[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE GARDEN CLUB OF MORRISTOWN

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Garden Club 
of Morristown, located in Morristown, New Jersey, which is celebrating 
its Centennial Anniversary.
  In 1913, Mrs. Gustav Kissel, granddaughter of the Commodore Cornelius 
Vanderbilt, gathered together a few women and established the Garden 
Club of Morristown. This club reflected a new type of organization 
where women ``sowed their own seeds'' not only for providing floral 
beauty, but also for civic action. They composed a constitution stating 
that the club's purpose was to ``promote garden culture by the exchange 
of ideas on all matters pertaining to the garden.'' In these early 
years, the meetings were mainly social gatherings accompanied by a 
lecture and an elaborate tea. By 1917, the club became a chapter of the 
Garden Club of America, and its focus shifted from teas to civic 
projects, conservation, preservation of wild flowers, and bird life.
  Throughout its history, the Garden Club of Morristown has been 
politically active, working with Washington and Trenton to advocate 
various causes. They aided the needy through the Great Depression, as 
well as planted Victory Gardens and provided acreage for planting 
during the World Wars. During World War II, the club sent small 
decorations to local veterans hospitals, which began an annual wreath-
making tradition. The Garden Club of Morristown also strongly advocated 
against the placement of billboards on New Jersey highways that were 
built with federal funds and supported the efforts to begin the Great 
Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in 1964.
  The Garden Club of Morristown has also worked on several local 
projects throughout town, such as the beautification of Washington's 
Headquarters with plantings in 1926. They worked on the Neighborhood 
House in 1934, as well as Macculloch Hall's historic gardens in 1959, 
among many others. Within the club itself, overseen by the Horticulture 
Committee, members had two main projects; attending flower arrangement 
courses, and working at least three days in a greenhouse for practical 
lessons. This program saw members win awards for their irises and 
chrysanthemums, and by 1949, the club had grown to an impressive 77 
members.
  The achievements of the Garden Club of Morristown continued, and in 
1985, by the leadership of Isabel Bartenstein, the club became a 
Founders Fund finalist for its work on the restoration of the Gardens 
at Morven in Princeton. In partnership with the Frelinghuysen Arboretum 
and Morris County Park System, the Garden Club of Morristown 
established ``Branching Out,'' an award-winning children's garden. 
Throughout the 1990's, the club held several fundraising events, 
including a Christmas house tour. From 1997-1999, the Garden Club of 
Morristown's own Chris Willemsen served as President of the Garden Club 
of America. They also hosted dinner parties and garden tours for the 
Garden Club of America's annual meeting in 1999, and held the Zone IV 
meeting.
  In 2007, Congressman and honorary member Rodney Frelinghuysen was 
awarded the Garden Club of America's Frances K. Hutchison Medal for 
conservation, and since 2000, the Garden Club of Morristown has 
received the award for the most horticultural, flower show, and 
photography points at the Zone IV meeting five of seven times. The 
Garden Club of Morristown's annual plant sale continues to be their 
largest fundraiser, and they remain active in local projects and 
fundraising events today. The club is as vibrant and vigorous today as 
it was at its founding one hundred years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Garden Club of Morristown, Morris County as they celebrate their 
100th Anniversary.

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