Horticultural Hall – a Lake Geneva institution

Weddings

AND SO MUCH MORE

Horticultural Hall has rich history as a place to celebrate

by Sandra Landen Machaj

CORRESPONDENT

For those walking along Broad Street in downtown Lake Geneva, it’s difficult to miss the distinct arts and crafts style building known as Horticultural Hall.

This uniquely styled building was designed by the architectural firm of Spencer and Powers who had also designed the Lake Geneva Country Club.

While the construction of Horticultural Hall actually took place in 1911, the history that led to its construction began as early as 1887, with the formation of the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association. The association was comprised of residents with estates along the shore of Geneva Lake who donated money for the support of Holiday Home Camp. This camp provided a fresh air experience for underprivileged children from Chicago.

In addition to their donations, these summer residents with the help of their gardeners and landscapers, would hold summer fairs on the estates. Fruits and vegetables would be auctioned at high prices for the benefit of the Holiday Home Camp. One report written by Mrs. Edward Petersen about the history of Horticultural Hall stated that a watermelon sold for $100 while a bunch of grapes sold for $75 – a very large sum at the time.

Gardeners unite

With the growing number of summer cottages – actually mansions built on large estates on the shores of Geneva Lake – the wealthy owners hired professional gardeners to plant and care for the horticulture on these large properties. So many gardeners were hired in the area, that by the early 1900s they organized in a group known as the Gardeners and Foremen’s Association. They would hold flower shows and exhibits along with the fairs on the estates of Levi Leiter and Herbert Moore to showcase their talents and skills.

While the area generally had good weather for these shows and fairs, it became obvious that they needed a place to meet that would not be dependent on weather and where they could hold meetings year-round. Simeon Chapin who had a summer home on Geneva Lake, along with additional summer residents formed the Lake Geneva Horticultural Society.

Under the direction of Chapin, 100

The courtyard at Horticultural Hall provides a lush setting for a summer wedding. With Horticultural Hall built to surround the courtyard, it protects the space from the outside noise and traffic of busy Lake Geneva in the summer.

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shares of stock were issued and sold with a $100 par value to raise funds to build a home for the new Lake Geneva Horticultural Society. An additional 100 shares were later authorized and sold to cover the cost of the building. The shares did not offer any dividends or increase in value.

The purpose of the organization, according to the founders, would be “encouragement and promotion of the practice of horticulture in all its branches and the fostering of an increased love of it among people.”

Chapin had purchased and donated the land at 330 Broad Street to the Lake Geneva Horticultural Society for the building of a home for the Society. The structure was built on that space and remains the home of the Horticultural Society today. The building was completed and dedicated on June 15, 1912.

Unique in design

The building was a unique structure with the great hall emulating an English Guild Hall with high-beamed ceilings and a parquet floor. Robert Malasch and his two sons are credited with building Horticultural Hall at a cost of $3,500. The building was built around a large grassy courtyard and enclosed to maintain privacy by arcades. In one of the arcades a number of the original stalls for their farmer’s markets lined the way.

“These original stalls are still in place here in the arcade,” said Beth Gallagher, Director of Horticultural Hall. ”Farmers markets continue to be held at Horticultural Hall on Thursdays, in the summer from May to October.”

In 1915 a garden club was organized under the direction of Mrs. Charles Hutchinson. Charles Hutchinson was the president of the Art Institute of Chicago and the owner of a summer home on Geneva Lake known as Wychwood. Because of their love of flowers, Wychwood became known for its beautiful floral displays. The Lake Geneva Garden Club supported Horticultural Hall and was responsible for elegant flower shows held regularly at the Hall, which continued until 1990.

Horticultural Hall was used for a variety of local events, earning enough money for upkeep of the building but just barely. When the donations from the original stockholders also decreased due to the depression, the building began to fall into disrepair.

By 1947, many of the original stockholders had moved away from the area. Shares of the original stock had been mislaid by the owner, some certificates long forgotten, or had become owned by estates. By the 1940s it became increasingly

from top: Pots of flowers are among the items offered at the weekly Farmers Market hosted by Horticultural Hall. The market is held from weekly from May through October; The inner garden at Horticultural Hall is set up for a wedding. The garden is a popular spot for couples to say “I do.”

difficult to obtain a quorum of stockholders necessary to conduct the business that would affect the future of Horticultural Hall.

A new direction

The Lake Geneva Garden Club had adopted Horticultural Hall and held flower shows, luncheons, and lectures at the hall for many years. In the late 1940s, there was an attempt to sell Horticultural Hall to the city, as it was becoming more difficult each year to raise enough money to pay taxes and make the repairs necessary to the building.

The city was considering purchasing Horticultural Hall for $17,000 and converting it into a bus station. With the help of the Lake Geneva Garden Club, the plan was defeated.

William Spencer, who was the treasurer of the Horticultural Society, traced down the outstanding shares of stocks and worked with their owners to either sell them or release them so that a not-for-profit foundation could be formed. On April 26, 1952, the Geneva Area Foundation took title to the Hall from the Lake Geneva Horticultural Society.

“Today Horticultural Hall is owned by the Geneva Area Foundation, a 501(C3) corporation. This not-for-profit foundation oversees Horticultural Hall,” said Gallagher. “Profits from any rentals for activities such as weddings are not paid out to anyone. Any such profits go back into repairing and updating the facility. Recent works have included upgrading lighting and fire warning alert system.”

They are currently replacing the floor in the hall and as it was originally, the new hall will be a parquet floor.

Horticultural Hall is not only known for its unique building but for the beautiful gardens that surround it. Much of the work

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is provided by volunteers who turn the grounds into a cavalcade of color.

Over the years, the flower shows produced by the Lake Geneva Garden Club attracted area residents and visitors to Horticultural Hall. While they no longer hold flower shows, the Farmer’s Market attracts large crowds who come to purchase fresh locally grown vegetables and flowers along with homemade crafts.

“Our Farmer’s Market does not allow reselling of items. Everything is either grown nearby or made nearby. Many unique crafts can be enjoyed and there are always beautiful flowers for sale,” said Gallagher.

Weddings at the hall

Weddings at horticultural Hall remain popular. They provide the hall and tables and chairs for the event. The bridal party chooses their own caterer or can even prepare their own food in the commercial kitchen. The couple can decorate in their own décor patterns or themes.

“Weddings are held from June to September, on Friday and Saturday nights with occasional Sunday weddings,” added Gallagher. “The room will hold up to 160 guests depending on the way it is arranged. The private garden is a beautiful site for the wedding ceremony.”

Baby and wedding showers, unicameral, family reunions, and anniversaries, business dinners, along with community and nonprofit events are also held at the hall. School proms were often held here in the early days. Horticultural Hall was honored by a listing on the National register of Historic places in 1999.

The facility’s mission statement is: “Preserving the architecture, history and beauty of Horticultural Hall for generations to come, while remaining a vibrant community gathering place.”

For more information about Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva, call 262-248-4382, e-mail at director@horticulturalhall.com or visit www.horticulturalhall.com.

from top: From the outside, Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva, looks much the same as it did in 1912. Later in the summer green ivy will be seen climbing the building; The stately main hall is decked out for a wedding. Horticultural Hall hosts weddings from June to September and remains popular for its distinct architecture and impressive grounds.