Yearbook Editorial - 1961

OHS Yearbook 1961

REMINISCENTIAL . . . .

BY-TOWN, MAY, 1830. "Mrs. (Col.) By's garden is much admired by a visitor.' "The reference to the garden will interest those who know the floral splendours of Ottawa; the current Horticultural interest of the City's residents is in a long tradition." (Robert Legget, in his book: "Rideau Waterway.")

THE marginal note is dated some sixty two years before the formation of the Ottawa Horticultural Society. It relates to the continuance of arts, customs and traditions of the 'home land' carried by pioneer families into. residence in the Colonies. It is, the attitude which influenced such remarkable interest in the Royal Horticultural Society in Ottawa in the years preceding the founding of the Ottawa Horticultural Society. Then, as now, racial interests are not entirely subdued among peoples who have of necessity to live in political harmony with their fellows. Objections are found to the inference given even in names of organizations some may wish to. be associated with. This was a contributing factor to the Royal Horticultural Society being superseded by the Ottawa Horticultural Society. But for this we could be celebrating or have celebrated a century of local fraternal interest in this the greatest of all avocations.

ORGANIZATION

In the Autumn of the year 1892 a number of the citizens of Ottawa attended a meeting at the City Hall with the intent and purpose of reviving interest in or organizing an Horticultural Society. This group laid the foundations of a new Society on such sound, footings that it has withstood the vicissitudes of time and change and still flourishes, continuing year in and year out the fundamental intent of its founders, to make and keep the home grounds of Ottawa's citizens more beautiful.

At that meeting were Messrs. John Graham, one of the leading florists in the city with premises on Rideau Terrace, (the same now being occupied by Chas. Craig and Son); Colonel William Whyte [ed. White], the then Deputy Postmaster General and the first Colonel of the old 43rd. Regiment. He lived on Wurtemberg Street in an unusually fine and attractive home which, within spacious and' well maintained gardens, overlooked the Rideau River. (This property was later acquired by Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada during the first world war years.) Mr. G. P. Keyes, who was Secretary of the Interior Department and lived on Rideau street. The grounds of this home were quite extensive including a large sandy area at the rear which he successfully cultivated; William Mepsted, Greenhouse Manager for the late Charles Scrim, another of the city's leading Florists; William Robertson, Superintendent of the Parliament grounds and greenhouses; and Mr. Samuel Short, who insofar as we know is the only survivor of this group of horticulturally minded men who attended the founding meeting. Mr. Short, to whom we are indebted for much of this information, was at that time employed by the Post Office Department. As Civil Servants of his day, he worked arduously from (note) ten a.m. to four p.m. (with or without Coffee Breaks he does not say). He does admit that these hours gave him ample time to work on an acre of untilled land on Springfield Road, which he had purchased from the McKay Estate in 1889. Thereon he built a home which he still occupies. (At his venerable age what attention the grounds may need he does not give very fully.) There were also present quite a number of others whose names are not recalled but were most likely amongst those who are quoted in the Society's records and news items of the day.

Presidents and Secretaries of the Society

Colonel Whyte was elected President-pro tem., of the newly formed group and was confirmed in that office at the inaugural meeting held on January 17th, 1893. Mr. P. G. Keyes who had acted temporarily in the office of Secretary, was elected to that office. Subsequently the Presidency was held by Messrs. John Craig; Dr. James Fletcher; Dr. W. T. Macoun; R. B. Whyte; P. G. Keyes; Alderman W. G. Black: Samuel Short: Edward Mepsted; Lt. Col. Wm. White, C.M.G.; J. A. Ellis; R. J. Farrell; F. E. Buck; Geo. Simpson; J. B. Spencer; J. C. Nunnick; C. R. Good; H. E. Ewart: H. Spence; H. E. Seale; J. J. Carr; R. Sierolawski; T. Monette; R. J. Painter; Fred Pain; A. D. Maginnes; J. H. Cowan; H. W. Cole: George Rosser; the present incumbent is John Robinson.

(Due to loss of records by fire we may have omitted names of one or two occupants during the late 1920's).

The few Secretaries of the Society included P. G. Keyes; J. F. Weston; W. W. Jackson; H. W. Cooper; H. G. Tinney, and W. M. Cavaye.

