This past weekend the SCDAR held its Fall Forum. I had a new display on hand featuring the
story of the Osage Orange Tree and the DAR.
In all of the research I have conducted, this is my absolute favorite
story thus far. If you were at the 2018 SCDAR State Conference
Banquet celebrating the SCDAR’s 125th anniversary, then you heard
the story for yourself and received an osage orange tree seed. For those of you who didn’t, here is a brief
recap.
On the 12th anniversary of the NSDAR at the exact time the 18 women and others gathered to officially form the Daughters of the American Revolution, President General Cornelia Fairbanks and Founder Mary Lockwood stepped out from under the tent in a blinding rainstorm to break the ground where our beautiful Memorial Continental Hall would stand. Using what is now called the Montana Spade, the dirt was placed in a vase where 13 osage orange tree seeds were placed. After the ceremony, the pot containing the 13 seeds was taken to the United States Propagating Gardens where the seeds (as well as additional seeds for all of the 45 states of the Union) were nurtured into well developed plants.
Two years later, the cornerstone for Memorial Continental Hall was placed in a special ceremony. Later that evening, the seedlings were given to the State Regents of the 13 original colonies. Lockwood presented the trees explaining their purpose. Symbolically, the seeds from these trees once planted in the states were to be distributed among the chapters to typify the expansion of the principles of the struggle for American Independence, the growth of the society, and the perpetuation of the spirit of ’76.
As part of the program that night at our celebration of the 125th anniversary of the SCDAR, all who were in attendance received an osage orange tree seed with a brief explanation of its story. It still makes me emotional thinking about SCDAR’s past State Outstanding Juniors handing out the seeds to those in attendance including family members of our deceased state regents!
 |
| watercolor of MCH proposed by architect Edward Pearce Casey |
On the 12th anniversary of the NSDAR at the exact time the 18 women and others gathered to officially form the Daughters of the American Revolution, President General Cornelia Fairbanks and Founder Mary Lockwood stepped out from under the tent in a blinding rainstorm to break the ground where our beautiful Memorial Continental Hall would stand. Using what is now called the Montana Spade, the dirt was placed in a vase where 13 osage orange tree seeds were placed. After the ceremony, the pot containing the 13 seeds was taken to the United States Propagating Gardens where the seeds (as well as additional seeds for all of the 45 states of the Union) were nurtured into well developed plants.
 |
| Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for MCH on April 19, 1904 |
Two years later, the cornerstone for Memorial Continental Hall was placed in a special ceremony. Later that evening, the seedlings were given to the State Regents of the 13 original colonies. Lockwood presented the trees explaining their purpose. Symbolically, the seeds from these trees once planted in the states were to be distributed among the chapters to typify the expansion of the principles of the struggle for American Independence, the growth of the society, and the perpetuation of the spirit of ’76.
 |
| Article from The Washington Star 1904 Apr 22 which discusses the planing of the osage orange tree seeds |
As part of the program that night at our celebration of the 125th anniversary of the SCDAR, all who were in attendance received an osage orange tree seed with a brief explanation of its story. It still makes me emotional thinking about SCDAR’s past State Outstanding Juniors handing out the seeds to those in attendance including family members of our deceased state regents!
 |
| Sara viewing her grandmother's shadow box for the first time in the 125th Museum |
I still feel that there is much more to this story and
hope to keep discovering more and more about it which I will share with you.
I thought it most appropriate that the Ceremony of
Remembrance for Sara Aldrich Richardson be shared today since it was during her
regency that this event took place.
Sara
Aldrich Richardson
Mrs.
Henry Warren
State
Regent 1900-1906
#4853
The
Longest Serving State Regent
19 April 1846 – Barnwell, SC
11 Oct 1928 – Columbia, SC
aged 82
Black Swamp
Methodist Church Cemetery
Garnett, Hampton
County, SC
Sara Aldrich
Richardson was elected State Regent in 1900 and continued in office until
1906.Many important changes took place in the state organization during her
regime. Rotation of Conference was determined, and the first Conference outside
of Columbia was held in Spartanburg in 1904.At the last meeting in Columbia,
1903, a constitution and by-laws for the State Society was thoughtfully
discussed and adopted. It was here, also, that The State offered a page
in its Sunday issue for advancement and publicity of D AR work. This page in The
State became the medium of communication between the state officers and the
chapters until the administration of Grace Marshall 1936-39.
During the Charleston
Exposition,she organized and held DAR Day, successfully giving desired
publicity to the organization and arousing interest in its work.
She planted the DAR tree (the osage orange tree) on the State House grounds bringing together the soil of the National Society and the soil of the state of South Carolina, and established a DAR relic room on the third floor of the State House. She organized ten chapters. She was intensely interested in the erection of the Partisan Monument. As chairman, ex officio, of the Central Committee, she worked indefatigably for the project and passed on to her successor well laid plans and a sum in the bank.
 |
| invitation issued for DAR Day at the Charleston Exposition |
She planted the DAR tree (the osage orange tree) on the State House grounds bringing together the soil of the National Society and the soil of the state of South Carolina, and established a DAR relic room on the third floor of the State House. She organized ten chapters. She was intensely interested in the erection of the Partisan Monument. As chairman, ex officio, of the Central Committee, she worked indefatigably for the project and passed on to her successor well laid plans and a sum in the bank.
 |
| Partisan Monument |
Many honors came to her
in the National Society. She was a member of the committee to select the site for
Continental Hall and was one of the speakers at the elaborate ceremonies when
the first spade of dirt was turned. She was present at the laying of the corner
stone of our beautiful marble building. Her intellectual training and ability
made her a forceful speaker, which offered her numerous invitations to speak, and
her advice was often sought in public debate on important subjects before
Continental Congress.
I asked Sara Stork, Sara Richardson’s granddaughter
to conduct this Ceremony of Remembrance.
I can only imagine how special that was for her to be the one to honor
her loved one! Not only did our State
Regent at the time conduct a ceremony, family of one of our deceased State Regents
led one while at others family members attended. Members were still talking about how special
that day was this weekend. I am
extremely blessed to have been in charge of the 125th celebrations
for the SCDAR’s anniversary!
No comments:
Post a Comment