Bullthistle botanist blossomed in Brooklyn

By Donald A. Windsor

Deputy Historian, Chenango County

Local boy makes good. Charles Stuart Gager, a Norwich native with a perfect resume, became the first director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Born on December 23, 1872, Gager graduated from Norwich High School in 1891, as president of his class. He lived with his parents, Charles C. and Mrs. Gager at 12 Birdsall Street. His father was a tailor in Norwich for over 35 years.

He went on to acquire a BA from Syracuse University in 1895, a BS and MS from New Yor k State Normal College at Albany in 1897, and a PhD from Cornell University in 1902. He became a professor of biology at Normal. He taught at The University of Missouri, Cornell, Rutgers, and New York University.

In 1910, he became the director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where he remained for 33 years until his death. He published at least 7 books and 23 articles. He built the Garden from scratch, quite an extraordinary feat of vision and enterprise. He died on August 9, 1943, in Waterville, Maine, at the age of 70 years.

Our current interest in this man is the result of a fortuitous find. Libraries do not place rare or esoteric items in the stacks, but archive them for use by researchers. In the process of rearranging materials in the storage compartment of the Guernsey Memorial Library, Custodian Brian Doliver found a portfolio. Historical Researcher Kathyrn “Kathy” Barton opened it and to her delight saw 16 prints of roses. They were printed from engravings by Pierre-Joseph Redoute’ (1759-1840), whom Gager called “The Raphael of Flowers.” The text accompanying the prints was written by Gager. Wondering who he was, Kathy checked his obituary and learned that he was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery here in Norwich. We then visited his grave site.