The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-03
Ante-ReIrnm Gardens.

Ante-BelFum Gardens,
 The following is the first of series gardens. contributed by a prominent member of the Montgomery Flower growrs' Association. which will appear from time to time in this column.
 No word painting of mine can plot ure the ante-bellum gardens as they are stamped on memory's page. The first shall write of Is that of Doctor and Mrs. Samuel Holt, on account of its exceeding loviiiness. and because of its location near the Alabama River, then the only commercial portal to che
 It must be remembered that the time when this garden grew into beauty, was long before the West Point Road had reached its depot. now the Western shops. The spot chosen was on Lee street. I see look of wonder. Yes! but not the Lee street of today, with its busy marts trying to rival Commerce.. but the old Lee street of the thirties and forttes. Then 1t was the fashion able West End of the new town. And here comes the query, which some of the oldest citizens must answer. Was 1t always named Lee street, and for
 When this ante-bellum garden was planned. and the centre piece, the Ce- dars. planted, one great general had his golden spurs in the far West. Could 1t have been named for MT. H. P. Lee. one of our oldest and most honored ci- tizens? No other three blocks. not ex- cepting proud Perry, had as many rep resentatives of what Henry Grady call ed the Cavalier stock, and If am only | to give the roll call. 1t will bring up lowed memories. None now answers present, for all have slept in Oakwood Cemetery for many, many years. The block was then, as now, given fA hA lfyA~ haVa NkxAN the only residence, that of the well re- membered MT. Dick Owea, its hospit- | able gates were ever open to the stran- ger. and his steed. especially if they the northwestern corner of Montgomery and Lee streets, stood for several years the brick frame of an unfinished church. to the warehouse. with its fieecy staple of the earth. earthly. I never knew.
 Next to the church lived Mir. and Mrs Ebert Holt. No olive branches grew couple stood in loco parentis to hosts Freeman home (known now as the
 lite, aS Dsoa The os tEst gsT ,. loving and simple in their ways that they were known to all as Auntie and Uncle Freeman.
 Mcwhorter's. His was the typical | house of the village doctor, of1ce ana residence. combined. No impatient night caller would have to brave tho l fierce watch dog, for the doctors home | was on the sidewalk limits.
 Next came our home, the ante-be1- lum garden of which we will soon tell. Crossing Tallapoosa street lived Col. onel and Mrs. Joseph winter, from | whom are descended 50 many fair wo. men. who in their later days
 Have lit with smiles the hall
 And cheered with songs the hearth" | The last two residences were the homes of Dr. Thomas Taylor and Dr. James Taylor, both South Carolinians. b1ooS %hoss b. vHins an Ta.s s%or the youngest son of Governor Taylor whose father before him had been Gov ernor. Indeed. the family could boast sion, but what laymen prize more, the Gubernatorial succession.
 Crossing to the eastern side came MT Frank Gilmer's residence He was the President of the Louisville and Nash vile Railroad. Most lordly were his city domains. Gtlmer's warehouse reached from Tallapoosa street to the rlver front
 General Carroll. with his bachelor quarters. dwelt next I remember him as the lonely old man with his dogs I among the city fathers. Crossing Ribb street again. we are at Col. Jack Thor | ington's, the last of three brothers ! the early days of Montgomery were sy- anonymous of legal strength
 | Adjoining Colonel Thorington's was 1 the Dickerson home. and how many joy ous memories that name recalls. The companions of many romplng hour daughters weer my classmates, and the companions of many romping hours The large house on the corner, and it | stands there still, was the home of Col | Tom Williams. SO long the nestor ot | Montgomery's bar.
 Beside these residences. with their l gardens of hedges, 'crape myrtle and | fragrant cape jessamlh-. old Lee street could boast of being the most popular boulevard. It lea directly to ] the bluffs of the Alabama To those old bluffs strolled the chronic dyEpeptlc; they were the resort of the school girl. the trysting place of the lovers l have dwelt some time on the environments
 of my theme, but environments are like the golden setting to the jewel It could not be handled otherwise.
 And so 1t Is with this ante-bellum J ~-rAAn- Had merely cold its beau