Published July 5, 2025
By Arlis Dittmer
A picnic simply means a meal eaten outdoors, or al fresco dining. Some historians believe that the origin of the word picnic, historically spelled pic nic, is from 18th century France where aristocrats would eat elaborate meals outdoors. Each guest would bring a dish to pass as in today’s potlucks. Victorians in England also enjoyed the custom. Even Jane Austin wrote about picnics.
The custom came to America and can be associated with more mobility and more leisure time for the middle and upper classes. People escaping the din of city living would sometimes picnic in a cemetery, as they did in Quincy’s Woodland Cemetery. Artists such as Thomas Cole depicted a picnic in an 1846 painting, as did Edouard Manet in his 1863 painting of artists and models, although his is a little risqué. A picnic would have been considered indulgent and leisurely.
There were even jokes about picnics. The February 17, 1855 Quincy Weekly Whig wrote, “What beau is least liked by young ladies on a picnic? Ans. A rain-bow.”
An author, named Visitor, wrote in the August 7, 1844 Quincy Whig about “the calm, innocent, and quiet scenes of yesterday,” while describing a picnic of about 120 people of all ages enjoying “the green turf our table, the bright and cloudless sky our only covering– pure cold water as ever gushed from the solid rock supplied our thirst. All was gaiety and good humor.”
End of the year school picnics became a regular routine, both in the public schools, established in Quincy in 1840, and the private ladies academies. They were held at the various springs in the area. A brief notice in the May 23, 1852 Quincy Weekly Herald, described a school picnic of the Rev. Mr. Gidding’s school and ended by saying, the students “are very nice girls.”
The practice of school picnics continued throughout the 19th century as the June 1, 1859 Daily Quincy Herald noted, “The public schools of this city are to have a grand picnic, at Watson’s spring, on Friday next. It has been the custom to give the juveniles attending the public schools an entertainment of this sort once every year, and the little folks never fail to enjoy themselves hugely on such occasions.”
End of the school year picnics were not always serene. The June 2, 1868 Daily Quincy Herald wrote about the Independent German Schools event held at Roller’s Garden. “We did not learn how the disturbance began but it is said that the Germans were provoked to an attack by the uncivil conduct of some young men who had no business at the picnic except to ridicule the ‘Dutch’.”
Before there were public parks suitable for picnics, there were squares such as Washington Square, Jefferson Square, and Madison Square. The squares were never thought to be a proper place for picnics, hence the popularity of public gardens, creeks, such as Curtis, and springs, Watson’s, Leonard’s, and Sulphur springs. Madison Square became the first public park in Quincy in 1891 followed by Riverview Park. Riverview was the first park which followed the topography of site and was popular for strolling and observing the Mississippi River.
Churches and organizations have always held picnics. Political parties also held picnics, particularly during the tumultuous election cycle of 1860. Various communities in Adams County held political rallies and basket picnics, as they were now called. These events were heavily publicized and then written about by the local newspapers. The 1860 presidential race between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln took place during a tense period in American history. The rallies were mostly held outside due to the anticipated size of the crowds. A notice in the August 25, 1860 Quincy Herald invited Republicans of Payson and Kinderhook to join the “Grand Mass Meeting and Basket Picnic at the south-end of Stone’s Prairie.” Regrettably, the event turned into the Stone’s Prairie Riot due to clashes between the Wide-Awake supporters of Lincoln and the pro Douglas people, plus the large amount of alcohol consumed by both factions.
Fortunately, not all political rallies turned into riots. “The Ellington Republican Club will hold another BASKET PIC-NIC AT SULPHUR SPRINGS” begins a notice from the August 25, 1860 Quincy Whig and Republican, mentioning “distinguished speakers both in English and German….”
With the beginning of the Civil War, picnics became military with a community hosting their soldiers. In Quincy, many such picnic events were held on Alstyne Prairie just east of 12th Street. The July 4, 1861 Quincy Daily Herald invited, “Every man, woman and child, who desires to have a glorious independent celebration of the 4th of July, is hereby cordially invited to shoulder his or her basket, duly provisioned, and appear at the grove on Alstyne’s track….” Wagons drove through town picking up food from those who wanted to help but were not going to the soldiers picnic.
What did people eat at those early outdoor celebrations? Their choices were very similar to what we bring to a picnic today. Cold ham and roast beef, cheese and chicken sandwiches, homemade pickles and bread were the usual fare. Sponge cake, pound cake, macaroons and sugared fruit were served for dessert. Picnics were held near a spring or creek for fresh water but also tea, coffee, lemonade and punch were served. People dressed well to impress and planned simple entertainments.
The twentieth century brought changes to picnics with outdoor cooking. Back yard barbeques, portable grills brought to parks and picnic tables became ubiquitous, particularly after World War II ended in 1945. Dad managed the grill while mom made the side dishes. Family reunion, graduations, and birthday events were celebrated outdoors. Who doesn’t love a picnic!
Arlis Dittmer is a retired health science librarian and former president of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County. During her years with Blessing Health System, she became interested in medical and nursing history—both topics frequently overlooked in history.
Sources:
“Another Pic-Nic! Quincy Whig and Republican, August 25, 1860, 2.
“Conundrums.” Quincy Weekly Whig, February 17, 1855, 3.
“A General Basket Pic-Nic. Quincy Daily Herald, July 4, 1861, 3.
Hull, Kent. A Tale of One village: Stone’s Prairie Becomes Plainville.” Quincy Herald Whig, April 23, 2022.
“Pic-Nic.” Quincy Weekly Herald, May 24, 1852, 1.
“A Picnic Row.” Quincy Daily Herald, June 2, 1868, 4.
“Special Notices.” Daily Quincy Herald, June 1, 1859, 3.
“Union Mass Meeting.” Quincy Herald, September 10, 1860, 3.
Visitor. “The Pic-Nic.” Quincy Whig, August 7, 1844, 3.