Patrons and Honorary Presidents

Honorary Presidents since formation of the Society have included Lady Ann Cavendish. and most of the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture, each in their term of office. Other distinguished friends of the Society who have during the past three or four decades accepted the honour of this office are: Senator, The Hon. Carine Wilson, Dr. Charlotte Whitton, C.B.E., Mrs. Walter M. Murray, Hon. J. T. Thorson, Dr. D. P. Ross, H. S. Southam, G. Scott Murray, Stanley Lewis, E. A. Bourque, G. W Goodwin, R. W. Southam, Geo. H. Nelms, E. Norman Smith, Aurele Gratton, and M. Grattan O'Leary.

Honorary Life Memberships

Honorary Life Directors

This distinction was first presented in 1952 to J. J. Carr and S. A. Carrier for "continuing interest and services rendered". A. D. Maginnes, J. H. Cowan, H. W. Cole and Fred Pain were more recently so honoured.

Consultant Officers

The Ottawa Society has throughout its many years of public service, been most fortunate in the continuing interest of so many expert advisors on all Horticultural subjects. Among those who have been more publicly connected with the society's activities as consultants during more recent years may be mentioned; Dr. F. L. Drayton, A. E. Challis, W. G. Mathewman, Dr. Harold Senn, R. Warren Oliver, D. G. Harcourt, A. R. Buckley, Dr. H. S. Thompson, Dr. A. P. Chan, and J. J. Frith. Dr. W. J. Macoun whilst in office as President, and subsequently gave valuable assistance.

The Horticultural Association's Order of Merit with Medal, an Honour rarely distributed was, awarded in 1961 to W. M. Cavaye, Secretary of the Ottawa Horticultural Society for those exceptional services for which this award is made.

Certificates of Merit

Awarded on local recommendation by the Ontario Horticultural Association, have been awarded to a number of Past Presidents of the Society.

Ladies' Committees

The collective Minutes of the Society give much credit to the distaff side of the Society for services performed, and for aid and encouragement in many projects undertaken. There is evidence too that all was not sweetness and grace at times and that during the course of the years there have been a number of Ladies' groups, auxiliaries or committees, in fact there were two at one time. However, they must have performed most useful services in past years as have the groups more recently formed. The hey-day of the ladies interest and activity in society work was, no doubt, at the period when Lady Minto showed so much more than casual concern in their activities and whilst Lady Anne Cavendish was an Honorary President of the Society. At one of the social functions held about this time it is recorded "that six hundred members were received at Government House; that tea was served in the Ball Room and group photographs were taken. Their Excellencies and family were present."

It would appear that Mrs. J. B. Spencer was one of the earliest if not the first convenor of a feminine group, with Mrs. T. D. McKeand, heading the "disposal of flowers committee" about the same period. Others named on various committees through the years include Mrs. A. Anrep, Mrs. J. T. Bell, Miss Eleanor Bryce, Mrs. E. J. Boag, Mrs. C. Clarke, Miss McLeod Clerk; Mrs. H. E. Ewart, Mrs. W. H. Fen, Miss Fen, Miss Goodall, Mrs. Jno. Guy, Mrs. E. B. Jost, Miss Mansfield, Miss E. Newlands, Mrs. C. G. Pepper, Miss Prince, Mrs. J. Rodd, Miss D. Short, Mrs. H. S. Southam, Mrs. McLeod Stewart, Mrs. S. Waggoner, Mrs. J. A. Wilson, Mrs. R. J. Farrell, G. P. Woollcombe Miss Scrimm, Mrs. J. Burns, Mrs. F. P. Robson, Lady Schrieber, Miss Files, Miss Milson, Mrs. W. E. Mathews, Mrs. M. Purvis, (Many of these names also appear as Flower Show entrants and prize winners.) More recently we find frequent reference to the following names in Committee work and as helpers in the various shows and social functions. Mrs. J. R. Watson, Mrs. R. M. Scott, Mrs. A. D. Maginnes, Mrs. G. H. White, Mrs. H. A. Coulman, Mrs. R. Benedict, Mrs. L. G. Gillisie, Mrs. H. V. Jarrett, Mrs. B. V. Pain, Mrs. R. Warwick, Mrs. T. Bowman, Mrs. J. H. Cowan, Mrs. K. C. Carty, Mrs. H. C. Tinney. Mrs. J. M. Robinson, Mrs. F. Reade, Mrs. H. E. Perrin, Mrs. D. Foster, Mrs. P. R. Arbuckle, Mrs. H. W. Cole. Mrs. D. MacDonnell, Mrs. R.S. Wright. Mrs. E. W. Solway, Mrs. W. E. Cavan, Mrs. W. M. Avaya, Mrs. G. McNabb. Mrs. E. A. Driscoll, Mrs. J. W. Hunter. Mrs. W. G. McGregor, Mrs. A. G. Cadger. Mrs. K. Barker, Mrs. W. H. Machine, Mrs. W. J. Smith, Mrs. Geo. Rosser. Mrs. A. T. Bawden Mrs. R.F. Jacob, Mrs. R.G. Gibson, Mrs. H. L. Beer. MRS. K.K. Thompson. Mrs. .J. Talihina. Mrs. H. P. Tutcnings, Mrs. J. W. McIntosh. Mrs. L. R. McKenna. Mrs. H. W. Reddington. Miss O. B. Walshe, Mrs. J. D. McNee. Mrs. Simnson Wright. Mrs. R. H. Thexton and Miss Josephine Brown. (There are no doubt others who should rightfully be included: omission of any such names is unintentional. The Society has cause to give thanks for the unselfish services all have rendered.)

