Middlesboro Mayor Ben Hickman recently presented a check for $5,000 to the Middlesborough Garden Club for the Victorian Garden at the Middlesborough/Arthur Museum. The donation comes from the city's Coal Severance funds.

The garden was a cherished dream of the late Pat Welch-Bowling, who served on the Middlesboro City Council for a number of years.

Welch-Bowling worked very hard to obtain grants to restore the American Association Building to its original grandeur, and make it not only a window to Middlesboro's past as the Middlesborough/Arthur Museum, but also a fitting showcase as the location of the city's visitors' center, and the offices of the Bell County Tourism Commission.

“She felt strongly that the building needed an appropriate setting, but there was nothing in the grants for landscaping,” said garden club member Ann Matheny.

As a long time member and past president of the Middlesborough Garden Club, Welch-Bowling convinced the group into leading a private effort to landscape this city property.

Funds for the garden project have come primarily from private donations, as well as a grants from Principal Financial Group,the National Garden Club and the Southeast Tourism Commission.

Local businesses and other civic organizations have also helped.

The City of Middlesboro has already improved its property by fencing in the garden area at the museum, as well as providing help and support, both with labor and ideas.