Town looks to honor its past as violet capital

The Rhinebeck Town Board will seek grant funding for a marker noting that the town was once the world’s violet capital.

Town Board members have agreed to prepare an application for grant funding to erect an historical marker noting that Rhinebeck was once considered to be the violet capital of the world.

The status was discussed during a meeting Monday. Resident Norm Magnusson proposed submitting an application to the William C. Pomeroy Foundation to cover the cost.

“At the peak, there were like 400 greenhouses in the area,” he said. “They say that from Hyde Park up to Red Hook was the ‘Violet Belt,’ and Rhinebeck was the buckle on that belt.”

The marker would follow the standard 18- by 32inch size used for state historical markers that have a blue background with yellow raised letters and trim. The style was discontinued for use by New York about 80 years ago.

“The program also fills a gap, as New York State stopped funding their roadside markers in 1939,” foundation officials wrote on their website.

“Our NYS Historic Marker Grant Program commemorates historic people, places, things or events within the time frame of 1740-1919,” the foundation stated. “Since 2006, the Foundation has funded more than 550 markers in 53 New York State counties.

Officials for the William C. Pomerory Foundation said the markers cost $1,100 to produce, but there are no fees to applicants that are approved.

Magnusson said wording on the marker would say, “Violet Capital of the World: From the late 1800s to the early 1900s Rhinebeck was the world’s leading grower of violets, then in demand as gifts and corsages.”

Officials said they are still considering where the marker could be placed, but expect it will be located in an area already recognized for the former bustling industry.

“I think any entry point to the town would be a great place for this,” Magnusson said. “Route 9G was called Violet Avenue for the longest amount of time. When you get down to Hyde Park, you still see the road signs that say Violet Avenue, and we’re at the epicenter of the greenhouses, which were spread out everywhere.”

Magnusson said the local soil and weather conditions were apparently conducive to growing the flowers.

“The violets grow January through Easter because they like the cool weather,” he said.