The idea of a garden club in this area was conceived by Mrs. Arthur Brawner and Mrs. B.H. Human in the backyard of Dottie Brawner's home, as the two of them tended small children by the swings.

The area was old, yet new. There were a number of older homes on Lawther Drive and three or four on Fisher Road. There was no Branchfield Drive, West Bay Circle, Greencove Estates, or Cloisters. As a matter of fact, there were no houses to speak of from Abrams Road to White Rock Lake. Mockingbird Lane was almost a cow trail and the overpass was a wooden bridge over the railroad.

Several families had just finished new homes on Fisher Road and the women were asked to meet in the home of Mrs. Bernice Human to organize a garden club. The first meeting was held on September 2, 1953. Those present included: Mrs. Herbert Bailey, Mrs. Arthur Brawner, Mrs. Hermnan Boettcher, Mrs. Davy Carroll, Mrs. D. V. Carter, Mrs. Ray Hodgson, and Mrs. Bernice Human. Mrs. Jack Nadel was supposed to be present, but she decided to deliver a baby on that day   the youngster was named Carlton Nadel. Also present were Mrs. John Salois and Mrs. Howard Hackney, well known garden clubbers in the Dallas area, who came to help with organization.

It was decided that the name of the club would be Shore Acres Garden Club, taken from the name of the immediate area bounded by Mockingbird Lane, Lawther Drive and the railroad track. The original purpose of the club was to gain knowledge about what to do with the acres of weeds and Johnson grass most of the new homes possessed. Of course, since that year most of us have put our own houses in respectable shape and have gone on to help beautify other surroundings as well.

The club had twenty charter members. Although the records for that first year are not available, we do know that the membership of the second year lists most of those original members. They were: Mrs. H. A. Bailey, Mrs. Herman Boettcher, Mrs. Arthur Brawner, Mrs. Davy Carroll, Mrs. D. V. Carter, Mrs. Alto B. Cervin, Mrs. Nelson Dunn, Mrs. T. H. Esslinger, Mrs. James Gill, Mrs. Ray Hodgson, Mrs. B. H. Human, Mrs. A. A. Jackson III, Mrs. James Lowdon, Mrs. L. J. Massingill, Mrs. Fred Merrill, Mrs. George Miller, Mrs. Jack Nadel, Mrs. Ekbert Norton, Mrs. A. P. Van Winkle, and Mrs. John Ralph Wood.

From its inception, the garden club has had a meeting each year in which our husbands participated. They have enjoyed knowing their neighbors as much as the wives have enjoyed working in the club. Much more than just gardening know how, the club has served to make neighborhood friendships that would otherwise not exist.

Over the years, the club has grown in response to the tremendous development of the White Rock area. Today, the focus of the club continues to be involvement in projects affecting the beautification of our surroundings. Although many members have come and gone, all present and past members will agree   Shore Acres at White Rock Lake is a very special place in the heart of Dallas, Texas.