GREENVILLE – Anchoring a new garden space with a brick patio and steel benches is the “Annie’s Garden” rock. The peaceful space created by the Annie Oakley Center Foundation (AOCF) is just outside of the National Annie Oakley Center at Garst Museum and faces Broadway in Greenville.
The garden’s name was carved into the rock for Annie Oakley, a famous Darke countian who left a remarkable legacy, and was placed by Mike Wise of Lasting Legacy Memorials.
The AOCF began the work with the installation of a patio with bricks reclaimed from old sidewalks that once lined Broadway and laid by Mike Fenstermaker. Adding year-round color to the garden are two window murals of colorized Annie Oakley photos installed by Wintrow Signs. Steel benches were added, and early this spring, volunteers began planting.
Lee Ann McAlpine, Garst board member and neighbor to Garst, and Mike Ross, board member for Garst and the AOCF, spent hours planting hostas, trees, and bushes. AOCF board member Bonnie Perry joined them in planting purple petunias and other flowers.
On US 127, Star Greenhouses has maintained the historical marker site of Annie Oakley’s childhood home over the years with new landscaping and signage provided by the AOCF. This site, where the home once stood across from their business, is significant because Annie paid off her mother’s mortgage on the house with her earnings.
Paula Rutschilling, a neighbor near Annie’s birthplace home, graciously plants flowers yearly where Annie’s birthplace historic marker stands in Willowdell. Of course, many are purple, which was Annie’s favorite color, and brighten the space like the star that Annie was. She has been assisted with mulch donated by Nick and Jessica Groff.
The AOCF is grateful to the many donors and volunteers who keep these Annie sites looking so attractive for the community and visitors.
