sites and, as a result, it has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth for many years.

publication circa 1917

July 1938 Passenger List for the S. S. Vulcania

First Class Passenger Mr. Warren R. Voorhis

1938-1939 Meeting Minutes