----- 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.