  |
||
|
History of Arboretum |
||
|
|
History of the
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum
The Arboretum
celebrated its 40th birthday in 2001.
From its inception, the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, Inc.
has been a volunteer organization.
The first paid staff member is a part time office manager and secretary
who was hired in 1997. Since
then temporary employees have been hired to help with the two feature
gardens: the Rose Garden and the Georgia Williams Green and White Memorial
Garden that surrounds the St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Historic Episcopal
Church.
Planning for the
Lubbock Arboretum started in 1954.
The Arboretum Committee, under the auspices of the Lubbock Council
of Garden Clubs, was chaired by Mrs. Nat (Georgia) Williams.
Other members were Mrs. Walter Herrin, Dr. W W Yocum, Randal
Kershner, Mrs. Roscoe Wilson, Mrs. Olan Key, Mrs. Odie Hood, and Dr. Ben
Hutchinson. Some of these
members were also members of the Garden -Arts Center Board which worked
with the City of Lubbock Parks Planning Board and Board of City
Commissioners in the development of the Garden-Arts Center in K.N. Clapp
Park. Ground breaking for the
Garden and Arts Center building took place in December 1959.
In 1960 Mr.
Robert H. Rucker was commissioned to develop an Arboretum and Botanical
Garden plan in K.N. Clapp Park with funds provided by the Lubbock Council
of Garden Clubs. This plan
was presented and formally approved by the Arboretum Committee on
September 15, 196 1. The Rucker plan was formally accepted by the City of
Lubbock on February 9, 1962. The Arboretum included all park land of K.N.
Clapp Park exclusive of various recreation areas.
The 94 Plus acres included a 20 acre lake and was to have five
feature gardens; numerous plantings of trees, shrubs, and vines; and
plants ranging from indigenous to exotic.
The first tree
planted in the Arboretum was a Western Schley Pecan placed in front of the
Garden and Arts Center in an Arbor Day ceremony on January 19,
1962.
The first feature garden was the J,A.
Hodges Rose Garden planted in the spring
of 1963, just north of Hodges Community Center and dedicated that
fall. There are more than 150 varieties of roses in this garden
that was completely replanted in 1988.
The Arboretum
Committee of the Garden-Arts Center Board became an Incorporated entity by
the State of Texas on March 3, 1964 and was acknowledged as a 501 (c) (3)
tax exempt foundation by the U.S. Treasury Department on February 23,
1965. The incorporators were
Randal Kershner, WW Yocum, Katie Hood, C.H. Hamilton, Ben B. Hutchinson,
Georgia Williams, James A. Ellis, Effie B. Wilson, and Harmon Jenkins.
The first formal
agreement between the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, Inc. and the
City of Lubbock was signed June 4, 1964.
The agreement was renewed for a second time in 1981 and for a third
time in 1993. The major aspects of the agreement were that from monetary
gifts as memberships, memorials, honoraria, and donations or gifts in kind
the Board of Trustees would supply the trees, shrubs, and other plants and
special physical improvements to the Arboretum in K.N. Clapp Park.
The City of Lubbock would provide the watering, mowing,
fertilizing, and normal park maintenance and at various times help with
planting.
In August 1964, the Iris Society Garden was
established. Later, the Garden was
removed and a large granite rock was donated by the Society to the
Arboretum as the base for a plaque identifying the first tree planted in
the arboretum.
In 1964 the
Louthan Japanese Garden, just behind the Garden and Arts Center, was
dedicated.
In 1967, the
City of Lubbock approved a $30,000 water system.
This was a major development because of the need to keep newly
planted trees and shrubs well watered.
The first big
membership drive was initiated in 1967.
The Arboretum did then, as now, not only need financial support for
planting, but physical support of people to help maintain the plantings.
The Tea Terrace
that extends from the southeast corner of the Garden and Arts Center was a
donation from the Lubbock Council of Garden Clubs and was dedicated in
1967. The walk around the
Terrace area was donated by various landscape companies to provide
examples of the types of materials that could be used by homeowners in
patio and garden walks.
Later that same year, the Jean Elwood Chappell Memorial Oak and Elm
planting was initiated and funds were received for the
Roscoe
Wilson Holly and Shrub Garden.
In
1968
a large oak planting was received from the Lubbock Rose Society;
Kentucky Coffee trees from Bob Hassell Landscape Company; and the erection
of a wrought iron fence around the Japanese garden to prevent further
theft of statuary. The Formal
Fragrance Garden was a gift from the Lubbock Garden Club in 1969.
Large additions
of hackberry, elm, and oak trees were made to the Chappell planting in
1969 and 1971
On January 22, 1972, an Arbor Day Celebration honored
Governor Preston Smith and in 1973 the crabapple planting honoring Mrs.
Preston (Ima) Smith was completed.
A pecan tree southeast of the Garden and Arts Center was planted in their
honor on Arbor Day 1985.
Many hundreds of trees were planted in the period
of 1969 through 1973.
In 1980, the Western planting was initiated.
This planting has native plants found within 150 miles of Lubbock.
In 1992 the
Arboretum Board, through an agreement with the City, was able to open the
Arboretum Interpretive Center at 4111 University Avenue.
It has been wonderful for the first time to have a facility for the
development of the educational programs.
The Center was for 27 years the home of Georgia Booker who was for
that period of time the Director of the Garden and Arts Center.
In 1993, a
portion of the Arboretum was fenced to help reduce severe vandalism.
Although motor vehicle vandalism has been reduced, vandalism continues
with destruction of individual trees, branch breakage in shrub plantings,
outright theft of roses and other shrubs, and destruction of plant labels
and other property.
In 1995
educational programs began that eventually evolved into the current Second
Saturday program. This program presents information on planting and gardening
care.
St. Paul's -on-the-Plains Historic Church was moved to
the Arboretum in 1997 through an agreement between the city and the
Lubbock Heritage Society.
This is the oldest public building in Lubbock and was moved from
near the corner of 16th and Avenue 0. The Church was landscaped with the
Georgia Williams Green and White Memorial Garden in 1998.
Dr. Gwen Williams Yeo, daughter of Georgia and Nat Williams,
attended the dedication ceremony.
In 1999 the
Arboretum received a $32,000 grant from the Junior League of Lubbock as a
part of a 3 year Lubbock Beautification Program.
The grant money is to be
used for arboretum beautification and improvement and extension of the
Second Saturday educational programs.
These programs will help educate and inform the public about the
Arboretum, a great resource for gardening information and just plain
enjoyment. Arthur Elliot |
Whatever your passion - be it tree, roses or
simply a quiet place to walk - don't let the opportunity to support your
arboretum pass you by this year.
A museum of living plants requires a lot of care and attention, which the arboretum managers can give only because of the thoughtful and continuous help of Lubbock citizens. Your support is a key to maintaining the arboretum's programs. |
|
Home Page Membership Slide Show History of Arboretum Volunteer Opportunities PO BOX 93446 4111 University Ave. Lubbock, TX 79493-3446 Email: lubarbo@lubbockarboretum.org Phone:
1.806.797.4520 |
||
History of Arboretum