Our History
The Dunnville Horticultural Society was organized in 1929 through the efforts of several interested citizens. The Women’s Institute canvassed the town for members and Mr. William H. Wingfield was elected the first president and Mr. Charles Bilgar was the first secretary of the Society.
The first public planting was carried out at the paths that diagonally cross Central Park. A couple years later, in 1938, the Society became involved in beautifying rural schools when numerous shrubs were supplied to landscape the school properties. In this same year Mr. W.H. Wingfield was presented with the Horticultural Service diploma.
A new flower bed was located in front of the recently constructed band shell in 1939 and a tree was planted in Lion’s Club Athletic Park in commemoration of the King’s visit.
The first public planting of trees on town streets started in 1940. “Increased Interest and Effort,” was the motto for 1942. In 1945, the planting of the T H & B property on Queen street was started under the direction of Mr. Tambling. the local school children received over 1000 packets of flower and vegetable seeds in 1947. Arrangements were also made with the Lion’s Club to hold a flower show in conjunction with their Horse Show in Lion’s Club Park.
In 1948, the two flower beds adjacent to Cedar Street were planted with tulips and crocus which were the first bulbs planted since the start of World War II.
The largest Flower Show staged by the Society took place in 1950 with 505 flower and 96 vegetable entries. The Society made its first attempt at holding regular monthly meetings in 1953 under the direction of Art Thompson and Roy Miller.
A Coronation Tree was planted at the Town Hall in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The flower beds were planted with purple, gold and red for the Coronation Year in 1953.
The first Rose Show was held June 24, 1956. In the following year, the Floral Clock was the new project.
A Junior Horticultural Society was formed in 1968 under the leadership of Mrs. James Murphy. The Junior Society members entered exhibits in the Rose and Fall shows.
The Trillium Award for home beautification was introduced in 1975. Twenty one nominations were received and eleven Trilliums were presented to the winners.
The Society entered the Mudcat Parade for the first time in 1978 when Mr. William Lyons allowed the Society to use his horse and wagon for the parade.
There have been many dedicated persons who have worked diligently to make the Society successful since its formation in 1929. A house, barn or organization must be built on a strong foundation to stand. The members over the past 74 years have not only built a strong foundation but have reinforced it substantially since the early beginning.
We believe that the present and future members of the Dunnville Horticultural Society will work as hard and diligently as the early members so that they strong organization will be in force during the Society’s Centennial Year in 2029.
Written by Harold Bentley
The first horticultural society in Ontario was organized in 1834. Currently there are more than 280 societies with over 40,000 members.
For many years societies were part of the Ontario Agricultural Association but in 1906 a separate Horticultural Association was formed. The Association and its member societies played a prominent role in having the white Trillium Grandiflorum adopted as the floral emblem of the province of Ontario.
The Ontario Horticultural Association along with its member societies has an outstanding record of accomplishments. Community work has included school ground improvements, conservation projects and arboretums and community plantings.
