A Short History​



The Irving Garden Club, formed in November 1934, is the oldest existing women’s club in Irving.  They originally met in member’s homes, but they were eager to have a designated meeting place.

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On January 7, 1949, the club began a building fund and a good will offering at the meeting yielded $24.00.  This was the beginning of the Garden and Arts Center building.

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By 1954 the Irving Garden Club realized they needed help to raise enough money for the Center, so they donated the property to the Irving Council of Garden Clubs, the monies they had raised, and a frame house, a gift to them from Mr. And Mrs. Bob Manlove. 

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The Irving Council of Garden Clubs consisted of several garden clubs — one of which was the Irving Garden Club — and several individuals, who were members of clubs that did not want to join the council.  This group soon realized that they would not be able to raise sufficient funds for the building of a Garden Center and in June 1956 they formed still another organization — The Irving Garden and Arts Center, whose purpose was to borrow money and oversee the building of the Center.

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Mrs. Bob Manlove organized the group and formed committees, and in April 1957 the first officers were elected.  Mrs. Robert Redding was the first president, and the first general meeting was held on December 12, 1957.

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With the dedication of the designers, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Roberts, and the builder, Mr. E. J. Curry, the building was completed and the formal opening was held on March 30, 1958. The Association sponsored art bazaars, flower shows, and received donations from many generous business houses and individuals to raise funds for the building.  Even after the facility was opened the organization worked to raise money to buy furnishings and for the upkeep of the center.

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The Irving Garden and Arts Association managed the facility until 1992, when the building and approximately one acre was donated to the City of Irving with the agreement that the current clubs would use the facility at no cost and be allowed to maintain an exclusive storage area.  During the period of management by the Association, a facility manager oversaw the rental and upkeep of the building.  Other organizations rented the property, but the Council groups used the facility at no cost and continue to do so.

Minutes and scrapbooks indicate that the Council of Garden Clubs dissolved sometime during the 1980’s, although the individual clubs continued to exist.

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In 1998 the Irving Garden and Arts Club and the Irving Garden Club, because of declining membership in both groups, combined their memberships and became the Irving Garden and Arts Club.

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Compiled by Mona Wyatt, with the help of Kevin Kendro, Assistant Archivist at the Irving Public Library.  Material came from club minutes and scrapbooks, which are housed in the Archives and are available to the public.

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Table Decorations by Members

Interior Arts Club Design: Table Decorations

Table Decorations by Hostesses - Executive Board