Sandy Springs Garden Club

The Sandy Springs Garden Club began with 17 women interested in their community who were present at the first meeting. Sponsored by the Iris Garden Club of Atlanta, the group chose its name to represent the unincorporated area of Fulton County where the members lived. The group put together the first Constitution and By-laws, and then the group chose as the meeting place a house on the local schoolhouse grounds.
Together the first members decided on a series of programs which set the pace for the years to come. First there was a flower exchange; then landscaping in front of the school; then a flower show. Monies were raised by rummage sales, benefit bridges, yard sales, bazaars, and a club members' cookbook. One year all the proceeds from a Tour of Homes went towards landscaping Ridgeview High School. Other funds were used to landscape other high schools in the area, as well as to donate trees and bluebird houses. Financial support from the club was given to hospitals located in the area including Northside, Scottish Rite, and St. Joseph's Hospitals. A full-year tuition scholarship was provided for three students for their fifth year in the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia. And for many years, contributions were given to the Sandy Springs Mental Health Center.
The SSGC was admitted to the Garden Club of Georgia in April, 1942, and went on to sponsor other garden clubs in the area in the ensuing years.
The civic accomplishments of the Club were many, and included starting a P.T.A. at Hammond Elementary School and in helping to establish the Sandy Springs Woman's Club in 1948. The garden club has the distinction of being the first civic organization in the area. Several members of the Club were co-founders of the Sandy Springs Library in 1965. All the plantings around the original library were planted and maintained by the club members when the building was finished. In keeping with the sense of civic-mindedness shared by the members of the club, the SSGC president approached the Portman-Barry Developers in 1984 about obtaining an old house on the corner of Georgia 400 and Mount Vernon Highway. The garden club wanted to convert the house into a Community Garden Center and a permanent home for the Fulton County Federation of Garden Clubs. Portman-Barry agreed to the gift and also pledged $15,000 to cover the cost to move it to the new location.
When the springs for which Sandy Springs was named was acquired by Fulton County, this seemed like the perfect setting for the historic house, and it was moved to the area near the springs on October 9, 1985. The areas around the house were planted in keeping with its historical background.
Research soon confirmed that this suburban cottage was in fact a remodeled farmhouse, circa 1869, one of eight known 19th century structures remaining in Sandy Springs.
Walter Jerome Williams and Harriet Austin Williams, his second wife, lived in the farmhouse from 1894 to 1936 when both died. Mr. Williams' first wife was named Susan, and the couple had six children. After much research it is a safe assumption that Jerome and his first family lived on this land and in this same house, establishing its original date of construction about 1869.
Major and Marie Payne bought the farmhouse in 1939. They moved it back eight feet from the newly-widened Mt. Vernon Highway, and completely remodeled it. The Payne's sold the house and land to Portman-Barry for development in 1982.
It did not take the Garden Club members long to realize that their house-moving project would have to be a community effort, so they searched for a chairman to lead it. Frances Glenn Mayson, a member of the garden club, and her husband Joey, had just finished renovating the 1929 Glenn home, Glenridge Hall, so they seemed the logical people to ask for help. They accepted the challenge and did an outstanding job. Joey Mayson called an organizational meeting of interested citizens in January 1985. Officers were elected and the Sandy Springs Historic Community Foundation was formed.
The Sandy Springs Garden Club is still involved with the Sandy Springs Library and the Williams-Payne House as ongoing projects. A project began in 2006 involves the club's participation in the Sandy Springs Festival at a booth selling flowers, seeds, and handmade crafts. The money made at the festival is given to the Sandy Springs Community Foundation (now Heritage Sandy Springs) for use in the gardens at the Williams-Payne House, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, GA 30330, Tel: 404-851-9101.

SS Garden Club History