Once Upon a Time: Stories from Adams County

Every Sunday, the Herald-Whig features fascinating glimpses into Adams County's past through our "Once Upon a Time" column. HSQAC members research and share compelling narratives about the people, places, and moments that built our community. Browse our collection of articles from August 2011 to present using our searchable database by title, subject, or author.

If you are interested in submitting an article for consideration for the Once Upon a Time column, please email us or call the HSQAC Office at 217-222-1835.

saint mary hospital quincy 1

The Early Years of St. Mary’s Hospital

When St. Mary’s Hospital opened in 1867 the first floor consisted of a chapel, a reception room, chaplain’s quarters, a guest room, a pharmacy, and a parlor. The basement held…

saint mary hospital quincy 1867

St. Mary’s Hospital Begins

Quincy’s position on the Mississippi River made it a logical site for Union Army hospitals during the Civil War. After the war ended, the growing city had only one hospital,…

Marvin “Pee Wee” Wolverton, A Highly Decorated WW II Flyer: Part 2

It’s not often that a general writes a parent about a son, but that is what happened. Lena Wolverton received a letter from Lt. General George C. Kenney, commander of…

Marvin “Pee Wee” Wolverton, A Highly Decorated WW II Flyer: Part 1

Technical Sergeant Marvin B. Wolverton’s military occupation was that of an Airplane Armorer and Gunner assigned to B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. During World War II, he served in the following…

Honeymoon Express 1 - Plane

The “Honeymoon Express” Arrived in Quincy in 1919 to the Delight of Thousands

On a pleasant September morning in 1919, Lieutenant Samuel “Sammy” Pickard, a daring World War I pilot with a penchant for adventure, soared through the skies in his trusty biplane,…

Blessing 1880

The Early Years of Blessing Hospital

To continue the Blessing story, the hospital archives has a ledger from October 1875 to April of 1876 which contains brief notes on 144 hospital visits. These notes show that…

Blessing Hospital

Blessing Hospital Begins

As a port city on the Mississippi River, Quincy had travelers, Civil War veterans, widows, and orphans passing through. Many times these folks needed assistance particularly during the winter. In…

Etta Semple

Etta Semple: Freethinker, Feminist, and Newspaper Writer

Three major social forces converged in late 19th century America: the Victorian Era with its rigid conformity and moral strictures; the Gilded Age with immense disparities between wealth and poverty;…