The Centennial Garden was created in 1995 by Historic Indian Village residents to commemorate its 100th anniversary, on three lots at the corner of Seminole and Charlevoix Avenues owned by Dr. and Mrs. William Kirtland. The lots were donated to the Historical Collections and leased to the Historic Indian Village Association. They are maintained by the Indian Village Men’s and Woman’s Garden Clubs from funds earned from the Indian Village Home and Garden Tour each year.
The Garden was designed by landscape architect Nancy Harris to resemble a century-old Victorian garden, replete with plantings typical of that period. The land was cleared, stripped of sod, and graded for the site. Years of planning and organizing then went into gathering supplies and volunteers for a 184’ x 200’ garden anchored by a central gazebo, protected by antique wrought-iron fencing secured by residents from the Water Department, and containing “century-old” urns and benches to accompany turn-of-the century plantings.
A key to the Centennial Garden gate is obtained upon becoming a paid member of any of the following organizations:
– Historic Indian Village Association
– Historic Indian Village Men’s Garden Club, or
– Indian Village Branch of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association (Woman’s Garden Club)
Special events may be held in this wonderful location with a $250 damage-cleanup refundable deposit, a $150 suggested donation for the upkeep of the Garden, and a signed event agreement. No alcoholic beverage is allowed in the Centennial Garden as a City zoning requirement. Since there is no lighting in the Garden except for the dome, all group activities need to be scheduled during daylight hours. Any decorations must be appropriate to the nature of the Garden and not on the gazebo because of possible damage to LED lighting. Sound systems must be held to a level so that sound is only available to the event itself and is not at a level to disturb neighboring residents.
Donations to the Centennial Garden should be made by check made out to Indian Village Historic Preservation Association.
Centennial Garden Gazebo
In fall 2006, the Boards of the two garden clubs met together and explored the idea of replacing the small wooden gazebo in the Centennial Garden with a more historically appropriate wrought iron gazebo as a joint community investment project. Once the Board members saw the wrought iron gazebo that a Detroit wrought iron designer and craftsman, Carl Nielbock, had in his work yard, it became the target. Garden club members and residents were enlisted to support the project, and each of the garden clubs appropriated $20,000 to purchase the gazebo. A proposal was written and an additional $10,000 was secured from the Trevor Fetter Family Fund to complete the project. Months were spent obtaining approval from the Detroit Historic District Commission and the City Engineering Department, but finally the gazebo was installed the day before the 2007 Indian Village Home and Garden Tour on June 2, 2007. Since then Indian Village resident, Todd Sanford, has installed LED lights on the dome. Impressive as it is during the day, at night the dome floats over the Garden lit as if by moonlight.
