The Dirt Daubers: A Brief History

The Spartanburg Men's Garden Club (SMGC) was founded in 1948 as the "Dirt Daubers" by a group of civic-minded men who enjoyed gardening and sharing this passion with each other and the community. Mr. W.B. Rich was elected President, A.T. Gans as Secretary, James M. Culcleasure as Treasurer, and Clyde Burwell as Historian. Membership was limited to twenty-five. In 1951 membership was opened to any interested male. In 1953 the name of the Club was changed to The Men's Garden Club of Spartanburg. Also that year, the Club became affiliated with the National Men's Garden Clubs of America (now named The Gardeners of America / Men's Garden Clubs of America, TGOA/MGCA).

The early days of the Club were spent maintaining dozens of local flower beds in the city. W.O. Ezell is the name most associated with these efforts. One of the earliest and largest plantings in the 1950s was on South Pine Street across from Pine Street Elementary School. This area was renovated in 1997 and is now known as the Pride Trail.

Fund raising at that time consisted of auctioning plants brought by members to the October meeting. Club auctioneer George Drummond managed to raise a total of $28.06 in 1965. SMGC was the first group in Spartanburg to pick up litter beginning in 1974.

In 1972, Harold Hatcher joined the Club and continued the story of progress by donating his garden to the citizens of Spartanburg through the Spartanburg County Foundation after years of personal effort developing the garden. The Spartanburg Men's Garden Club continued their support of Harold Hatcher at Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve (also see our Hatcher Garden page). SMGC branched out in the 1970s by beginning the highly successful Plant Sale. Trees grown at the "tree bank" at "Gas Bottom" (the current location of Vic Bailey Honda) were taken to various locations where sales were conducted. The nursery was later moved to Hatcher Garden. Many dedicated men have been responsible for the success of the Plant Sales: Jess Taylor, Dick Look, John Nevison, Henry Pittman, Walter Soderberg, and Winston Hardegree, to name a few.

Women began joining the Club in the early 1990s. In 2000, Hatcher Garden began offering annuals and perennials for sale to complement the trees and shrubs sold by SMGC. Other well-known Club projects include: Landscape Evaluation, Street Trees, Community Garden Spots, and Litter Pick-Up. The Club hosted the National Convention of TGOA/MGCA at the Marriott in 2006 with more than 150 attendees from all over the United States. In 2007 the Club elected its first woman president, Linda McHam.

In 2008, anticipating the 60th Anniversary Celebration, several long-standing members (Henry Pittman, Jess Taylor, Jim Bagwell, Bob Hamilton and Tom Bartram, with the editorial assistance of Dianne Fergusson) began to assemble a detailed history of the Club. Pulled from old minutes, brochures, newspaper clippings, club newsletters, and personal recollection, the information was sorted, assembled and is being shaped into a collectible book. If you would like a copy when it is completed, please visit the Garden Shop.

If you have any information pertaining to the history of the Club, please contact the webmaster. We would appreciate a loan of the material to scan and add to our archives.