Betsy's Garden |
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August 21, 2002 Woodbury Heritage House and Heritage Gardens Have you noticed the small white house behind the white picket fence in the southeast corner of Radio Drive and Lake Road in Woodbury? Perhaps you know that is one of the oldest buildings in Woodbury, and that it is called the Heritage House. The Heritage House was originally built about 1870 as an addition to the log cabin home on the 160 acre farm of Frederick Raths. In 1903 the farm was bought by Jacob and Lizzie Stutzman. The property remained a working farm and was owned by the Stutzman family until 1993 when it was sold to developers. However, seven acres surrounding the house and garden is designated as a Woodbury city park. Within this area are walking trails and a bird sanctuary. Inside the picket fence, near the house, is the Heritage Garden. The attractive Heritage Garden has been designed by Paul Miller, a landscape architect in Woodbury. The garden area has several theme gardens including the local heirloom plants garden, the vegetable garden, butterfly garden, and the tree park. The purpose of the heirloom garden is to preserve plants which grew on the early farms in this area. Local Woodbury residents have donated heritage plants, or plants that have grown in this area for a long time, to the heirloom garden. In addition to the heirloom garden, the Memorial Tree Park is in this area. Many of the traditional favorite fruit and shade trees which grew in Woodbury at the time the house was built and the farm was in operation are included in the tree park. The Heritage Society would appreciate your help in buying trees for the tree park to help maintain the heritage of Woodbury. Gerten’s is donating delivery charges and the expenses involved in taking the tree from the truck. Board members and a Master Gardener have identified and selected trees that can be planted in the area. The list of varieties that were grown in the area at the time when the house was built includes Northern Red Oak, Hackberry, Skyline Locust, Boulevard Linden, Red Baron Crabapple, Patmore Green Ash. In addition to the cost of the tree, a donor can donate an inscribed marker for a tree. People who would like to contribute to the Heritage Garden in another way may choose to purchase stepping stones. Artist Kerry Dikken will design the personalized inscriptions for the tree markers and the rock steppers. Donors could have them engraved with inscriptions such as “In Honor of,” In Memory of,” or “In Celebration of.” Contributions of stepping stone and markers are a way of recognizing people who have been a part of and have contributed to the community for many years. The Heritage House, gardens and city park represent a lovely piece of long-term community in Woodbury. The Heritage Society says many residents are already contributing to this project. Board members stress the gardens are a work in progress. They hope you will be interested in joining them. For more information, please contact John Seemann at 651.738.3675 or email john9293@yahoo.com, or call Vonnie Stutzman at 651.730.1547. The Heritage House and gardens are maintained by the Woodbury Heritage Society. The Woodbury City Parks Commission helps to maintain the park area. The Heritage House and the gardens are open from 1 – 4 pm, the second and fourth Sundays of each month, June through September. Families, scout troops, and groups of children are invited to visit and learn about Woodbury’s history. The Woodbury Heritage Society meets once a month at Woodbury City Hall. All those who are interested in the heritage of Woodbury are invited to attend. The Heritage Society office at City Hall is open every Tuesday from 1 – 4 pm for people to come in and learn about their Woodbury heritage. Betsy Halden is a resident of Woodbury. University of Minnesota Extension Service and Iowa State University Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net |
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