We had an exceptional meeting on Wednesday, September 20 in the Rochambeau House Garden. It was an honor to have Peggy Sharpe and her son Doug attend the meeting. We learned about Mary Elizabeth Sharpe, her collaboration with three remarkable women who were instrumental in developing Prospect Terrace: Helen Metcalf Danforth, Mary Elizabeth Evans Sharpe and Martha Buttrick Willson Day. These women were true trailblazers, it was fascinating to hear about their vision for Providence and its historic landscape in a different time.
Thank you to Becky More for giving us the context for the development of The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Park, her presentation can be found here. We also thank Nicole Wholean, University Curator, Registrar Brown Arts Initiative who spoke about Mary Elizabeth Sharpe - Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration.
In 2000 The Rochambeau House Garden was added to the Garden Club of America Archives of American Gardens, which is managed by Smithsonian Gardens. Peggy Sharpe and Helen Rollins (Liz Mauran's mother) were responsible for shepherding this project. As a side note, Mrs. Rollins was the driving force behind the creation of The Garden Club of America's Slide Library of Notable American Parks and Gardens which later became the core of The Garden Club of America Collection at the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens. In 2023, as the Zone II rep for Garden History and Design, our very own Hope Alswang wrote a detailed article about Mary Elizabeth Sharpe and the Rochambeau House Garden. I encourage you to read these articles.
We are lucky to have PP members who are knowledgeable about Mrs. Sharpe, her projects and her family. We can all be inspired! As a club, I think we should create a Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Day or yearly event in her honor. Food for thought. Please share any ideas!
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