Garrard Landing Park

Garrard Landing Park. . , This river front park land was enabled by the Garrard's and Ellard's. T.H. Ellard bought this land back in the early 1920's. He died a few years later, and his wife, Mary Pearl Ellard, kept approximately 400 acres and farmed it with the help of Mr. Laurence C. Garrard. Mr. Garrard married Mrs. Ellard's daughter, Lelia Belle, and, with mule and plow, cultivated the land. In 1951, the Garrard's son was born, and Mr. Garrard went to work at Lockheed. So during the day he worked at Lockheed and nights and weekends he did the farm chores. His son Larry grew up with the farmer's values and love of the land. Together they maintained the over 120 acres of fescue pastures, harvesting hay every summer and feeding it back to the cows every winter. Mr. and Mrs. Garrard lived until 1991 and 1992 respectively, when they both died exactly six-months apart from each other. During all of this time, Mr. and Mrs. Garrard never accepted an offer to sell the farm. Real estate broker after real estate broker would try, but they always said, "No, this is our home, I will not have it paved and developed; it is too precious to cover up with concrete and asphalt." This tradition continued with their son Larry. Thanks to Larry Garrard and his family, son Gregory, daughter Lori, and wife Susan; this land is now preserved as Garrard Landing.