Greater Rochester Rose Society Records

The idea of a Rochester rose society was first proposed by Charles Vick, chairman of the Exposition Flower Committee, in a report to William W. Hibbard, president of the Rochester Industrial Exposition Association, in early February 1919. The Flower Committee invited Rev. Edmund Mills, president of the Syracuse Rose Society, to speak at the Rochester Chamber of Commerce on May 23, 1919. The audience of over 100 was so excited at the prospect of a rose society in Rochester that they voted after the speech to form one immediately. Within 3 weeks, the Rose Society was organized; while a planned public rose exhibition at the Chamber of Commerce on June 16, 1919 had to be called off due to unusually hot temperatures damaging many flowers, the club met for a private show on Friday, June 20, 1919. From there, the club, with John Dunbar as its first president, began having monthly meetings.

Since that time, the Rochester (later Greater Rochester) Rose Society has maintained its role as a club promoting and educating rose horticulture. The club (as of 2021) continues to meet regularly and produce an annual rose show in Rochester. However, publicly, the Society has possibly had its greatest impact through its role in developing and maintaining the Maplewood Rose Garden. Dedicated on June 24, 1951, this garden was the result of cooperative planning between the City Parks Bureau and the Society. Since that time, the Society has assisted with both the Garden and the annual Maplewood Rose Festival in various ways.