Rochester Civic Garden Center Records

The Rochester Civic Garden Center was founded in 1945 as the Garden Center of Rochester, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization. In the words of its first Chairman, Dr. Lowe, the purpose of the Garden Center was “gathering up the garden skills of everyone and passing them on to everyone else, whether garden clubbers or not. to promote horticulture through public programs and a dedicated library. By 1955 it had acquired a charter from the New York State Board of Regents and offered tours, lectures, and other educational experiences to promote horticulture through public programs and a dedicated library. The meeting place for the Garden Center of Rochester changed changing several times during the first two decades, first to downtown Rochester at 84 North Street, then to the old Herbarium on Pine Tree Road, before finally finding a permanent home in 1964 at Warner Castle in Highland Park. This location eventually served as a home for similar organizations including the Rochester Rose Society, the Bergin Swamp Society, the Burroughs Audubon Society, and the Bonsai Society, many of which are also represented in this collection. By 1978, the Garden Center boasted 1800 members, 102 clubs, and 89 classes. It officially changed its name to the Rochester Civic Garden Center in 1996 before closing in 2018.