As the new president of LAGC, Nancy Madeoy welcomed members to the first meeting of 2023. We had 4 guests attend to hear the program about the history of North Park.
What’s growing in your garden? Even though it’s January a few members said they have flowers growing at this time. Hellebores and snow drops were mentioned and one member has daffodils poking out of the ground.
Nancy posed the question to members “What are you trying to overwinter this year?”
Nancy is attempting to overwinter a Boston Fern, Andrea and her husband are experimenting with coleus and Mary Ann has small arborvitae which are too small to put in the ground that she is keeping inside for the winter.
Nancy thanked the members who attended the recent January board meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming year. It was a productive meeting and we’re on target for another fun year.
Andrea Maire was acknowledged for doing such a great job of organizing and redesigning the handbook directory for this year. Members were reminded to please check their name, e-mail and contact information. Please notify Linda Brown if there are any changes. The phone chain has been changed this year. Members will receive a text from one of the board members instead of a phone call if we need to notify members quickly.
Denny gave a treasurer’s report and noted that we have approximately $4,200 from last year. Primarily the budgeted amounts for each item will remain the same as last year. The club will contribute to the same four groups which are listed on the first page of the handbook. The club will pay for the holiday party again this year. After some discussion it was decided to allocate $200 to the budget for a holiday tour. Also, $300 was allocated to purchase signs for the plant sale. Mary Ann said many of the signs were removed last year and she was not able to get them back.
It was announced that longtime member, Flo Ogden didn’t renew her membership this year because she doesn’t have a garden anymore. Flo has been a member since 1975. A card was circulated for members to sign in recognition of her membership for so many years and to wish her well in her new interests.
President Nancy thanked Mary Ann for being both the program coordinator and plant sale coordinator this year. Thank you for doing such a great job! We appreciate it!
Program Coordinator, Mary Ann gave members an overview of the upcoming programs in 2023. She is still looking for ideas for garden tours for July and August. Members had some of the following suggestions: Hartwood Acres, rooftop garden, Beechwood Farms, return to the home of Sandy Csikari, tour another local garden. Please contact Mary Ann if you have any ideas for programs or tours.
Mark your calendars for the 2023 plant sale being held on Saturday, May 20th. It’s not too early to start thinking about what plants you will be able to bring for the sale.
Anita was notified via Facebook about the upcoming spring show of the Orchid Society of Western PA and shared the details with the club. The show titled “Orchid Obsession” will be held on March 18 and 19, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Suites Pittsburgh South and will include displays, lectures, vendor sales, etc. More details can be found at this website https://www.oswp.org/annual-orchid-show
Rosemary provided a beautiful orchid for the table and Jane made delicious cherry cake bars and brownies. Thank you to both! We really enjoyed the display and treats.
Program: North Park History — General Overview
Allegheny County park ranger Deaglan McManus presented an overview of the history of North Park which is the largest of the county parks. It has 19 miles of paved trails and 175 miles of non-paved trails. North Park was made up of 3094 acres when it was dedicated on June 18, 1927.
We learned that EV Babcock, the father of the county parks was a lumber industrialist, the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1918 to 1922, and county commissioner. He was interested in creating the county parks so that all residents could have access to fresh air and recreation outside of the city. His vision was to provide access to pools and golf courses and other amenities which the upper class had at their country clubs. The land for North Park was acquired by purchasing land from area landowners, but some families had to sacrifice their land by eminent domain.
Deaglan talked about the history of the land prior to the construction of North Park such as the Rocky Dell Rock Shelter, the gravesite of Abraham Guyton in the depreciation lands. He showed us the fossil which was found at Sand Hill located near the swimming pool.
In the early 1930’s much of the land for North Park was developed by workers from the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) as part of the New Deal. The workers lived in tents in North Park, were fed and clothed, and taught to read and write if they didn’t have these skills. Later on the tents were replaced by cabins. The CCC workers cleared the land to build Marshall Lake. In 1936 another group of workers from the CWA built Marshall dam after the boathouse was built.
Many of the structures that were built during this timeframe can still be seen in North Park such as the ski lodge, swimming pool and the Roman Grotto on Kummer Road which is also known as the Fountain of Youth. Residents and visitors used to get water from this spring until it was closed off due to bacteria in the water. The 101-foot-tall standpipe water tower and observation deck which has a beautiful ornate ceiling is currently closed due to safety concerns. Funds are being raised to refurbish the water tower and open it again for visitors.
Of all the prominent parks directors who were involved in the creation of North Park, I find Henry Hornbustle to be the most interesting. He designed a one acre grouping of trees into the shape of a star which you can still see part of it today. He also claimed to see a Loch Nessie-like monster in the lake.
Members really enjoyed the talk about North Park and there is still a lot more to learn.
We’ll have another program in October about structural landmarks in North Park.
Deaglan encouraged us to visit the North Park History page or to contact him at
Deaglan.mcmanu@alleghenycounty.us.
Meeting notes submitted by Colleen, pictures by RoseMary.
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