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Back in the Day with GMJ: Ninah Cummer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Situated on two acres in Jacksonville’s Riverside area overlooking the St. Johns River is a lavish garden created more than a century ago. It was once a part of the Cummer family compound now known to visitors around the world as the Cummer Museum. Ninah Holden Cummer is behind the family’s most lasting legacy.

“At one time the Cummer Lumber Industry was actually the largest private employer in the state and the largest landowner,” said Holly Keris, Chief operating officer and curator at the Cummer Museum. "But the most visible, tangible aspect of that legacy today is really in what she left for us in the Cummer Museum and Gardens."

Ninah Holden met Arthur Cummer while studying Greek and Latin at the University of Michigan. The two married and lived comfortably in a large English Tudor Revival house on Riverside Avenue constructed in 1902. Their home was a part of the close-knit family compound of three houses with adjacent gardens. Cummer thought well beyond her years and the comforts of her wealth. Her causes pushed by passion lead to beautiful spaces for the community to enjoy.

“She was in the trenches making decisions using her status in the community lobbying for the change she thought was important to see," said Holly Keris. "Whether that was in public green spaces, and parks like Memorial Park, the preservation of other land in the area, or creating a museum which in her words was intended to be a center for beauty and culture for everyone in Jacksonville."

Cummer’s dedication to the Jacksonville community was evident in the number of civic causes she was involved in. She was a founding member of several groups including the Garden Club of Jacksonville, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and Memorial Park. Cummer was also active on city government boards and pushed for preservation of green spaces and parks.

"She came to a point I think fairly early on when none of her children survived infancy and she really started to think about well if I don't have children what is my legacy what is my family's legacy going to be here," said Keris.

An avid gardener, when experts from the areas where she once lived in Michigan, Indiana and Philadelphia were unable to create the vision she had for a lavish garden she decided to get it done herself by learning all she could about plant-life in Florida. Cummer would end up traveling around the state giving lectures and radio addresses on gardening.

In September of 2017 hurricane Irma threatened to destroy what Cummer had worked for. The mighty St. Johns River turned against the gardens as Irma’s wrath took hold of its power wiping away a substantial amount of its plant life but none of its history.

If you would like to help restore the gardens to what they once were visit the Cummer website.

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