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A Historical Record of the Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers of Our Society… |
| – Researched by Doris Thomson |
1929-PRESIDENT- W.H. WINGFIELD SECRETARY & TREASURER-CHARLES BILGER 1934-PRESIDENT-FRED LEEDS SECRETARY & TREASURER- MRS. ASPDEN 1937- PRESIDENT- LLOYD GAPES SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. ASPDEN 1938- PRESIDENT- FRED COOK SECRETARY & TREASURER- ROY B. MILLER 1939- PRESIDENT-D. J. RAILTON SECRETARY & TREASURER- ROY B. MILLER 1941- PRESIDENT- W.H. WINGFIELD SECRETARY & TREASURER- MISS EVA SCOTT
1942- PRESIDENT- W.H. WINGFIELD SECRETARY & TREASURER- MRS. G.S. CHAMBER
1945- PRESIDENT; W.H. WINGFIELD SECRETARY & TREASURER; MRS. FRASER RANEY
1946-PRESIDENT-CHARLES DUNLOP SECRETARY & TREASURER;-OY B. MILLER
1947-PRESIDENT-N.W. BENNETT SECRETARY & TREASURER-ROY.B. MILLER
1948-PRESIDENT; FRED LEEDS SECRETARY & TREASURER-ROY.B. MILLER
1953-PRESIDENT-A.L. THOMPSON SECRETARY & TREASURER-ROY B. MILLER
1957-PRESIDENT-ROY B. MILLER SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. MARGARET HELLYER
1958-PRESIDENT-MRS. HENRY REICHELD SECRETARY & TREASURER-H. TAYLOR
1959-PRESIDENT GMRAE SECRETARY & TREASURER-H. TAYLOR
1960-PRESIDENT-G.M. RAE SECRETARY & TREASURER-MISS MARJORIE INMAN
1961 PRES.MRS. WILLIAM WARNICK SECRETARY & TREASURER-MISS MARJORIE INMAN
1964-PRESIDENT-JOHN LAUR SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. H. REICHELD
1966-PRESIDENT-MRS. JOHN CARTER SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. A. McALONAN
1968-PRESIDENT-MRS. K. HEATHERTON SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. JOHN CARTER
1969-PRESIDENT-MRS. K. HEATHERTON SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. JAMES MURPHY
1970-PRESIDENT-ROY B. MILLER SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. JAMES MURPHY
1972-PRESIDENT-JOHN CARTER SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. ANNIE KNOL
1974-PRESIDENT-WALTER HODGSON SECRETARY & TREASURER-ROY B. MILLER
1976-PRES.-GORDON BARTLETT SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. DORIS MEYER
1978-PRESIDENT-MRS. HILDA BRADFORD SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. DORIS MEYER
1979-PRESIDENT-HAROLD BENTLEY SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. DORIS MEYER
1980-PRESIDENT-HAROLD BENTLEY SECRETARY & TREASURER-MRS. DORIS MEYER
1981-PRESIDENT-HAROLD BENTLEY SECRETARY & TREASURER-MARGARET LAVERTY
1982-PRESIDENT-ARTHUR BRADFORD SECRETARY & TREASURER-MARGARET LAVERTY
1983-PRESIDENT-ART BRADFORD SECRETARY & TREASURER; LYNN ROBERTSON
1984; PRESIDENT; ARTHUR BRADFORD SECRETARY & TREASURER; LYNN ROBERTSON
1985; PRESIDENT; GARFIELD DISHER SECRETARY; JEAN DICKHOUT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER
1986; PRESIDENT; GARFIELD DISHER SECRETARY; JEAN DICKHOUT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER
1987; PRESIDENT; KEN DICKHOUT SECRETARY; JANICE CROFT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER THOMSON
1988; PRESIDENT; KEN DICKHOUT SECRETARY; JANICE CROFT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER THOMSON
1989; PRESIDENT; PETER PROSSER SECRETARY; JANICE CROFT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER THOMSON
1990; PRESIDENT; PETER PROSSER SECRETARY; JANICE CROFT TREASURER; DORIS MEYER THOMSON
