History Patalka Garden Club

Palatka, Florida

Garden Club of Palatka, Inc.

History 1940 - Present

The garden clubs of this country have evolved from very socially elite societies to wonderful civic organizations where a diversity of activities and projects are available to club members. Palatka’s garden club has a very unique history. Like many clubs, Palatka members once met from home to home, eventually landing their own cypress Log Cabin clubhouse that was moved from near the Civic Center in downtown Palatka to its present home at the Ravine Gardens State Park. The park is listed on The National Register of Historical Places. The ravines, created over thousands of years of water flowing from the St. Johns River, and the park’s formal gardens and awesome trail system, provide the perfect setting for the garden club’s activities and projects.
70 Years Old and Still Growing!

Organization & Club House

The Garden Club of Palatka, Inc. was organized in 1940, federated in 1941, and incorporated in 1987. As we enter our 70th year of service and dedication, we do so with the goal of seeking new members so our club will remain a vital force in our community. If you are interesting in joining, please click on the link “How to Join”, and complete the form.

The unique Florida Cypress log cabin clubhouse where we meet the first Monday of each month from September to May was built in the 1930s by the WCA. The building is available to individuals for a donation of $75 for cultural events, showers, and parties. Despite its age, the clubhouse is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, meeting space and seating for 50, a full kitchen, dining room and two restrooms, plus it is air conditioned. Please click on the “Reserve Clubhouse” link and fill out the form if you want to use the clubhouse to host your next event.

Blue Star Memorial Markers

The Blue Star Memorial Markers, a National Garden Club program, places markers on major highways to honor all men and women who have served or who will serve in the United States Armed Services. These markers have been placed on highways from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including Hawaii and Alaska. Garden club members can be proud of them for they not only honor our service personnel but they utilize appropriate plantings being sensitive to the landscape needs of the area. It serves to remind us of the stature and the vision of NGC to embrace such a meaningful project.

blue star
Members (l-r): Ruby Moore, Joyce Bell, Betty Reinau, Lynda Eidson,
Marge Shults and her husband, Marvin, dedicate a Vetran’s Day wreath with Pastor John Miles.

Palatka has two Blue Star Memorial Markers within its city limits erected by the Garden Club of Palatka under Katie Galloway’s presidency of the club in 1976. Thanks to the continuing commitment of its members, these markers are evidence of just one of the ways the Garden Club of Palatka is having a positive impact on the community we call home.

Past Presidents

Mrs. J. H. Yelverton

1940 – 41 *

Mrs. William Petrie

1941 – 43 *

Mrs. Harry Owens

1943 – 44

Mrs. Vernon DeVaughn

1944 – 45 *

Ms. George Mitchell

1945 – 46 *

Mrs. H. A. Merryday

1946 – 47 *

Mrs. J. H. Bryan

1947 – 48 *

Mrs. Juanita H. Young

1948 – 49 *

Mrs. Charles Garrett

1949 –50 *

Mrs. F. Lee Millican

1950 – 52 *

Mrs. D. E. DeHaven

1952 – 53 *

Mr. Randall Wells

1953 – 54 *

Mrs. P B. Huff

1954 – 55 *

Mrs. N. A. Hocker

1955 – 56 *

Mrs. J. W. Suttemyre

1956 – 57 *

Mrs. G. D. Bogue

1957 – 59, 71 - 73 *

Mrs. A. S. Walton

1959 – 61 *

Mrs. Otha Powell

1961 – 62

Mrs. O. L. McKenny

1962 – 63

Mrs. Amy Owen

1963 – 64 *

Mrs. L. A. Walker

1964 – 66 *

Mrs. B. F. Waters

1966 – 67

Mrs. E. Paul Dunklin

1967 – 69

Mrs. Stan Frank

1969 – 71 *

Mrs. J. V. Tilton

1973 – 75

Mrs. H. J. Galloway

1975 – 77

Mrs. B. A. Wilkes

1977 – 79

Mrs. D. J. Missamore

1979–82, 88-90, 92–94 *

Mrs. Herbert Jacobs

1982 – 84

Mrs. H. Fred Frazit

1984 – 86

Mrs. W. L. Jones, Jr.

1986 – 88, 91 – 92 *

Mrs. A. W. Brundage

1990 – 91, 94 –95, 98 -99

Mrs. CoraBelle McConnell

1995 – 96

Mrs. Lee Gibbons

1996 – 98

Mr. Richard Cribbs

1999

Mrs. A. D. Blessing

1999 – 2001, 07 – 09

Mrs. Thelma Elder

2005 – 07

Club Collect

“To Thee Dear Lord, who created every flower, tree and shrub, we give thanks. May we tend these rich blessings with care and each day may we learn to appreciate beauty in thee, in nature and in our fellow man. As the flowers lift their faces in the sun, may we lift our hearts in Thee in praise and thanksgiving.”

Mrs. William Petrie, President 1941 – 1942

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Mrs. J. H. Yelverton	1940 – 41 *
Mrs. William Petrie	1941 – 43 *
Mrs. Harry Owens	1943 – 44
Mrs. Vernon DeVaughn	1944 – 45 *
Ms. George Mitchell	1945 – 46 *
Mrs. H. A. Merryday	1946 – 47 *
Mrs. J. H. Bryan	1947 – 48 *
Mrs. Juanita H. Young	1948 – 49 *
Mrs. Charles Garrett	1949 –50 *
Mrs. F. Lee Millican	1950 – 52 *
Mrs. D. E. DeHaven	1952 – 53 *
Mr. Randall Wells	1953 – 54 *
Mrs. P B. Huff	1954 – 55 *
Mrs. N. A. Hocker	1955 – 56 *
Mrs. J. W. Suttemyre	1956 – 57 *
Mrs. G. D. Bogue	1957 – 59, 71 - 73 *
Mrs. A. S. Walton	1959 – 61 *
Mrs. Otha Powell	1961 – 62
Mrs. O. L. McKenny	1962 – 63
Mrs. Amy Owen	1963 – 64 *
Mrs. L. A. Walker	1964 – 66 *
Mrs. B. F. Waters	1966 – 67
Mrs. E. Paul Dunklin	1967 – 69
Mrs. Stan Frank	1969 – 71 *
Mrs. J. V. Tilton	1973 – 75
Mrs. H. J. Galloway	1975 – 77
Mrs. B. A. Wilkes	1977 – 79
Mrs. D. J. Missamore	1979–82, 88-90, 92–94 *
Mrs. Herbert Jacobs	1982 – 84
Mrs. H. Fred Frazit	1984 – 86
Mrs. W. L. Jones, Jr.	1986 – 88, 91 – 92 *
Mrs. A. W. Brundage	1990 – 91, 94 –95, 98 -99
Mrs. CoraBelle McConnell	1995 – 96
Mrs. Lee Gibbons	1996 – 98
Mr. Richard Cribbs	1999
Mrs. A. D. Blessing	1999 – 2001, 07 – 09
Mrs. Thelma Elder	2005 – 07