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| Drawing by Ronnie Hamilton |
The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. (GCM) State Headquarters, located at 401 East Market Street in Greenwood, was built in 1915 by William Madison Whittington. The home is known as the W. M. Whittington House. Mr. Whittington served Mississippi in the US House of Representatives from 1925 until 1951.
The architect was Ben Price of Birmingham, Alabama, who designed very similar residences on South Blvd. in Greenwood and on North State Street in Jackson. The house was built on the site of a smaller frame house that Mr. Whittington had constructed on a lot he purchased in February 1905 which burned in 1914. The architecture is a combination of Prairie Style and Georgian influence. The home was nominated to the State and National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and in 2014 received Certification of Mississippi Landmark Designation. The Whittington’s three children gave the home to The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. in August of 1981.
After receiving the house, the first benefit was an Yves St. Laurent fashion show and luncheon held at the civic center in Greenwood. Next, a Holiday House was held with Floral Designers and florist decorating the building. For the 25th Anniversary of ownership, a “$25.00 for 25” fund raiser was held challenging garden clubs and members to donate $25.00. In 2008, a jewelry raffle was held to raise funds which netted almost $4,000. Over the years, many generous garden club members have donated items to furnish the Headquarters, including the dining room table and chairs, oriental rugs, mirrors, silver and paintings.
The BOD of GCM voted to use $1.00 per member of GCM dues to support the Headquarters as no monies are budgeted for maintenance and preservation. During the past 30 years, the Whittington heirs, garden clubs and garden club members have donated monies to be set aside in an Endowment Fund for use for major repairs and other unforeseen events. The Headquarters is maintained and preserved through the $1.00 per member’s dues, donations, honorariums, memorials, rentals for events such as wedding receptions and periodic fund raisers. The Viking Range Corp. donated all Viking appliances to GCM in 2007, which makes catering a breeze.
In 2010, the movie “The Help” was filmed in Greenwood, Mississippi. Two weeks of casting were held at the headquarters and two scenes were filmed there, which were the "Junior League meeting" and "DAR staircase" scene. The total rental amount was $3,500.00. They also painted 2 rooms and wallpapered the parlor.
For the NGC Golden Days Project, 250 daffodils were planted in the lawn and a certificate from NGC was presented to GCM for their efforts. Greenwood Garden Club received a NGC grant to plant a Native Plant Bed in the rear of the building in 2008. In 2010, GCM voted to create a President’s Garden. A Landscape Architect (member of Greenwood Garden Club) drew the plans to coordinate with existing plans created by Edward C. Martin previously. Profits from bulb sales at the State Flower Show in Brookhaven ($2,200.00) were designated for this project. Daisy Ann Stewart of Canton donated $1,000.00 to create a small memorial garden in memory of her mother in law, daughter and grandson. In 2010-2011GCM BOD voted to update interior and exterior lighting, recover some of the furniture, clean out the attic and have the rugs cleaned.
A landscape service maintains the lawn and grounds for $300.00 per month, but, periodically, workdays are held to get things in order, inside and out. Members from across the state come to weed, clean the stove, dust, wax furniture, pick up litter and polish silver, etc. A good time was had
by all.
Approximately 15 years ago, the whole building was painted at a cost of $12,000.00 – many tiny windows and three stories. The interior has been totally repainted in the last five years in period colors. Much of the painting, minor repairs and new garage doors were funded by a generous donation of $10,000.00 from the Jackson Council of Garden Clubs who also donated their silver to GCM when they sold their building. Utilities at the Headquarters can be quite high in extreme weather with a record, one month’s gas bill of $1,500.00 in 2008.
GCM continues to use the facility for Summer BOD meetings, Flower Show School, Symposiums and other special events. Garden Clubs from throughout the state are always encouraged to visit GCM State Headquarters and have special meetings, installations, etc.
As you can see, there is always something going on at Your State Headquarters and donations are always needed and appreciated.
The drawing
(above) of our building was done by Ronnie Hamilton, a local artist. His
brother lived in the building for a while. We have it hanging in the
headquarters. This work of art has been featured on note cards that we have had available in the
past.