1991; PRESIDENT; JANICE CROFT SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1992; PRESIDENT; JEAN DICKHOUT SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1993; PRESIDENT; JEAN DICKHOUT SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1994; PRESIDENT; JANICE CROFT SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1995; PRESIDENT; GARFIELD DISHER SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1996; PRESIDENT; KEN DICKHOUT SECRETARY; MARION PROSSER & DUNCAN CURRIE TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1997; PRESIDENT; DAVID WARNER SECRETARY; DUNCAN CURRIE TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1998; PRESIDENT; DAVID WARNER SECRETARY; DUNCAN CURRIE TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
1999; PRESIDENT; SHIRLEY MUMBY SECRETARY; DUNCAN CURRIE TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
2000; PRESIDENT; PENNY DOWNEY SECRETARY; PAT LOGAN TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
2001; PRESIDENT; PENNY DOWNEY SECRETARY; PAT LOGAN TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
2002; PRESIDENT; PENNY DOWNEY SECRETARY; PAT LOGAN TREASURER; DORIS THOMSON
2003; PRESIDENT; PENNY DOWNEY SECRETARY; PAT LOGAN TREASURER; BRYAN MARKHAM
2004; PRESIDENT; PENNY DOWNEY SECRETARY; PAT LOGAN TREASURER; JUDY JEFFERY
2005; PRESIDENT; KAREN MEADE SECRETARY; JEAN MILNER TREASURER; JUDY JEFFERY
2006; PRESIDENT; KAREN MEADE SECRETARY; JEAN MILNER TREASURER; JUDY JEFFERY
2007; PRESIDENT; KAREN WALTHAM SECRETARY; JEAN MILNER TREASURER; JUDY JEFFERY
2008; PRESIDENT; KAREN WALTHAM SECRETARY; DORIS THOMSON TREASURER; TERESA BORODYN
2009; PRESIDENT; KAREN WALTHAM SECRETARY; DORIS THOMSON TREASURER; TERESA BORODYN
2010; PRESIDENT; JUDY JEFFERY SECRETARY; DORIS THOMSON TREASURER; TERESA BORODYN & KIM CHRISTOFF
2011; PRESIDENT; JUDY JEFFERY SECRETARY; KIM CHRISTOFF & SUE MAZI TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF
2012; PRESIDENT; JUDY JEFFERY VICE-PRESIDENT; BETTY BALLANGER SECRETARY; SUE MAZI TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF
2013; PRESIDENT; LORI MARACLE VICE-PRESIDENT; DEBBIE THOMAS SECRETARY; SUE MAZI TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF 2014; PRESIDENT; LORI MARACLE VICE-PRESIDENT; DEBBIE THOMAS SECRETARY; SUE MAZI TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF 2015; PRESIDENT; DEBBIE THOMAS VICE-PRESIDENT; DEB ZYNOMIRSKI SECRETARY; SUE MAZI TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF
2016; PRESIDENT; DEBBIE THOMAS VICE-PRESIDENT; DEB ZYNOMIRSKI CORRESPONDING SECRETARY; SUE MAZI RECORDING SECRETARY; SANDI MARR TREASURER; KIM CHRISTOFF
2017: PRESIDENT-DEBBIE THOMAS VICE-PRESIDENT-DEB ZYNOMIRSKI TREASURER-KIM CHRISTOFF SECRETARY- SANDI MARR
2018: PRESIDENT-DEBBIE THOMAS VICE-PRESIDENT-DEB ZYNOMIRSKI TREASURER-KIM CHRISTOFF SECRETARY- PETRA KRUIS-DALY
2019: PRESIDENT – DEB ZYNOMIRSKI IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT- DEBBIE THOMAS TREASURER-KIM CHRISTOFF RECORDING SECRETARY- PETRA KRUIS-DALY
2020: PRESIDENT – DEB ZYNOMIRSKI PAST PRESIDENT – DEBBIE THOMAS TREASURER – SHARON SYKES RECORDING SECRETARY – PETRA KRUIS-DALY
2021: PRESIDENT – DEB ZYNOMIRSKI PAST PRESIDENT – DEBBIE THOMAS TREASURER – SHARON SYKES RECORDING SECRETARY- PETRA KRUIS-DALY
2022: PRESIDENT – DEB ZYNOMIRSKI PAST PRESIDENT – DEBBIE THOMAS TREASURER: ELLEN GUENTHER RECORDING SECRETARY- PETRA KRUIS-DALY
2023: VICE PRESIDENT & RECORDING SECRETARY PETRA KRUIS DALEY IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT DEB ZYNOMIRSKI PAST PRESIDENT DEBBIE THOMAS CORRESPONDING SECRETARY JEN MILLER
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