Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘Sue Cowden’

Grow & Show Garden Club Touches the Community in Many Ways

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Creative ladies who enjoy gardening, flowers, and nature started the local Grow & Show Garden Club sixty-one years ago. As part of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, their purpose is to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening among members, increase their interest in knowing, growing, and sharing, and to promote protection of our environment.

Members of Show and Grow Garden Club prepare to decorate the Downtown Branch of the library for Christmas. Pictured are Kay Bennett, Kat Bennett, JoEllen Hayes, Marti Reed, and Sue Cowden.

One of their first projects was a flower show downtown. Area residents have fond memories of the beautiful Guernsey County Fair booths and the Christmas wreaths they used to display.

The committee working on the Scarecrow named Garden Goddess Antheia-Flora included Paula Shockley, Marti Reed, Kat Bennett, and JoEllen Hayes.

Today they enjoy decorating for many occasions. Just recently they took part in the Scarecrow on Parade Decorating Contest at the Great Guernsey Trail. They built a ten-foot-tall scarecrow with grasses for the skirt, a wreath collar, and a hat decorated with plants and flowers. After the contest, they moved the scarecrow to the Guernsey County Senior Center so it could still brighten someone’s day

They decorate two fireplaces each year with greenery and Christmas decor.

One project at this season of the year is decorating the Downtown Branch of the Guernsey County Library for Christmas with a Victorian touch to honor the popular Dickens Victorian Village. The library display continues through November and December.

Charles Dickens writes beside the Christmas tree decorated with handmade Victorian angels.

The tree is decorated with handmade Victorian angels. Marti Reed’s grandmother made the doilies and the club members turned them into angels. Marti’s grandmother always took her to the library so she thought it fitting her doilies would end up there. Large wreaths hang above two fireplaces and the mantles are covered with greenery and touches of the holiday. The 12 Days of Christmas vignettes appear in the windows.

Next time you visit the library, take time to appreciate the work involved in creating a holiday venue.

A special Easter Egg tree is part of the holiday decorations during the Easter season.

But that’s only one season of decorations for the group at the library. Another time they enjoy decorating is at Easter. At that time, they have stuffed animals and an Easter egg tree. Fluffy yellow chicks and bunnies of all sizes rest on the shelves and windowsills.

The first week of December, Grow & Show holds a Gingerbread House workshop for their members at Crossroads Library. Wonder if their gingerbread houses have plants or flowers around them.

Members take time to visit Cardinal Place each month where they take candy and treat bags to the residents while visiting them. They hope to expand this to other care facilities in the future.

A tree was planted for Sue on her 50 years of being a member. Pictured are Cheryl Lowry-Miller, Kat Bennett, Sue Cowden, Marti Reed, and Pat Graven.

The garden club plants and helps maintain trees that are dedicated in someone’s memory or just to honor someone special. There are two gardens where they plant trees. One is Shafer Park in East Cambridge while the other is a donated park at the corner of Beatty Ave and Clark St.

Jo Lucas has not only a beautiful flower garden but many fruit trees. At this time, she placed parachutes over them to protect the fruit from the birds.

They hold one public meeting related to gardening each year at the Cambridge Senior Center. This year the topic will be Gardening for Pollinators. Light hors d’oeuvres and a selection of desserts will be available. Reservations must be made for this March 26 meeting. Cost is $15.

Kat Bennett, Violet Scott, and Pat Graven explain using straw bales for planting.

Every year in May, they hold a Mother’s Day Garden Sale the Saturday before Mother’s Day where you can find some beautiful plants or flowers for mom. This year the event will be on May 10 at the Cambridge City Park Big Pavilion from 8-12.

Indoor plants are also a joy. Pat Graven has a green house in her bathroom.

Purchasing a couple hanging baskets to beautify downtown Cambridge is one of their projects. Some of their members also participate in watering the baskets throughout the summer months.

Much work has been done on the Great Guernsey Trail by members. They have contributed benches, trees, and flowers as well as helped with the Butterfly Garden. Plans are now being made for another display of plants there.

As you can tell, their community is very important to the members and many projects revolve around the beautification of Cambridge.

Bonnie Perkins has a beautiful koi pond in her yard surrounded by a variety of plants and flowers.

Grow & Show Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at Crossroads Library at 1:00. Programs are always garden-related. A couple of times a year, the group visits a member’s garden. Some of them include waterfalls surrounded by plants, while others might have plants inside or a garden or orchard for their own food. Perhaps they might also visit a greenhouse or apple orchard. New members are always welcome so if you have an interest in gardening, stop by for a meeting..

