Garden of Adam and Eve, God Bless America

Garden of Adam and Eve, God Bless America (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Pennsylvania State University. Cooperative Extension. Demonstration Gardens

Community Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- History

McCabe, Sally

Urban gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

The Garden of Adam and Eve, God Bless America, located at 22nd and Montrose Streets was founded in 1977 as one of the early Demonstration Gardens of the Pennsylvania State Extension Service. This collection consists of images held by the PHS McLean Library of the garden and gardeners, news clippings, and articles focusing on the Garden's early years. The parcel is now the site of the Julian Abele Park.

In 1979, Libby J. Goldstein wrote about its founding in the pamphlet City Green: The Urban Gardening Program: “The Garden of Adam and Eve, God Bless America had a pretty typical start for a place as special as its name. One day in 1977, Mrs. MacDonald, a friend of the Grays Ferry garden coordinator, called to say that four houses had just been demolished at 22nd and Montrose streets and some men in the neighborhood wanted to start a garden there. Then a Mr. Thomas called and said that they really wanted a garden and they had a little money and could maybe get some fencing, and could we help? So we went down to meet them at Brown's Store across the street. ... “

Also collected is a 2022 interview by Joseph Makuc with former American Community Gardening Association board member, longtime Pennsylvania Horticultural Society staff member, and current community gardener Sally McCabe. McCabe describes her work with the Penn State Agricultural Extension Service and Philadelphia Green and her relationship with the Garden of Adam and Eve God Bless America (now Julian-Able Park).

Philadelphia (Pa.)