The 1920s and 30s marked the apex of the winter migration to Aiken, where some of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the country would join other northern society members to extend their equestrian season, and take part in polo, steeplechase, as well as golf and tennis. Being of prodigious means, many “winter colonists” as they were known, built mansion-like homes they called “cottages.”
One such family was the William Ziegler, Jr. family of New York. Mr. Ziegler was president of the Royal Baking Powder Company, a firm founded by his father in 1899. Ziegler was well known in society circles, was a member of the New York Yacht Club, and held extensive properties in the New York City area. He was also an avid polo player and carriage driver. Additionally, he owned one of the finest collections of hunting dogs in the country, and was a well-known exhibitor at horse shows. As such he was drawn to Aiken to pass winter months in the sports he loved.
In March 1928 Ziegler purchased two lots of four acres each on Whiskey Road just outside the city limits, for $28,000. He hired renowned Aiken/Augusta architect, William Irvin, Sr., to design his new, $100,000 winter home, and ground breaking took place in June of that year. Willis’ design was in the Georgian style which included 19 rooms in 3 stories and a separate guest cottage. The first two floors were occupied by the Ziegler family with the third floor used to house domestic staff. The Zieglers took possession of the home in the winter on 1928-29, and named it “Sunshine.” In addition, Ziegler built extensive polo stables on nearby Marion Street. The Zieglers continued coming to Aiken until 1940. In January 1941 “Sunshine” was sold to the William Wood family of Piqua, Ohio. William and Frances Wood, and their daughter, Aileen, began coming to Aiken in 1938. William was an avid polo player and had known Ziegler as a fellow polo player, and in January 1941, on his third visit to Aiken, Wood became the owner of “Sunshine” which he renamed “Green Boundary.”
Wood’s family founded and operated the Wood Shovel and Tool Company of Piqua, Ohio. His maternal grandfather owned the Favorite Stove and Range Company, that produced pot-bellied and wrought iron kitchen stoves of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. William’s wife Frances was the former Frances Ottley, of New York. Her father was founder and president of McCall’s Corporation, publisher of McCall’s magazine.
Bill and Fran were active in the Aiken community through the ensuing years, giving many dinner parties, and in 1941 Mr. Wood was a member of the Aiken Polo Club, and served as founding Secretary-Treasurer of the Aiken Training Track. Mrs. Wood was a member of the Aiken Garden Club and Master of the Aiken Hounds.
In April 1955 “Green Boundary” became the setting for Aileen Wood’s society wedding reception, one of the most elegant then, and since, to have ever taken place at “Green Boundary.” At age 4, Linda Knox (McLean), granddaughter of Seymour Knox, served as a flower girl in the wedding.
Almost exactly to that day in April, one year later, “Green Boundary” was sold for an undisclosed sum to the newly formed Green Boundary Corporation, composed of winter colonists, and led by Mr. Seymour Knox, heir to the F.W. Woolworth fortune, and owner of “The Balcony,” located next door to “Green Boundary.” The new corporation was granted a charter for the purpose of establishing a dinner club. It had a capital stock of $100,000 consisting of 100 shares at a par value of $1,000 each.
The Green Boundary Club opened its doors for the first time in November 1956. Its annual dues were $25 and membership was limited to 150 persons. Founding president of the corporation was Mrs. Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers, Seymour’s sister.
Today there are two entities: The Green Boundary Corporation, responsible for the management and operation of the club, and the Green Boundary Foundation, funded by its members, which is responsible for maintaining the building as a historic property.
During the ensuing years it became traditional for the staff at the various “cottages” to have Thursday night off. This “Thursday night off” tradition began in the early 1900s and the winter colony days. Thursday nights at The Green Boundary Club became the place to dine for the society residents of Aiken.
Barbara Knowles, Susie Howard and their friends started playing the adult version of croquet, “6 wicket,” on the south lawn in late 1996. As enthusiasm took hold, it was not long before a real croquet court (the small one) was built by Palmetto Landscape in August of 1997. It was built with firm foundation materials, excellent grass and proper drainage. And then in 2002 a full size second court was built to handle all the players. The Green Boundary Club was recognized as the “Small Croquet Club of the Year” in 2009 by the U.S. Croquet Association. And in the 2011-2012 era “golf croquet” with simpler rules and fewer intricate shots swept through the croquet world nationally, including the GBC. It brought a new wave of enthusiasts and re-generated a fun activity which continues today.
For decades there was a regular bridge game on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month and this evolved into a competitive tournament. Regular participants were Bobby and Barbara Knowles, Bill and Jennifer Matheson, Judge Marion and Anne Powell, Sally Patterson, William Meehan, Steve Groat, Myrtle Anderson, Hink Sally, Cheryl Gwynn, and Charlie and Sister Byrd. In 1997 Mrs. Whitney “Dede” Tower donated the McKelvie Cup to honor her mother, Helen “Nubbins” Niblack McKelvie, an avid Bridge player. The McKelvie Cup, listing the winners of the annual tournament, resides on a bookshelf in the Library. McKelvie Bridge continues to this day.
Backgammon was a popular activity of the Club organized by Mr. and Mrs. Knowles one Wednesday night a month. Tables were set up in the Living Room, the Green Room and the Library. The players were divided up according to skill level. The losers of the first match played a consolation round. A buffet dinner featuring Mr. Knowles’ favorite baked beans was served between the first and second rounds. Count Pescosolido enjoyed Green Boundary backgammon so much that he donated the Pescosolido trophy to be presented to the winner of the most points at the end of the season. Marti Constantino became the chairman of backgammon at Mr. Knowles’ request and organized the monthly Thursday night matches. Billy Benton now leads the Chouette Backgammon group.
Oh how we celebrate! It was a black tie affair with a big tent on the south lawn. The Green Boundary Club 50th Anniversary Gala Winter Ball was held on Friday, December 2, 2005. The evening was dedicated to Mrs. Barbara Knowles and her many years of service as President of The Green Boundary Club. There was much gaiety, laughter and toasting with special souvenir wine glasses. Some folks still have these gold engraved glasses. We will have a party in November, 2030 to celebrate the beginning of our 75th year.
In 2008, a group of dedicated Green Boundary members who were avid tennis players, decided to rehabilitate the badly neglected tennis court. The original French clay court was overgrown with weeds that climbed up to the top of the fences. After back breaking clean up, what new court surface to install? The Ridleys and Haythorns travelled to North Carolina to check out and play on a new surface. The decision was ultimately made to build a Flex Court Tennis Court. Due to the hard work, generosity and dedication of many members, plus the substantial donation from the late Kareen Chelberg, the tennis court was completed in July of 2009. Tables, chairs, a storage shed and a ball machine were added as well. Today, the pickleball players are able to enjoy this court.
Today the Green Boundary Club is a hub of activities. While fine dining is the primary focus, the club offers other special events such as Trivia, Christmas caroling, special Easter and Thanksgiving dinners, wonderful Sunday brunch, and so on. The Club’s talented staff works hard to make every luncheon, dinner, party, wedding and celebration a first-class affair.
But clubs are really about people. Green Boundary Club members are some of the friendliest people in Aiken. True to its heritage of Aiken’s famed Winter Colony, The Green Boundary Club embraces the future with confidence drawn from this rich history. As Betty Ryberg wrote in “Exclusively Yours,” in January, 2004, “Truly, the Green Boundary Club feels as though one is going to a friend’s lovely home for dinner. Members mingle in the living room or in the library, and then are beckoned into the dining room for dinner. It is a unique experience, steeped in Southern hospitality and good manners.”