Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Anderson Greenhouses Inc. will celebrate the 75th anniversary Saturday with the grand opening of the Homestead. The Homestead, the original Anderson home, is now a shop filled with decorating and gift ideas, such as bath items from Crabtree and Evelyn, Colonial Home candles, Howard Miller clocks and many other items.
A family-owned business for 75 years, Anderson is now in its fourth generation and is one of the 12 oldest businesses in Warsaw.
The three greenhouses and houses on either side were built at the turn of the century by William Terrell. The late LeRoy and Bessie Anderson purchased the greenhouses in June 1927 from Norton Gibson.
When the Andersons bought the business, they had a son, Richard, 5 months, and were raising a 7-year-old niece, Wilma Grove. A daughter, Pauline, joined the family 13 months later. All three assisted in the business.
The Depression later closed many businesses, but Anderson was able to remain open.
Pauline's husband, Woodrow "Speck" Hoskins, started working in the business in 1949 and eventually became the manager. During the next 40 years, assisted by Jim Philpot and sons-in-law Philip Wonderly and Mark Weaver, the greenhouses grew from three to 19. Several years ago, three of the newer greenhouses collapsed because of heavy snow. They will be rebuilt in the near future.
During those years, Anderson was a wholesaler of azaleas and geraniums to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The Hoskins' children, Tim, Gail and Sue, have assisted in the business. Tim has left Anderson, but continues in the business as a grower in greenhouses from Alaska to Bermuda.
Gail Wonderly and Sue and Mark Weaver manage the business. Gail and Sue wear many hats in the business, while Mark is the grower.
Anderson has been a member of FTD wire service since 1928. They have been honored four times for being in the top 1,000 in sales, and in 2000 and 2001 were in the top 500.
Anderson is a complete shopping experience: a full-service florist, gift basket center, growers, retail greenhouses and gift shop. In the spring, the greenhouses overflow with bedding plants, both flowers and vegetables, plus perennials and herbs. Now the greenhouses are filled with poinsettias that were started in July.
Three generations of Andersons continue to work in the business. The second generation is represented by Pauline Hoskins, also known as Granny to customers and vendors. She works in the store in the morning and, in the afternoon, watches the fifth generation, 17-month-old Anderson Joy Wonderly, who also spends her mornings at the greenhouse.
Gail Wonderly and Sue and Mark Weaver represent the third generation.
The fourth generation consists of: Gail's son, Paul Wonderly, head designer, and his wife, Valerie, a designer who manages the new Homestead; Bronwen Weaver, 17, who works after school and on Saturdays; and Andrew Weaver, 11, who does odd jobs and plays on the computer.