Directors and Others who have served the Society's interests. (Again the omission of names is not intentional; as records are not complete.) A. Moin. T. Short. H. Vowles. J. McNicol, Wm. Alford. J. F. Phillips. T. Mulligan, A. Duffy, P. Nettbohn. H. P. Cortesen, W. B. Moulds, Wm. Tuck. C. G. Ross, J. Graham, T. Davis, Jas. Al1en. G. Garlick. Jas. McKee. Geo. Rennie, F. S. Checkling. T. B. Carron. W. Latour. W. E Harper, D. B. Nugent, F. H. Laderoute, T. Robson, F. Horn H. J. Read, B. Pearce, R. M. Roger, A. H. Flindt, A. E. Attwood, G. F. McCormick, M. Newlands, H. Chamberlain, K. M. Cameron. A. K. Mills. A. S. Williams. Ed. Havey, Fred Cook, A. W. Bayman, C. R. Robertson, P Anderson, R. M. Motherwell, K. P. McDonald, D. L. McKeard, F. H. Byshe, Henry F. Bronson, W B. Varley. J. N. Tribble, H. W. Cooper. F. C. Nunnick. F. E. Buck, R. H. Thexton. S. A. Carrier, W. E. Currie, J. Tutchings, J. F. Swayze; F. D. Oliver, T. Bowman, Marshall Yarrow, C. I. Lynch, T. D. Finn, C. E. Dietz, M. E. Thomson. C. E. Lester. J. E. D. Whitmore. Rav Tubman, M. F. Kuske, R. Stanley Smith, Louis Smith, R. R. Hayter, D. F. Cameron Dr. E. C. Beck, J. Baldwin, Albert Karsh, W. B wallen, R G. Benedict, H. A. Coulman, R. H. Briggs, J. W. McIntosh, William Bell, Walter Antochi. Dr. F. Bamfield. R. M. Ide, G. H. Stewart, R. Simpson Wright. Dr. W. G. McGregor, C. J. Schieman, Bruce Tuttle, J. A. Shorten, John Spear, Dave Reynolds, H. P. Tutchings, H. G. Tinney, A. P. Stalker, Dr. McGregor Easson, G. P. Gordon, C. Maxwell Taylor, Eric Thompson, R. E. Hay, and many others which space does not permit of listing.

As of recent years many factors entered into a successful show besides the weather. Counter attractions, interest and energy of the show principals, etc. A Rose and Paeony Show in 1913 attracted over 800 visitors. There were one hundred and seventy two entries in another show in which Sweet Peas predominated. Shows in 1915, 1916 (first world war years) were not so well attended. There is not a great deal of recorded detail about the shows; certainly some were more successful than others. At times they were postponed because of weather conditions or in one case "complete failure of the Aster crop due to disease." Awards of Merit, Ribbons and other gave way to money prizes. This too caused considerable dissention. Some members objecting 'to the commercialization of their hobby'. The money prizes given approximated those of the present in figures although their worth was several times present values. A Three Piece Orchestra was engaged for one show and 'Afternoon Tea' and opportunities for garden gossip were added popular attractions.

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