MILTON-FREEWATER — The annual Milton-Freewater Garden Club Plant Sale will be Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1418 Chestnut St.

Members use this fundraiser, which includes a yard sale, to support their many projects to beautify the community.

The Milton-Freewater Garden Club, originally called Freewater Garden Club, was organized on April 21, 1936. The first National Civic Achievement Award the club received was for taking a 5.5-acre dump ground next to the (then) Federated Church and turning it into a city park (now the skate park).

The second award was for rebuilding the old Apple Show Building into the Community Building. The three-year project cost $26,000 and was supported by fundraisers and donations, except for $4,000 borrowed from the building loan on a five-year basis, but was paid off in three years.

The Freewater Natatorium had been allowed to deteriorate, so the busy club set a goal to renovate the building. This they did with 180 boys and girls taking free swimming lessons the first year from an instructor hired by the club.

When the city of Freewater and the city of Milton consolidated in 1950, the Freewater Garden Club presented to the newly formed city the Federated Park, the swimming pool, and the Community Building entirely free of debt.

In 1964 and 1971, the club won the Sears Award for Civic Improvement for their work on Yantis Park.

Continued club projects include planting trees within the city, the Blue Star Marker and the Patriotic Tree in Orchard Park, the Freedom Tree in front of city hall, dogwood trees in front of the Milton-Freewater Community Building, beautifying the ground at the Junior Show Grounds, planting and maintaining the Memorial Garden of deceased members at the Blue Star Marker, and “Yard of the Month.”

The M-F Garden Club also donated the large stainless steel refrigerator, along with other articles for the community building.