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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.
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2003/2004 Officers
