Volunteers

The Historic Interpretation of the Gardens and Grounds at Centre Furnace.

The Beginnings. While improving the visual and structural condition of the Centre Furnace Mansion was the major emphasis back in 1983-84 when the Centre County Historical Society took on the restoration of this historic site, plans for the recovery and interpretation of the gardens and grounds were underway as well.

Early Visionaries.

The Gruver Family - Norma Lee, Bob, and Lee led the way in their vision for the importance of including the gardens and grounds as part of the interpretation effort. In addition to their interest in and knowledge of plants, Bob and Lee established a matching memorial fund in the name of Norma Lee, as a tribute to her and to help fulfill her dream of a successful preservation of Centre Furnace and its grounds. Many friends of Norma Lee's and of Centre Furnace have continued to contribute to this fund over the years in an ongoing effort to maintain and enhance the gardens and grounds, and to carry out her dream.

Everett McLaughlin maintained the grounds for so many years (along with shepherding so many other aspects of the mansion operation), and with his family gave a gift of the gazebo, in honor and memory of Lois McLaughlin.

Louise Goldschmidt, reflecting on the writings of Andrew Jackson Downing, America's first landscape gardener, drew up the plans that initially launched the garden interpretations.

Jim Deeslie lent his landscape architect eye and talents to provide direction on the development of paths, driveways, and a parking area that would be sympathetic to a historic site.

John Ziegler saw the important need and took on the responsibility of improving the neglected space along the west side of the mansion. He developed a planting area between the upper and lower entrance doors and created a welcoming ivy bed.

Richard Pencek, individually and with help from his American Studies and Integrative Arts students, has consistently provided vision, guidance, and people-power in the enhancement of the Centre Furnace site.

Marian Jones laid out, planted, weeded, and tended the area to the east of the mansion for a decade, known as the Marian B. Jones Garden.

Barbara Miller shared her knowledge of garden history and literature to help establish the Historical Society's library and aid in the selection of plant choices.

Margery Johnstone not only "tamed" and oversaw the gardens and their development at Centre Furnace for several years, but with careful and thoughtful follow through, recorded their development to provide an historic record.

Rae D. Chambers was a gardener and rosarian, editor and writer, graphic designer and botanical illustrator. Rae played a major role in the development of gardens at Centre Furnace. Along with Margery Johnstone, Rae researched, planned, and laid out the large upper garden.

Rae selected old roses in keeping with those used by past residents and then drew upon her expertise and artistry to create the CCHS publication, "Twenty-one Roses in Mary Irvin Thompson's Garden". And she was instrumental in several other Historical Society publications including: a reprint of Centre County's first book published (in 1851), "The Fruit Growers Handbook", by William G. Waring, a horticulturalist and first superintendent of what would become Penn State University; and "Root, Leaf, Bud and Berry: A Collection of Plants from Central Pennsylvania", an illustrated guide Rae developed with plantsman, Dr. Harrison Arnold, that included her botanical illustrations of plants native to the area's woods and fields. Rae's excellent garden book collection is now in the Centre County Historical Society library.

Botanical illustrations throughout this website were created by Rae Chambers and are identified with "rae". A London Plane Tree, added to the grounds in 2004, was given as a memorial gift by members of the State College Borough Tree Commission to honor Rae's many contributions to the community.