Plainfield in Union County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Plainfield Garden Club

Women’s Heritage Trail

— Shakespeare Garden —

Plainfield Garden Club Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

1. Plainfield Garden Club Marker

Inscription. The Shakespeare Garden is located in Cedar Brook Park, one of Union County’s systems of public parks and recreation spaces. Now more than 75 years old, it is still cared for by the Plainfield Garden Club, historically a volunteer women’s organization. It is one of the many successful projects by the garden club, which was founded in 1915. Its members were interested in beautifying the natural and horticultural landscape through the planting of groves, gardens and shade trees, and advocating for the elimination of blight, the removal of billboards, and the conservation of natural habitats. At the time of its inception in 1927, the idea of a Shakespeare Garden was relatively new, although today there are many well-known examples, including those at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the Huntington Library in Pasadena, Central Park in New York City and Vassar College. The idea was to recreate the historical feel of the English garden during Shakespeare’s time, using the actual flowers and plants mentioned in the Bard’s works.

“The small garden of Shakespeare’s day, which we so loving call by his name, was a little pleasure

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garden-a garden to stroll in and to sit in…intended to supply flowers for ‘nosegays’ and herbs for ‘strewings.’” Shakespeare Garden by Esther Singleton, Journal of the International Garden Club, Vol. III, December 1919, No. 4

(Inscriptions in the boxes on the left) (Top box)
The Plainfield Garden Club, a women’s organization, is on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail because of the significant contributions of women’s volunteer organizations in New Jersey. They fostered a strength of purpose that has been an inspiration and motivation for conservation activism in America and around the world.

(Bottom box)< r> The New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail highlights a collection of historic sites located around the state that represent the significant contributions women made to the history of our state. The Heritage Trail brings to life the vital role of women in New Jersey’s past and present.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Horticulture & Forestry • Women. In addition, it is included in the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1919.

Location. 40° 36.337′ N,

Shakespeare Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

2. Shakespeare Garden

74° 24.701′ W. Marker is in Plainfield, New Jersey, in Union County. It is on F.S. Mathewson Dr. close to Randolph Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Plainfield NJ 07060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Drake House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Drake House Flag Pole (approx. 1.2 miles away); Quaker Meeting House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Black Revolutionary War Hero Caesar (approx. 1.2 miles away); Police Athletic League Memorial Field (approx. 1.2 miles away); “Terry Well” (approx. 1½ miles away); World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Memorial

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

3. Shakespeare Garden

(approx. 1.6 miles away); Site of the Blue Hills Fort and Camp (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plainfield.

Wild deer near the Shakespeare Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

4. Wild deer near the Shakespeare Garden

Sign at the entrance to Cedar Brook Park-Shakespeare Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 3, 2016

5. Sign at the entrance to Cedar Brook Park-Shakespeare Garden

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 891 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 7, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.