In 1957, the San Saba Garden Club ladies saved the Old Mill House located in Mill Pond Park from the City wrecking ball (see explanation below). The members then painstakingly restored the building, one bake sale and project at a time! It’s a huge part of our history, and we are so proud to follow these ladies in restorations again!
Just a few weeks ago, the Club House was flooded not once, but twice. The inside of the building sustained significant damage, and all contents were destroyed. The SS Garden Club members are once again determined to make the needed repairs in order to continue our community goals of providing leadership in the field of horticulture, conservation, civic improvement and beautification. While we are applying for grants, we are also appealing to our community for donations. We need your support!!! We have found that government grants are allocated to homesteads, not organizational structures damaged by the recent floods.
'The Club House' is of great historical value to our community. It was erected about 1875 by John H. ('Shorty') Brown, one of the founders of San Saba. This building housed the machinery of a gristmill (which ground cornmeal, for bread) and a cotton gin. It was run by water power supplied by San Saba Springs. After the Mill was in disuse, the City Water System machinery was housed there.
By 1956, 'The Mill House' fell into disrepair and was scheduled for demolition by the City of San Saba. Alma Ward Hamrick, President of the Garden Club, upon learning that a wrecking ball was about to topple down the building, quickly petitioned the City to allow San Saba Garden Club members to restore the building. Request was granted by the mayor, and the building was saved! The members had many fundraisers to raise enough money to do the restoration.
In 2026, the San Saba Garden Club will celebrate its 90th anniversary, and we will once again be restoring the 'Old Mill House.' If you are interested in being a part of history in the making financially or otherwise please contact Trudy Hughes, 817-360-9332, Susan Kissko, 325- 647- 6292, Sarah Lott, 214-244-3124 or Janis Murray, 325-650-0225. Memorials or honorariums can be mailed to Trudy Hughes, SSGC treasurer, at 301 W. Dry St. San Saba, TX. 76877 The Garden Club plays a vital part of the San Saba Community. The Club House is ground central for Kids Nature Kamp where members together with other volunteers spend three days each spring engaging kiddos in fun environmental activities. We work to beautify and enhance garden areas at our Club House, San Saba Elementary School Pollinator Garden, San Saba Rehab Keyhole Garden, and Clearview Resource Center. San Saba Garden Club contributes financially and volunteers at the annual Youth Fair and Mission San Saba. We host Texas Garden Club contests for children in our schools and the community.
We welcome anyone wanting to visit us or to become a member. We normally meet the first Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Until we complete the repairs, we will be meeting in members’ homes, First Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, and the San Saba Civic Center.
Please contact membership chairman, Denise Mayfield, at 325-205-2025 for information if you’re interested in joining us!
Or contact co-presidents, Marjean Alexander or Cindy Sloan, at 324-642-0475 or (210) 219-4072, respectively, for additional information.