Friends of Hopelands Gardens and the Rye Patch unveil new book about Aiken

Matthew Christian, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Oct. 17—A new book about Aiken is set to make its debut before Christmas.

The Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch unveiled the cover of their new book, "Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch: The Friends' Story," Sunday afternoon in front of the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage.

The book coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Friends, a non-profit organization that works with the city of Aiken — the property was transferred to the city in 1970 — to maintain and preserve the gardens for the benefit of the city and visitors.

Authors Anna Dangerfield and Lil Brannon-Knoblauch share the story of Hopelands Gardens and the Rye Patch in the book.

Both properties were built by wealthy northern families looking to escape to a warmer climate in the winter and for a place with the appropriate weather for their horses. Hopelands was build for C. Oliver Iselin, the son of a New York financier, around 1900. After he died in 1932, the property passed to his wife, Hope Goddard Iselin, who owned the property until her death in 1970. The property was transferred to the city after her death.

The Rye Patch was built as a bed and breakfast catering to Winter Colony families. It was originally owned by William Travers (his father is the namesake of the Travers Stakes). It was purchased by Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers (her father merged his company to found Woolworth in 1912) and her husband, Edmund, in 1937.

Dorothy was the daughter of one of the founders of the Woolworth chain of five and dime stores. Her first husband, Frank Goodyear Jr., was the son of a railroad and timber baron from Buffalo. The younger Goodyear died in 1930 and she remarried, Edmund, the "most enduring friend of Franklin Delano Roosevelt" and friend to the former King Edward VIII and his wife, Wallis Simpson. The former king and his wife would visit them in Aiken in 1938 and in the 1950s.

The book also features color photographs of the current properties and black and white photos of the properties in the years past.

The Friends also dedicated the book to Beth Tyler Newburn, who is a longtime member of the Friends of Hopelands Gardens and the Rye Patch during the ceremony held shortly after 4 p.m.

"I'm overwhelmed, but I have a passion for this property and I appreciate them recognizing all the years since 1993 that I have been actively involved," Newburn said.

Newburn was appointed to the organization in 1993.

She said she was asked by city employee Joan Tower to serve as the organization's secretary. Newburn said she was reluctant because she and her husband had just returned to Aiken and she didn't have a background with the properties. She said Tower told her that no background was necessary.

Newburn also served as vice president and then as president of the Friends from 1995-1999.

The unveiling and dedication ceremony was held at the end of the Nature Rocks event that also featured several events for children including a butterfly garden organized by the Aiken Master Gardner Association, a treasure hunt, pine cone bird feeder making with the Aiken Women's Club, rock painting by Cedar Creek Church and history and horticultural tours of the properties.

The book is $40 and it will be available in December at several places in Aiken including Aiken Antiques and Uniques, the Aiken County Visitor's Center, the Aiken Visitor's Center and Train Museum, Cold Creek Nurseries, Folly, Three Monkeys, Nandina and York Cottage Antiques.

For more information about the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch, visit hopelandsgardens.com.