The Hartwell Garden Club                     Hartwell, Ga.    We Grow, We Conserve, We Beautify    CONTACT US      ABOUT US History The first garden club in Hartwell began in 1950 when Mrs. Caroline Skelton and a few friends gathered at Mrs. Skelton’s house on Athens Street and determined Hartwell needed a garden club for ladies who loved flowers and gardening.  The twelve ladies at this meeting each invited another and the first official meeting of the Hartwell Garden Club was held at Hotel Nancy Hart on September 2, 1950.  The Elberton Garden Club sponsored our club, and two of their members came to help us organize and tell us about the Georgia Federation.  It was decided the club membership would be set at 30, and these 30 made up our charter members.  The club’s motto, flower, tree, and colors were selected.  Mrs. Evelyn Bell was elected as the club’s first president. Our club has had five anniversary celebrations.  The tenth and twenty-fifth were celebrated at Hotel Nancy Hart.  The 40th and 50th were celebrated at the Skelton-Balbach Home on Athens Street where our club originated.  The 55th anniversary was held at Fletcher’s Restaurant on Howell Street, where we now hold our monthly meetings. At the printing of this 2007-2008 yearbook, our club still retains four of the original thirty members.  These honored members are Mary Carpenter, Virginia Fisher, Charlotte Milford, and Frances Skelton. Collect Our Father, who didst first reveal Thyself in a garden, touch our eyes that we may see Thee in power, wonder, majesty and glory in every growing plant.  Attune our ears to Thy whisperings among the trees.  May Thy Holy Spirit prune, purify and nurture our souls that fragrant deeds shall blossom in our lives and beautify the world.  And grant that we may walk with Thee through eternity in that promised Garden of God.  Mission The mission of this Club is the study of gardening, the development of home grounds, and participation in civic improvements, conservation and flower arranging.