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This
November, the Greater New York Orchid Society (GNYOS) will
marked the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of our
society.
Although
GNYOS became "official" on November 16, 1954, the
first society meeting actually took place in May 1954.
Wondering
what happened that prompted Harold E. Anthony, Merritt
Huntington, John Mitchell, Don Richardson and David Blum, the
signers of the original articles of incorporation? Here is how
it began according to Merritt Huntington by Marilyn L.
Shapiro.
First
there was the Judging Center
The
American Orchid Society’s first monthly judging and program
began in 1948 and continued into the early 50’s, with a
group of interested individuals who met monthly at the Essex
House. The New York Horticultural Society was located there
with access to the Judging Center on 58th Street. Later into
the 50’s, the group moved to the American Museum of Natural
History where judging was held on the 4th Wednesday of the
month except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In 1953, judging
date was changed but the monthly meeting remained the same.
Setting
the stage
During
the 50’s, there were over one million square feet of orchid
greenhouses in New Jersey. The Orchid cut flower business was
enormous.
The
impetus for information of The Greater New York Orchid Society
and Long Island Orchid Society (LIOS) came from the Dime
Savings Bank of Brooklyn. Early in 1954, the Bank announced
that there would be an Orchid Show. The first Bank Show took
place in New York from October 1-3, 1954 sponsored by GNOYS
and LIOS. Dr. Carl Withner, one of the great orchid masters,
was named as Chairman of this International Show, which
included plants from Lecouffe of France and growers from
Hawaii.
The
First Bank Show was in Washington, D.C. at the Washington
American Security. Names such as Harold Paterson, John Lager
and Joseph Manda emerged.
Act
One Begins
On
June 23, 1954, the first official meeting of GNYOS took place
at the American Museum of Natural History. The listings of
society officers read like a Who’s Who of the orchid greats.
The officers included Don Richardson, the first President;
Harold Anthony, Vice President and Director of the American
Museum of Natural History; Margaret Garrison and Robert
Hennessey. The roster of Trustees included Carl Withner;
William Weiser; Ira Haupt; Ralph Keisewetter, a commercial
orchid grower; Sherwood Grimes, M.D.; O.W. Davidson, Dean of
and inventor of Miracle Grow and secretary of the American
Orchid Society for 30 years; Merritt Huntington; George
McClain and William Trelease.
The
group went beyond these notables to include the likes of W.W.
Wilson, W. Howard Lowe, Rodney Wilcox Jones, Gus Melquist, Mr.
& Mrs. Halle Cohen and Gordon Dillon and last but
certainly not least our grand dames, Peggy Richardson and Enid
Haupt.
Reflections
of those first few years
and
the shift of the times
By
October 1995, our society had approximately 100 members. On
average, 60 people attended each meeting.
| The
shift in the cut flower forever altered the profile of our
group. The only ones left of those million square feet of
orchid greenhouses are Brighton Farms and Waldor Orchids which
is run by Walter Off. Where before we had the greats of the
orchid cut flower business, the society has now expanded to
include the hobbyists. The original fear that meristeming
would destroy the orchid business was proved just the
opposite. Now more and more people have the opportunity to
grow better quality plants. |
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As
we look back, we see the desire to learn more about the world’s
most seductive plants will that carry our interest beyond the
basics of orchid growing into the realms of expanding and
enriching our orchid community. |
2003/2004
Officers
