Darwina Neal, FASLA (1942-2021)

HONORS & AWARDS  2021

Darwina Neal, FASLA

“Life is a tapestry woven of people and experiences. And throughout my life, I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve worked with many talented and dedicated friends, who have helped make my tapestry a more beautiful one”. Penn State Alumni Association, 2017 (recording)

In 1984, Darwina was elected president of the ASLA—the first woman to hold that position since ASLA’s founding in 1899. But her career as a woman trailblazer in landscape architecture started much earlier than that. After she received her landscape architecture degree from Penn State University—one of handful of young women then studying the field—she began her career at the National Park Service (NPS)--just the third woman landscape architect ever hired. Her first assignment was to assist Lady Bird Johnson on her Beautification program, and through the NPS, she oversaw the design and development of parks in and around D. .C. In 1972, she was commissioned by the ASLA to research the status of women in the field and uncovered that only five percent of ASLA members were women, prompting the organization to start promoting landscape architecture as a career for women. It was a decade later that Darwina was elected to be the first woman president of ASLA, paving the way for multiple women to become presidents in the decades to follow.

By Chester P. Bailey in the 1970s

‘’THE BRICK HOUSE”  214 SOUTH MAIN STREET, MANSFIELD, PENNA. 16933

RESIDENCE OF HOMER AND NAOMI GALLIHER (Now Mary Robinson-Slabey)

Built in 1922 by Glenn and Harriet Gilette, of Federal design on a poured concrete foundation. Glenn was a well-known insurance agent in the Mansfield area. The home was sold by Gillettes to Dr. And Mrs. Meeker, who owned a hospital over Garrison’s store. The Meekers lived here for many years with their family, and to this day, the home is often referred to as “The Meeker House”, or the The Brick House.

The Meekers sold the house to Tony Billard, an industrialist, who owned Auto Precision in Covington.

Dr. Earley and his wife bought the home from the Billards. Even though they lived here only a short time, it was known as a good-place for a party, square dancing in the living room, and good time for all ! Dr. Earley was a MSC professor.

The home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Silcox who owned it for only a short time. They sold to Mr. and Mrs. Hitchins. Mr. Hitchins was a retired attorney, and furnished the house with valuable antiques.

Because of ill health, Mrs. Hitchins sold the home to Homer and Naomi Galliher in 1971. The Gallihers are both Virginians by birth, and loved the architecture, and found it to be reminiscent of the south. The home is furnished predominantly with traditional furnishings.

The Galliher family is the 7^th family to occupy the house.

Update by Joyce: Mary and Ted Robinson-Slabey bought the house from the Gallihers in 1985. Mary still lives there, and the house is presently for sale. It will be a century old next year.

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