OWASCO - An open courtyard in the northeast corner of Owasco's Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural & Rural Life Museum holds a special garden - an herb garden set in four raised areas around a bubbling fountain. But the garden was never meant to be secret.

On Saturday the George Komer Courtyard and Herb Garden was unveiled at an open house and dedication honoring Komer and all he did to make the museum what it is today.

Keynote speaker Norm Riley, long-standing chairman of the museum's board of commissioners, a founder of the museum and friend of Ward O'Hara and Komer, told the story of Komer's role in establishing the museum.

“One day I was working,” Riley said, “when I heard somebody hollering ‘hello.' It was George. He'd retired and wanted to do museum work. From then on he was working. He's done more for this museum probably than Ward O'Hara himself.”

Riley listed the tasks Komer took on, from the restoration of the 1800s kitchen, to the veteran's exhibit, even to filling the cracks in the floor and painting it.

“He filled the wall with pictures of all the villages in Cayuga County,” Riley said. “We just couldn't get along without him.”

“He took it from jodhpurs in our stage of life to the tuxedo,” said museum volunteer and event organizer Martha Shaw. She said Cayuga County's museums have escalated. “They are very map worthy,” she said, noting Canadian visitors marvel at this area's historical treasures.

An earlier herb garden was started but fell into disrepair, so Komer proposed to bring it up to date. He enlisted SUNY Morrisville's landscaping department to do the plans. Nine students drew up plans for the garden, which museum commissioners reviewed, combining two they liked.

“When George went to Morrisville and came up with the cost, then we knew he was crazy,” Riley said, “but he went after grants.”

The fountain and the child's bench in the courtyard of the herb garden were donated by Jackie Komenecky, dedicated in memory of her husband, William Komenecky, “a beloved member of the O'Hara family,” Riley said.

Riley showed Komer the wooden sign he carved to hang over the herb garden entrance - “The George Komer Courtyard.”

County legislator Steve Cuddeback presented Komer with a flowerpot of herbs.

“When George came to us about the herb garden,” Cuddeback said, “I thought, 'How much can that possibly cost?' I was stunned when I saw the before and after photos.”

Komer spoke about the initial reaction to his herb garden proposal.

“On the night I presented it,” he said, “I mentioned the figure $20,000 and they almost fell on the floor. It turned out to be a good deal because Soil and Water did all the work.”

Ron Podolak, executive director of the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, said Americorps helped provide the labor for the project, while Soil and Water's machines and some personnel were used.

“It was a group effort with eight to 10 people, college kids,” he said. “There's a rich heritage of agriculture in this county, and we are proud to be able to showcase it.”

Komer acknowledged the efforts of Gary Duckett and Michelle Lincoln of Cayuga County Parks and Trails, too. He noted that a four-person planning committee designed the whole museum and put an herb garden in the plan that was supposed to be completed in 2007. It was completed in the fall of 2008 for $20,500. The Friends of the Agricultural Museum contributed $3,000, Emerson foundation, $7,500 and Cayuga County Legislature, $10,000.

“We were only a year or so off,” he said. “We hope the people of the city of Auburn will enjoy the garden as well.” Only 10 percent of those visiting the museum each year come from the city, Komer said.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net