They had vision. They had vitality. They had vigor. They were the Village of Tavistock Horticultural Society.

Formed in 1923 with a full slate of 15 officers and 56 members, the Society quickly set about to put their philosophy into practice …….. “Beautify Tavistock”. One of the first major projects was the planting of tulips around the then new memorial fountain on the village square (what we now call the five corners). Colour postcards, like the one featured in this story, were printed and sold to promote the first community flower bed.

Popularity of the Society quickly grew and soon the meetings were “standing room only”. On its third anniversary, the president proudly announced that “Tavistock has become known as one of the most beautiful villages in Ontario” with the Society maintaining 12 flower beds and many local home owners tending decorative beds on their boulevards. Membership had blossomed to over 100 members at an annual fee of $1.00 apiece.

For the next 20 years everyone who was “anyone” was a member of the Horticultural Society. Speakers came from as far away as Toronto to address the group. Every year delegates took the train to Toronto to attend the Ontario Horticultural Association conference at the King Edward Hotel. Inter-club meetings were held with the Ingersoll Society 25 miles away … amazing given the few people in Tavistock who owned cars at the time. The flower shows at the Tavistock Fall Fair received inches and inches of print in the local newspaper. Competition to win the annual prizes for best lawn, best garden and best flowers was, politely stated, fierce. Grudges simmered for years.

With the outbreak of World War II the door prizes at the meetings changed from the customary flowers and bulbs to war savings stamps. Members were advised that gardening should not be curtailed because of the gloom of war as it was in the garden where one could find contentment as nowhere else. But the war did have an impact. Many of the women members from the village took up Red Cross work and many of the farmers’ wives found themselves helping in the fields. Time was at a premium.

In 1943, on the 20th anniversary of the Society, it was decided to have a permanent reminder of the good works of the club. Ornamental stone gateways were built at the northern edge of the village using fieldstones specially selected from the local farms.

Throughout its existence the Horticultural Society enjoyed splendid press coverage in the Tavistock Gazette. The last Gazette news of the club was early in 1947. It was noted that the financial position was good. There were 12 officers and 69 members including a new roster of Junior Horticulturalists. Plans were underway to plant trees around the village in memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice.

By 1948, for reasons unknown, the Society had disbanded. While no longer active, they left a permanent and positive mark in Tavistock. The ornamental gateways still proudly stand on the northern boundary. The tulip beds around the fountain still bloom each spring and are now taken care of by the current Tavistock and Area Horticultural Society, fondly known as The Hortees. Most importantly, horticulture and the desire to “beautify Tavistock” is still alive and well in the village and likely to remain so for a long long time.