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H/9/1988-3-

Horticultural Society -- 125 Years
1863 - 1988

In the winter of 1863 Francis Miller and Margaret
Brooke Magruder suggested the formation of the Sandy Spring
Horticultural Society. An organizational meeting was held
at Stanmore, home of Francis Miller, where it was decided
that the society would consist of 12 members and meet on the
last 7th day, every month from March to November. The
purpose of the society was to discuss and pursue
horticultural matters. Poultry reports also were a regular
feature of the early years.

The first meeting was held at Brooke Grove on March 28, 1863
at 4 o'clock. A foreman (or forewoman) was chosen to
preside over each meeting and the next meeting place seemed
to be decided on a monthly basis. The gardens were assessed
in each months minutes -- criticism was not withheld.

In 1864 the society was extended to include each member's
family. This year also introduced the practice of
exhibiting specimens from each family's garden.

The first annual horticultural exhibition at the Sandy
Spring Lyceum (now the Community House), was held Sptember
1865. A motto was selected for each of these events. On
occasion the exhibition was was not held in favor of the
members lending their labors to the county fair. The Cedars
hosted their first meeting on April 29 1865. Many questions
were asked, but the gardens were not described due to
inclement weather.

In 1868 the society listed 15 families:

Eliza Brooke, Ellen Farquhar, Roger B. Farquhar,
Sarah B. Farquhar, Rachel Gilpin, Henry Hallowell,
Mary B Hall, Charles Iddings, Deborah Lea,
Mary M. Miller, Francis Miller, Annie Moore,
Margaret Magruder, Hannah Stabler, Sarah Stabler.

A major administrative development occurred in 1869 with the
formation of a slate of officers which were elected for
annual terms. The first elected officers were President
(formerly referred to as foreman), Henry Hallowell and
secretary, Elizabeth S. Iddings.

The current practice of meeting the first Tuesday of each
month was established in 1871. By 1872 the first meeting of
the year was set ahead one month to April in favor of more
temperate conditions -- the thermometer registered 5 degrees
on a previous first meeting. Original intentions for the
final meeting of the year did not prevail through the
harvest season as it has never been held later than October.