THE MARGARET HAVENS
HISTORICAL MEMORIAL GARDEN

          The Margaret Havens Historical Memorial Garden was a collaborative effort between the City of Stafford and the Stafford Historical Society.  Instrumental in the process was the City's Parks Committee, under the leadership of its Chairman, Councilman John Rose.  Working in concert, the Parks Committee and Historical Society, which was led by its President, Councilman Jeff Smith, developed plans and a concept to recognize the history of Stafford and the Stafford Municipal School District.  A key contributor in this endeavor was John Ferro, who strongly advocated such a venue when he was President of the Historical Society.  With City Council's authorization to fund the project,  Mr. Ferro was designated to sell the benches, pavers and bricks as not only a source of revenue but, most importantly, to provide families and individuals with a connection to Stafford and SMSD to demonstrate their affiliation and affection.  No discussion of this project would be complete without recognizing the crucial contribution of City Public Works Director Lawrence Vaccaro, who was pivotal in planning, coordinating and constructing this facility and overseeing its every detail.

This Garden is named in honor of Margaret Havens.  She was a dynamic energy in elevating the City and was fervent in the advocating, creating and implementing of SMSD.  Born Margaret Bonano in Steele Store, Texas, in 1918, she moved to Stafford as a teenager to complete her secondary education.  Upon graduation from Missouri City High School, she enrolled and was graduated from Southwest Texas State in two-and-a-half years.  She returned to Stafford and began a career in education which spanned 57 years.  Included in that vocation were 48 years as a teacher in the Missouri City School District, which later became a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District, where she concluded her career as a coordinator.  She retired in 1984, and then sought and was elected to three terms as an SMSD Trustee.  Her proudest moments in education came in the lengthy tenure as a second grade teacher and in assisting with formulating policies for SMSD.  Also noteworthy was her selection during World War II, when no qualified males were available, to serve as principal of the segregated "Latin School" for Hispanic students. 

In addition to her role as an educator in the community, she was active throughout her adult life in many civic and political activities in Stafford, and was one of the founders of the Historical Society.  After beginning her teaching career, she married Leon Scarcella, a musician and the first band director in the community.  He died in 1951.  They had one child, Leonard Scarcella, who became and currently serves as Mayor of the City of Stafford.  She later married Louis Havens.  Margaret Havens died in 2003.  The Historical Society, by unanimous vote, recommended to City Council that this Garden be named in her honor.

This Garden is dedicated with the intention of standing as a lasting monument to all the dedicated people over the past 185 years who promoted and supported Stafford and the SMSD.