Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1498495
A small pocket park in downtown Rutherfordton has taken on a new meaning and is springing alive with new plants, trees and a mini-garden. It is hoped to be an inspiration to all those who knew and loved the late Butch Melton. Located between Main and Central streets, many of Butch's family and friends are paying tribute to her by investing in something she enjoyed and cherished — beautiful fl owers, gardens and downtown Ruther- fordton. To honor their mother, the Melton children —Kim, Scott and Janice — made a decision earlier this year to share in her passion for gardening by creating a Me- morial Garden. The Main Street Park, located beside the former Dalton's Department store where Butch spent more than four decades of her life working with the public, became the perfect place for a garden in her memory. According to town leaders the Park was due an upgrade so Butch's family began to raise money to support purchasing new fl ower pots, new native plants and other items for the garden. The family spearhead- ed the initiative through a Go Fund Me page for the Butch Melton Memorial Garden. More than half the $8,000 goal has already been raised and there is plenty of time to make donations for the Park's maintenance, new plantings and further additions (visit Butch Melton gofundme for details). "Our mom was a lifelong resident of Rutherfordton and worked at Dalton's for 45 years," said daughter Kim Melton. Butch was as much a fi xture at Dalton's as the store itself located on Main Street. She took great pride in helping people look and feel their best through their clothing and also through her kind and gentle spirit as she helped customers. Kim said it was her husband that recommended the family do a me- morial garden and decided the Main Street Park would be a perfect loca- tion to plant a garden, "which mom loved — fl owers and making beau- ty." "My mom loved fashion and help- ing others look their best. As mom battled her illness, she always re- mained positive and her favorite saying was, 'If given lemons, make lemonade, but toward the end of her life she changed it to make lemon pie'," Kim said. Kim's brother Scott and his wife Donna, said when they think of Butch they see her at the grapevines examining each cluster before deciding to pick them. "She always had a thoughtful, quiet dignity in the garden as in all part of her life," she said. The children said their mom was always positive and enjoyed helping others fi nd clothes they wanted. "She enjoyed helping others dress nice," Kim said. "She always said she had the best kids in the world. Mom loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved all kids," said Kim. "My mother only saw the positive and that's all she could recall," said Scott. As the thought of a Memorial Garden became even more real with the GoFundMe page, the Melton family reached out to Rutherfordton residents Lindy Abrams and Dot Abrams to help with the garden plantings. "We chose trees for the garden that would refl ect meaningful fl oral through- out the town like the ginkgo beside the Woodrow Jones building, the deodar cedar at the courthouse and the crepe myrtles that line Main Street, presenting the same species in a different list and fashion," Lindy said. "We chose ornamental and native perennial fl owers and grasses mixed with traditional garden favorites," Lindy said. "Aesthetically, the goal is to soften the architectural space color and move- ment. The palette, tree and fl ower se- lections are all in homage to Butch and some of her favorites, the history of our small town, and a nod to what was here before we even arrived." "I want to thank Dot and Lindy for all of their hard work, love and support," Kim said. Kim also expressed her thanks to Rutherfordton Town Manager Doug Barrick the Town of Rutherford- ton and all friends and family who donated to the Go Fund Me. "Our mom would have enjoyed the park and we hope that visitors will for years to come," Kim said. So as spring time turns into summer and foot traf- fi c increases in downtown Rutherfordton, enjoy a stroll through the Butch Melton Memorial Garden and re- member the kind, petite woman who worked next door helping people feel and look their best. ISSUE NO. 18 • May 4, 2023 ISSUE NO. 18 • May 4, 2023 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Saturday, May 13 th th • 9:00 am – 4:00 pm • 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Food Vendors Food Vendors Craft Vendors Craft Vendors Commercial Vendors 8 TH TH ANNUAL CAROLINA DERBY ANNUAL CAROLINA DERBY Strawberry Slam Demolition Derby Strawberry Slam Demolition Derby SATURDAY, MAY 13 SATURDAY, MAY 13 TH TH For info on Space for Rent Call 704-487-0651 DERBY BEGINS 6:00 PM "Harvest" Soft Rock Band 70's & 80's 1751 E. MARION STREET 1751 E. MARION STREET SHELBY, NC SHELBY, NC ADULT DERBY ADMISSION $15 • KIDS 6-12, $8 KIDS 5 AND UNDER FREE N.C. TRACTOR & FARM SUPPLY 299 Railroad Ave., Rutherfordton • 828-288-0395 Mobile: 828-429-5008 • mf1dpshehan@gmail.com SALES • SERVICE • PARTS IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! PROUDLY SERVING RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND, GASTON, LINCOLN, POLK COUNTIES AS THE AREAS HOMETOWN MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER. Great Selection Great Selection Our 31 st Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers Article by Jean Gordon Garden honors Butch Melton Friends and family join in honoring her memory OUR MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL EDITION Scott Melton, Cindy Sylvester, Kim Melton, Butch Melton, Janice Hines. Dot Abrams and daughter Lindy Abrams planting recently. h a pla It i Butch Melton. The Main Street Park and Butch Melton Memorial Garden.