----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 9:14 AM
Subject: Re: Howe botanist, etc.


> Dear Ms. Rooney,
>
> Would you be willing to pass the word among Society members that I am
> interested in any information on George Robley Howe (b. 1863 d. 1950)? He
is
> well known for having a garden which attracted 100,000 visitors who signed
> his guestbook between 1920 and 1940. He became interested in natural
history
> in 1893 and undoubtedly corresponded with the founder of the Josselyn
Society
> as he was a member for a while. I don't have the dates. Perhaps Howe is
> mentioned in Society meeting notes or annual reports. Howe started a youth
> group in 1898 which eventually inspired the Boy Scouts. In 1907, he is
> credited with "discovering" the cause of White Pine Blight, but the report
> may be exaggerated. He was also a life-long friend with Vivian Akers,
Charles
> A. Stevens, Addison E. Verrill, and noted Josselyn Soc. member, Henry
Wilson
> Merrill. In 1910 and 1912, Howe was offered the job of State Geologist,
which
> he declined. In 1914, Howe organized the Maine Academy of Science which
> endoured for several years, but which had no willing successor.
> Incidentally, I wrote a short piece on John Josselyn's mineralogical
interest
> in Mineralogy of Maine, volume 2, page 20.
>
> I will be in Maine from July 29-August 5.
>
> Best Regards, Van King, PO 126, Walworth, NY 14568 315-986-4281. Will be
away
> from my office July 9-20.