'A sense of pride': 70 years of Burrellton Garden Club's contributions to communal gardens

When eight women met Jan. 26, 1955, at June Southern’s home in what was then Lower Burrell Township, they determined their new garden club would try to improve their own yards and the community.

And generations later, the Burrellton Garden Club continues to carry on that mission.

The Lower Burrell-based garden club is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

“We always try to keep Lower Burrell beautiful,” said Burrellton Vice President Rosalie Kupec of Allegheny Township.

The club is probably best known for planting and maintaining community gardens throughout the city — at Burrell Lake Park, outside City Hall, the Route 56-Leechburg Road triangle, Braeview Heights Park and the war memorial outside the Stewart Elementary School building.

“It’s a sense of pride when you drive through your city and see the gardens you’ve worked on,” said Desirée Chronick, club secretary.

The club gets a lot of compliments on the war memorial it takes care of outside the Stewart building, said Jill Kunkle of New Kensington, a member since the 1980s.

Another one of the gardens is a pink “breast cancer” garden at the Route 56-Leechburg Road triangle.

“When I’m out weeding at the breast cancer garden, people stop all the time and say, ‘Thank you for doing that. We appreciate it. Thanks for making our community nice,’ ” said Leeanna Ryba of Lower Burrell. “It feels good when they say that.”

The club is also known for its annual “May Mart” plant sale and planting a tree in the city each Arbor Day.

While community beautification efforts have remained the same over seven decades, the club has evolved in other ways.

In February 1957, the club joined the Garden Club Federation, Ryba said, and has remained a member since.

The following month, members unanimously voted on the name “Burrellton Garden Club” over two other options: “Glade” and “Little Suburban.”

The club held its first flower show, “Around the World,” in September 1957.

At that time, the club had a point system where it would award points to members in order to remain in good standing with the club, Ryba said. Members earned points on meeting attendance, attending Penn State courses, bringing in arrangements and entering the flower show.

“It wasn’t easy to be in the Burrellton Garden Club,” Ryba said. “They were stringent.”

Now, the only requirement to join is to attend three club meetings.

In the 1960s, members would go to Torrance State Hospital to do garden therapy with patients there, Ryba said.

Other activities included decorating contests in the community and candle making.

“The projects change as the community needs change,” Ryba said.

Ryba and Kunkle recalled one memorable flower show in the 1990s or 2000s based off TV soap operas.

“Jill’s mom got pieces of furniture TVs, and each category was a different soap opera,” Ryba said.

Kunkle’s mother, Nita Landis, was Burrellton’s vice president in 1960 and encouraged Kunkle to join. Ryba’s mother, Mildred Schorr, was also a member of the club.

Family connections remain today: Chronick is the daughter of club historian Sissy Anderson. Anderson’s cousin, Ginny Spisak, is a member; Nancy Baker and Maggie Davis are sisters.

Anderson, a four-year member, said she’s proud of the impact Burrellton has made on the community and noted its many accomplishments: Ryba was the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania’s president from 2023 to this year.

“If we didn’t do it, the buildings wouldn’t be inviting,” Anderson said. “We want the city to look inviting and welcoming. We want everyone to feel like, ‘Hey, I want to live here.’ ”

President Cathy Rezak thinks the club’s fellowship has contributed to its longevity.

“The people love each other,” Rezak said. “We all learn from each other.”