Tree-filled rolling hills in northern Vanderburgh County provided the groundwork for the McCutchanville Garden Club. Since 1950, members have charged themselves with maintaining the unincorporated community’s green spaces — “things you wouldn’t notice unless they look nice,” says president Martha Schriver.
The club is more than digging in the dirt for Margaret Miller, who moved to the North Side in 1976 and joined the club the following year to find a sense of community. “It was a place to connect with friends,” Miller says. “The projects we do have been so worthwhile. We had a dogwood sale (in the 1980s), and many of those trees are in the neighborhoods as a result.”
Members have installed daffodils at the corner of Hillsdale and Browning roads and contributed to tree planting and adding a Little Free Library at the park on Petersburg Road. The club organizes trash pickups and hosts monthly luncheons with speakers. September’s meeting celebrates the 50-member club’s anniversary. “It’s a thank you for all the work our members do. It’s remarkable that the club still exists,” Miller says.
Funding comes from donations and an annual auction that primarily features members’ baked goods. The club also sends letters asking the community for feedback on future projects. “I marvel at how the club has evolved from a rather formal group to the enthusiastic volunteer organization it is today,” Schriver says. “I love Evansville because it feels like you can put your arms around a project and make it happen.”
