Gardening | Keeping The Family Gardening Tradition Alive
Dave Hoeft has followed in his father’s footsteps, at least whenit comes to gardening.
Hoeft, 66, of Union, farms a small garden near downtown Union. Thegarden was started by his father, Raymond, in 1941 at the cornersof Church Street and Central Avenue.
“I have been at this garden as long as I can remember,” said DaveHoeft.
Raymond and his wife Mildred purchased four lots from Stanley Hall.The property formerly was owned by Bourbeuse Telephone Company, thearea’s predecessor to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
It was used as a dump for the phone company.
“We still find all kinds of glass in here,” Hoeft said.
After purchasing the lot, Raymond began growing a myriad ofvegetables including corn, potatoes, beans, the “regular gardeningstuff,” Hoeft said.
In 1943, Raymond Hoeft was drafted into the military and Mildredkept up the garden and raised the family’s hogs at a farm betweenUnion and St. Clair.
After military service, Raymond continued his work at thegarden.
Mildred and Raymond met while both were employed at the shoefactory on Church Street. After harvest, many of the vegetableswere sold to coworkers at the factory.
Raymond passed away in 1976 and Dave was in charge of thegarden.
“After he passed, I was in charge of running the garden and Mom hada stand in the front yard where she sold vegetables off a
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