By Julie Huss
jhuss@derrynews.com
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DERRY — Seventy-five years ago, a group of local women sporting gloves and decorative hats gathered to chat about flowers and growing things.
Years later, the Derry Garden Club is going strong. Members met last week to celebrate 75 years of blooming success.
The Derry Garden Club turned 75 on Sept. 9 and members gathered to remember the club's history and honor past presidents.
"Seventy-five years is a long time," club president Kaye Nugent said.
In September 1935, Carolyn White and 10 other women began the local club, often meeting in members' homes or at local churches.
The Derry club is considered the oldest, or one of the oldest, clubs in the state, Nugent said.
Longtime club member Pat Hume said the club has a rich history. One early club president was Renza Shepard, the mother of first American in space, East Derry native Alan B. Shepard Jr.
Hume said she joined in 1971.
"My neighbor brought me to a meeting," she said. "I wanted to join because this club was active and doing things.
And there were the hats. Members donned fashionable hats to wear to garden gatherings.
"And we often picked the best one," Hume added.
The club, with more than 50 active members, is still very involved in the community. Its work includes extensive civic beautification projects not only at the Frost Farm and downtown Pocket Park area, but also at local libraries and municipal buildings. The group also maintains floral gardens in front of the Marion Gerrish Community Center on West Broadway.
"We have continued to be active in all these things," Hume said.
Past presidents honored last week included Gay Apgar, Mary Lea Daily, Corrine Safron, Judy Motta, Pat Mulone, Michelle Mensinger, Wanda Desaulniers and Laurel Fectau.
For information about the Derry Garden Club, visit derrygardenclub.org.
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