Bellingrath Gardens & Home Timeline

1869- Walter Duncan Bellingrath is born in Atlanta, GA, the seventh of eight children born to Leonard and Catherine McMillan Bellingrath.

1878- Bessie Mae Morse is born in Mobile, AL, the fifth of nine children born to Capt. Sewell Walker Morse and Alice Marrow Morse.

1903- Brothers Walter and William Bellingrath obtain a franchise from the Coca-Cola company to bottle the product in Montgomery and Mobile, AL.  Walter moves to Mobile to handle the one-man operation of filling, delivering and cleaning the empty bottles.

1905- Bessie Mae Morse is employed as a stenographer at the Mobile Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

1906- On November 14, Bessie Mae Morse marries Walter Bellingrath in a ceremony in the Morse family parlor on Lafayette Street in Mobile.

1911- The Bellingraths purchase 60 South Ann Street from Henry Tacon.  The house was designed by architect George B. Rogers and has been completed in 1908.

1917- Walter Bellingrath goes in for a check-up from Dr. Paul McGehee of Mobile.  Throughout the exam he tells his doctor that he has been admiring a fishing camp that is now on the market but just cannot afford it.  The physician concludes that his patient is overworked and directs him to “learn how to play” and by the fishing camp.  The old “Parker Place,” an abandoned fishing camp on Fowl River becomes “Belle Camp.”

1919- Mr. Bellingrath becomes a founding partner in the Waterman Steamship Company.

1920- Walter Bellingrath purchases the National Mosaic Tile Company in Mobile.  The firm produced a range of decorative concrete tiles.

1925- Walter Bellingrath purchases the vacant lot behind 60 South Ann Street for expansion of his wife’s flower beds and lawns.  The driveway is extended to Bradford Avenue and the garage is enlarged.

1927- Walter and Bessie Bellingrath sail for England and Europe.  After admiring numerous gardens and estates, Mrs. Bellingrath hires George B. Rogers to dress up the gardens at 60 South Ann Street and over estimates the number of azaleas needed.  The overflow is taken down to belle Camp where they thrive.  The couple then asks Rogers’ assistance in converting the fishing camp into a garden estate.

1929- On February 22, the Azalea Trail is established in Mobile.  The Bellingraths’ garden at 60 South Ann Street becomes the first azalea garden open to the public.

1932- Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs has their annual meeting in Mobile and the group is invited out to enjoy “Belle Camp.”  Notice goes out that all of Mobile is welcome to see the property the next afternoon from one o’clock in the afternoon until five o’clock in the evening.  That Sunday, over 4,500 visitors jam the grounds and all roads leading to Mobile.  “We had to call the police to untangle the traffic jam that extended more than 3 miles.  It’s been open ever since.”-Walter Bellingrath Walter and Bessie Bellingrath change that name of “Belle Camp” to Bellingrath Gardens.

1933- In March, Bellingrath gardens opens for the season with a 50 cent admission fee in place.  Telephone service with gate established.

1935- Construction of Bellingrath Home begins, based on the design of George B. Rogers.

1936- Bellingrath Home is completed.  The first meal in the new house is enjoyed on the Fourth of July.
 Rose Garden in the design of Walter Bellingrath’s Rotary Club emblem pin is completed.  Mobile Press Register terms it “the largest rose garden in the South…with 1,060 roses, including 65 varieties.”  Its design as the foreground for the Conservatory is reminiscent of Kew Gardens near London where A.A. Hunt completed his training.

1943- February 15, Bessie Morse Bellingrath dies while on vacation at Hot Springs, Arkansas. She is 64.  Burial takes place at Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile.

1945- George B. Rogers dies.  End of World War II.

1949- Walter Bellingrath, at the age of 80, begins to establish the Bellingrath-Morse Foundation to oversee Bellingrath Gardens after his death.  Hancock House of Memphis redecorates the Bellingrath Home.  Included in the project is the installation of new draperies, carpet, recovering furniture, refinishing some furniture and wiring numerous vases as lamps.  All in preparation of the home’s eventual opening to the public.

1950- Bellingrath-Morse Foundation is officially established by Walter Bellingrath and charged with maintaining Bellingrath Gardens and Home “as a fitting memorial to my wife.”

1955- On August 8, Walter Bellingrath dies at age 86.  George E. Downing becomes Chairman of the Board for Bellingrath-Morse Foundation.  The Gift Shop is installed in former Lodge; Guest Hose above garage is turned into office space.

1956- Property renamed Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Bellingrath Home opens to the public in January.

1963- Dianne Sawyer, America’s Junior Miss, visits Bellingrath Gardens and Home.  A photo of the visit appears on a 60-foot billboard within the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal in New York as an advertisement for Kodak.  First mum show takes place on November 8, with Gardens open free that day.  Over 12,000 visitors stream through the gates.

2000- Oak tree replanting begins to restore tree canopy lost to Hurricane Frederick.

2003- Friends of Bellingrath is established, along with quarterly newspaper.
 

2003-4- Magnolia Café dining areas redecorated and new lighting installed.

2004-5- Entrance Building remodeled.  Restoration of flagstone walks begin.

2005-6- Riverfront dock replaced.  New pavilion built.  Gift Shop remodeled.