The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Plots get historic names
Historical society lends expertise
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 22, 2007
A person strolling through the Saline Community Garden this spring might spy wonderful clematis in Wayne Clements or gorgeous daffodils in Gretchen Driskell or aromatic roses in Alberta Rogers.
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Gardeners who sign up for a plot in the Saline Community Garden will decide what they want to grow, but a unique aspect of the garden will be the names assigned to individual plots.
Bob Lane of the Saline Area Historical Society worked up a list of 26 prominent and influential Salinians, past and present, for the garden committee to draw on when naming plots.
"This was to me one of the most special aspects of the community garden in Saline," said Calesta Harrison. "It's unique to our celebration of history. I don't think other community gardens do this sort of thing."
Among the names on the list are:
Matthew Rentschler, who in the 19th century built many homes, barns and other buildings around Saline.
Rufus Nutting, who founded the Lodi Academy in Saline.
Lucretia Gillet, who photographed Saline from 1858 to 1890.
Asher Aray, a black farmer and abolitionist who lived east of Saline.
William Davenport, a banker and business leader who built the mansion at Michigan Avenue and (what else?) Davenport.
Webster Ruckman, a Civil War soldier in the 17th Michigan Infantry who was killed at the Battle of Antietam.
Andrew C. Warren, owner and editor of the Saline Observer in the 1880s.
John Lowry, an ardent abolitionist who lived in Lodi Township.
Lane plans to hold a class at the garden July 18 to discuss the history of Saline and the people behind the names on the plots.
A dozen other classes offered through Saline Parks and Recreation, Community Education and the 212 Arts Center are planned for the garden's inaugural year, including creating gathering baskets, designing mosaic flower pots, making fertilizer, composting with worms, and even "Cultivating Inner Peas: Yoga for Gardeners."
Gardeners must reside in the Saline Area School District to have a plot in the garden. Applications are available online at www.salinegarden.org. Plot registration begins April 1 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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