A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

uildings was constructed in 1913. In 1958 Clovernook Home and School for the Blind was incorporated.The emphasis then and now has been on employment. Clovernook is known for its fine weaving and isthe world’s largest Braille printing house. Cary Cottage is on the National Register of Historic Places.A story about the Cary’s is recounted in Howe’s Historical Collections of Ohio (1888). “The CaryHomestead, ‘the old gray farm-house,’ is still standing, in a thick grove about 100 feet back from theroad, on Hamilton pike, just beyond the beautiful suburb of College Hill...The (Cary) sisters were born ina humble house of logs and boards on a site about a hundred yards north of it...The most interesting singleobject in this region is what is known as ‘the Cary tree.’ It is the large and beautiful sycamore tree on theroad between College Hill and Mount Pleasant. The history of this tree is very interesting, as given by Dr.John B. Peaslee, ex-superintendent of Cincinnati public schools.In 1832, when Alice was twelve years old and Phoebe only eight, on returning home from schoolone day they found a small tree, which a farmer had grubbed up and thrown in the road. One of thempicked it up and said to the other: ‘Let us plant it.’ As soon as said these happy children ran to theopposite side of the road and with sticks - for they had no other implement - they dug out the earth, and inthe hole they made they placed the treelet; around it with their tiny hands, they drew the loosened moldand pressed it down with their little feet. With what interest they hastened to it on their way to and fromschool to see if it were growing; and how they clapped their little hands for joy when they saw the budsstart and the leaves begin to grow!...They planted and cared for it in youth; they loved it in age.”The rural nature of College Hill in these early times made agricultural self-sufficiency a necessity. Itis not surprising that many area residents were active in the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, founded in1843 for the purpose of exchanging information on cultivation of ornamental and edible fruits, vegetables,flowers, trees and shrubs.Among the 1859 membership role is found: F. G. Cary (past president and secretary for the Society);A. C. Badgely, Isaac Betts, Charles Betts, Smith Betts, several members of the Caldwell family, Wm.Cary, S. F. Cary, J. C. & W. J. Ferris, R. M. Bishop, J. W. & J. H. Gerrard, Benjamin & CharlesHarbison, J. W. Haseltine, H. H. & H. R. Stout, John Waggoner, J. P. Tweed, Isaac N. & J. W.Labouteaux, D. McAvoy, Dr. J. A. Warder, Mrs. Maxwell, numerous members of the Neff family, D. B.,C. E. & J. P. Pierson, Peter & Sandy Thomson, Charles Weatherby, John Rankin - as well as H. Probasco,Wm. Procter, J. Shillito and Nicholas Longworth.The Carys grew grapes, cherries, peaches and strawberries. Mrs. McAvoy grew “McAvoy’s SuperiorStrawberry.” Col. Charles C. Harbison, of “Rose Hill” presented a paper on dogwoods. Mrs. F. G. Carywas known for her different flower varieties and fruits. The Hammitts grew both flowers and hadorchards.Bulbs, seeds, flowers, and saplings were collected by members throughout their trips to other areasof the country and through plant exchanges would see what varieties would grow best in the Ohio valley.“Nowhere in this Union can there be found a richer supply of all standard fruits than around Cincinnati,”proclaimed a 1845 paper.Of interest are the many types of apples grown by Society members. One, the Broadwell apple, camefrom a seedling obtained by Jacob Broadwell in the 1790’s from the collection of one hundred differentseedling apple trees raised by Israel Ludlow. Of Ludlow’s hundred, only this type grew well. Ludlow’sorchards were frequently visited by John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) who was his good friend.F. G. Cary wrote to the Society in June 1858 of his trip down the Ohio River to New Orleans and thechange in the growing season and floral types he observed. Concerning fruits he said, “You are ready toask, what think you of Southern fruits - Oranges, Pineapples, Bananas, etc? My verdict is against them, ifthey are to be brought into comparison with ours. Give me only the Peach, Pear and Apple, as cultivatedwith us, and you might have them all.”The Society left an unusual legacy to Cincinnati. In 1845 a site for a neighborhood cemetery wassought. The Horticultural Society selected what they named Spring Grove and purchased the Gerrardfarm (160 acres) from Josiah Lawrence for $10,500. The State legislature incorporated the Society andgave it the power to dedicate a Rural Cemetery...for the erection of tombs, cenotaphs and othermonuments; to lay out the grounds in suitable lots and to plant and embellish the same with shrubbery.31