This article was written by Suzanne Sickler Ohl, an early member of the Tyrone Area Historical Society.  It was first published in September 1992.

            Eagle Scout Randy Irvin and Scouts from Troop 20 are proving what long-time Tyrone residents have always known:  “Tyrone is a community of concerned and caring people.”  They are doing this by helping in the First Phase of the development of Railroad Park at the southern end of Pennsylvania Avenue near where the Pennsylvania Railroad Station was once located.

            These Scouts are following in the footsteps of an earlier organization, the Tyrone Garden Club.  Like them, the Scouts wanted to do something to help improve the appearance of a town they loved.  The Club members, like the Scouts, took the initiative to raise funds, secure volunteers and donations, and become involved in doing the work.

            The Tyrone Garden Club was organized on April 10, 1929 with a membership of eighty-five charter members.  Their aim was “the beautification of homes, the promotion of an individual interest in gardening, and civic improvement.”  Those early organizers were active in planning activities that were a benefit to a large number of people in Tyrone.  Many of the projects were similar to those being discussed and executed for Tyrone today.

            On April 7, 1930 the Rainbow Garden Club was organized for young people, ages ten to eighteen.  They were taught flower appreciation and arrangement and the proper raising of flowers.  On a donated plot of ground twenty small gardens were made.  Later the Pennsylvania Railroad donated additional ground for their use.  Adults from the parent club provided leadership and encouragement.

            The activities of the Garden Club were numerous and varied.  They included outdoor projects to beautify Tyrone as well as projects which provided work for the unemployed during the depression years of the early 1930s.  In addition they undertook many fund-raisers such as style shows, flower shows, garden parties and mock weddings, apple blossom festivals, and baby contests.  Many Tyroners remember these activities since the entire community participated in them as social and recreational events.  In 1932, as one of their earliest projects, they planted iris, Tyrone’s chosen flower, at all entrances to Tyrone.

            Important in all beautification projects was making improvements to buildings and land sites.  An early example was the improvements made to the appearance of the YMCA and its recreational facilities.  The Club held their flower shows in the Y’s large gymnasium.  At the 10^th Street entrance to Tyrone a Travelers’ Rest Park was built by the unemployed with money donated by interested townspeople.  The park contained picnic tables, benches, and restrooms.

            The land between the PRR station and the Juniata River (now the IGA parking lot, long an eyesore, was transformed into Garden Park.  Created on this site was a lovely sunken garden, log cabin, bird baths, and flagstone walks.  Brass name plates were installed at Garden Park and Logan Spring.

            Logan Spring (on Washington Avenue across from Epworth Manor), long a tourist attraction with its large trout and near the former camping ground of Chief Logan, was cleaned out, cement steps built, and Japanese cherry trees and colorful perennial plants were planted.  Tyrone lost a real treasure when the Spring was filled in with dirt in 1960.  This is another reason for being alert today to Tyrone’s efforts to preserve its historical past.

            Like with many of the other projects, the unemployed men of Tyrone were hired by the Garden Club to construct tables and stoves and improve the picnic area at Reservoir Park.  Also completed was the Memorial Plot at the corner of 10^th Street and Washington Avenue.  The brass plaque giving the names of the men who served in the armed forces in World War I had been dedicated on November 11, 1920 but the surrounding ground was never beautified nor given proper care.

            Tyroners then as now were interested in improving the entrances intoTyrone.  Sixty Japanese flowering cherry trees were planted at the four approaches to town – at the Paper Mill Curve, West 15^th Street and Janesville Pike, East 10^th Street at Tourist Park, and Washington Avenue towards Grazierville – and several on the plot of ground at the Moose Lodge on Logan Avenue.  Those by the Moose remain to be enjoyed today.

            In the March 17, 1936 flood many of the Garden Club’s outstanding beautification projects were damaged or demolished.  The members rallied by placing concrete benches on Jefferson Avenue leading to Grandview Cemetery and planting flowering shrubs on both sides of the road there.  It would be interesting to learn what happened to those benches and shrubs.

            Soldier Park at 14^th Street and Lincoln Avenue had been run-down for years.  In the early 1940s the Borough gave the plot of ground to the Garden Club and they turned it into a scenic memorial spot.  Families of servicemen in World War II assisted with the work and also planted roses, trees, shrubs, and perennials in honor of their loved ones.  A gravel walkway and a drinking fountain added to the beauty and usefulness of the Park.

            In 1947 the Garden Club arranged and moved the Memorial stone from 10^th Street and Washington Avenue to Soldier Park.  On Armistice Day 1947 the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars held a service to dedicate the Park to the boys and men from Tyrone who had given their lives for their country.  It continues to be the site of all military observances in Tyrone.

            The Tyrone Garden Club was disbanded in the late 1950s.  Occasionally residents will recall memories related to the Club’s early projects and the town continues to benefit from the few that still remain.  There was a group of prominent civic minded people responsible for originating these projects and inspiring others to get involved.  Like today many of those people were involved in other Tyrone organizations but still found the time to give of themselves to be of help to Tyrone and her residents.  Could it be that the Tyroners of today – including the Scouts and Randy Irvin – share that same spirit and feeling that motivated Tyroners back in the 1930s to 1950s to get involved!  With everyone’s help the development of Railroad Park can become a reality rather than just a dream on paper.  What a fine gift that would be for the Tyroners of the 2000s.  [NOTE:  the Railroad Park has been developed, and is now the home of the Historical Society’s Museum.]