These busy ladies know how to have fun while making the world a more beautiful place!

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Art, Gardens, Nature, Ohio, Organizations, Uncategorized

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Saving History in Old Ohio Barns

Repairing or restoring an old barn that no longer serves its purpose has been taking place around Ohio with increased frequency. People feel these buildings instill that pioneer spirit and are worth saving.

Cowden Barn

Morrison-Cowden Barn (1869) Pigeon Gap Road

   In Guernsey County, Bill and Sue Cowden decided to renovate an old barn that carried fond memories for many of the neighbors and their children. This barn was originally on the 500 acre Morrison farm and used for horses for many years.

   The Morrison family came to Guernsey County from Ireland in 1855 and Sam purchased a farm on the east side of Pigeon Gap Road. His son, George acquired land on the other side which spanned Coshocton Road, now Route 209.

   It was George’s son, W.C., who is most remembered in the area. He grew record-setting crops of wheat, had an emergency airstrip on the farm, and entertained frequently. Morrison School received its name from W.C., who lived until 1953. Upon his death, his entire estate of 3.2 million dollars was left to Guernsey County charities.

Barn Cornerstone

The barn cornerstone clearly shows the date of construction of 1869.

   When you realize the Morrison barn was built originally in 1869 – only four years after the Civil War, you can understand the desire to put it back to some useful purpose. Bill realized the barn was either going to have to be repaired or torn down. “When the doors no longer open, latches no longer work, and the floor is unsafe because the roof leaks, you have to make a decision.”

Doorway to home

A workman repairs the doorway with the Cowdens’ home in the background.

Getting walls ready

The new walls were being prepared on the ground.

   Some things had to be changed. Big posts by the door had rotted so needed to be replaced. Sadly, the slate roof had so many pieces missing that it received a metal roof. New siding had been put on previously, but now they covered that with metal siding as well.

Barn framing

Inside framing using wooden pegs was still in great original condition.

   Outside the barn looks like a new barn, but inside you can still easily see its history pouring out through all that old timber framing. The amazing craftsmanship of our ancestors without all the tools of today makes it extra special. These barns were built by hand and often in six to eight months. Inside the barn looks pretty much as it did back in 1869. The hand construction used to build the barn can clearly be seen in the rafters. All the beams are wood pegged, no nails were used.

Lift again

A lift was used to atttach new siding to the barn.

   Today, Bill and Sue use this barn for hay and machinery storage. Over the years they have raised chickens and even pigs in the lower level. They are pleased to have been able to preserve this historic barn.

   Three other barns were found that have been treasured by their owners and repaired when needed.

Schumaker Old Barn

Schumaker Barn (1887) West Lafayette

   In nearby Newcomerstown, the Schumakers barn (1887) still has its original slate roof with the date written on it. Their farm has been in the family for over 200 years so Jim and Wendy Schumaker keep striving to make their farm a showplace for others to enjoy through their produce stand and a fall adventure of Pumpkin Patch & Farm Experience to interest children in farming.

Wilson Wells Barn 2

Wilson – Wells Bar (1932) Mantua Road

   Another was built by Carl Wilson (1932) during the Depression. He had purchased the supplies for the barn, but the banks closed before construction began. The contractor asked if he could keep his men working with Carl’s promise to make payment when the banks opened again. Both men fulfilled their promises. Today that barn has been extensively repaired and is owned by Jim and Dot Wells.

Bennett Smith Barn

Bennett-Smith Barn (1960) Pigeon Gap Road

   Across the road from the Cowden farm is the Bennett dairy barn (1960) that was built on the farm of the father, Sam Morrison. Today that barn has been repaired by owners Pete and Martha Smith after a tornado damaged part of the barn heavily back in 1993.

   Many people tend to feel that when something no longer fulfills its original purpose that it should be forgotten because repair takes time, money, and energy. Sue doesn’t agree, “Then you lose a bit of history and the wonderful work that went into it long ago.”

   Enjoy a ride through the country and pay special attention to the barns. You’ll find many large modern barns, those ready to fall down, and some that have been saved as part of our agricultural heritage.

   If you have a wonderful old barn, house, or building on your property that can be repaired, perhaps you will consider preserving it for future generations.

If we don’t care about our past, we cannot hope for the future.

~Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Category:

Cambridge, Farming, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

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