The Joseph E. Meyer Memorial Pavilion and the classroom may be reserved for various group activities. For information please contact the Taltree office at
219-462-0025 or .

Joseph E. Meyer Memorial Pavilion

The Joseph E. Meyer Memorial Pavilion now comfortably nestled in the woods on the shore of the Heron Pond, provides a staging point for programs, seminars, and retreats and is available for special functions. Activities hosted at the pavilion can include weddings, meetings, classes and other community gatherings. The area around the pavilion is artistically landscaped, inspired by native species and further complemented by paths and benches.

This generous gift given to Taltree by the Melton and Meyer families honors a man who became interested in herbs and botanicals as a youth. He was a self-educated botanist and in 1910 founded the INdiana Botanic Gardens of Hammond. He also authored four books! The Sealed Book (1909), The Herbalist (1918), Old Tamarack's Collection (1941), and The Old Herb Doctor (1941) before his death in 1950.

"It was the biggest and most exciting project of 2001", said Michael Barrett, Taltree Groundsman, in his newsletter article about the pavilion in the February-May 2002 issue. Ground was broken in the early fall of 2000 and the foundation poured in November. The construction of the octagon shaped structure, built with limestone and heavy timber, continued throughout 2001. During the winter of 2002 steps, retaining walls, and stone paths were installed using 40 tons of Wisconsin flagstone. Grading of the site and improvement to the pavilion's service road continued. In the spring of 2002, staff and volunteers began workin on the landscaping around the pavilion using native shrubs and perennials. The lawn and arum pond were installed just prior to the pavilion's dedication on September 28, 2002.