Published May 3, 2025
By Arlis Dittmer
In the 1930s, area naturalists were suggesting that Quincy residents plant a Dogwood tree, either pink or white. Mrs. Ward Best, president of the Garden Club at that time, encouraged the club members to plant the flowering trees throughout the city, and along the highways. At first the emphasis was on planting the pink variety. Arthur O. Lindsey, Sr., (1877-1956) was a champion of the Dogwood and the president of Quincy Newspapers Inc. He wished to promote Quincy as a city of Dogwood trees, with newspaper articles boosting the flowering tree. By 1960, Quincy was getting national recognition for it’s Dogwood trees.
The Dogwood is a native North American tree. It was known to be a favorite of Thomas Jefferson. The flower became the state flower of Virginia and was later designated as the state tree. The tree grows wild in this part of the Midwest.
The Dogwood can grow up to 40 feet. It has a short irregular trunk with a variety of colored blossoms. The actual flower is the small yellow and green center, surround by “bracts” which are usually pink or white. The tree once grew tall and sturdy, but according to the legend, it was the tree used for the cross in Jesus’s crucifixion. Because of that cruel purpose, the tree would never again grow tall and straight.
The Kiwanis Club began a Dogwood Planting Program in 1969 to encourage Quincyans to plant the flowering tree. The goal was to establish Quincy as the “northern most Dogwood City.”
It took forty years for a festival to be held celebrating the Dogwood. By the time of the first Dogwood Festival in 1970 Quincy was full of the flowering tree. Mrs. Mary Lou Kent, a future member of the Illinois General Assembly, was the Chamber of Commerce administrative assistant and the coordinator of the event for the Chamber. A committee was in charge of locating the trees and planning driving tours around the city. Washington Park was the headquarters and buses were made available for the free tours. Contests were held for the best-looking trees and the best lighted trees for evening tours. A panel of three judges rated the trees on quality, setting, and adaptability. Out of all the dogwood trees in the city, only forty trees entered into the contest were judged.
An entire weekend of activities was planned. A logo was designed for the festival and a contest was held for the best artist’s depiction of the tree. A pamphlet was designed which highlighted the dogwood and the city’s history. A Miss Quincy pageant was held, sponsored by the Jaycees. Two Quincy Cubs baseball games were played, and a Grand Prix of Karters race was held in South Park.
A series of three auctions were to finance the event. The auctions were described as unusual as they were auctioning items like two free ice cream sundaes a week for a year, a catered party for 12 to be held at your home, a secretary for a day, a three-day Arkansas vacation, and throwing the opening pitch at a Quincy Cubs baseball game.
Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell issued a special commemorative Dogwood license plate, the first such plate in the state’s history. The plates were used on the nine new cars offered at the auctions. The first of three auctions was held at the Friday night Crepe Paper Ball with auction two on Saturday morning and auction three in the afternoon. Over 300 items donated by local merchants were auctioned that first evening. The committee hoped to raise enough money to pay for the festival, to fund the city’s beautification programs and to finance a second festival in 1971.
The Crepe Paper Ball was held at the Starlight Terrace. The tickets were $10 per couple. The Ball featured the introduction of Miss Quincy contestants and a paper dress contest. There was a grand march of the 18 paper dress contestants, led by Mayor Don Nicholson and his wife. David Oakley was the master of ceremonies for the nearly four-hour event.
The actor and native Quincyan John Anderson was honored at this first festival. Though not part of the festival events, a dinner was held in his honor on May 1, the Friday evening of the three-day Dogwood Festival. On Saturday he led the parade. Applications to be in the parade had been sent to area towns, organizations, and bands.
After the parade ended in Washington Park, Anderson played Lincoln in a reenactment of part of the 1858 Lincoln Douglas Debate using some of the lines from the play, The Rivalry. James Andrews played Douglas with Mayor Don Nicholson opening the program. The May 3, 1970 Quincy Herald Whig reporting that the “Battle Hymn of the Republic and Where He leads Me, I Will Follow dramatically closed Quincy’s rendezvous with history.” A crowd of 5,000 attended that event.
Saturday evening Miss Quincy of 1970 was crowned at Morrison Theater. A Quincy College student, Barbara Rose of Hardin, Illinois, was the winner of the contest. The Jaycees, who had sponsored that event since 1947, reported that the audience of 1,500 was the most ever to attend a local beauty contest. The tickets to the event cost $2.00.
Sunday events included the afternoon Grand Prix of Karters in South Park. The crowd estimated that day was 10,000 spectators. The Quincy Cubs baseball game was at 8:00 pm. The Cubs also held a game Saturday evening for those not attending the Miss Quincy event.
As he left town on Tuesday May 5th from Baldwin Field, John Anderson talked about the amazing weekend, and was quoted in the Quincy Herald Whig saying, “The town is getting things moving. …I’m amazed at the great vitality of Quincy… .” And speaking about his opportunities to play Lincoln, he said, “Here is a town where history was made. I am a fellow who happened to be from Quincy, who was tall.”
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:
“Barbara Rose Miss Quincy.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 3, 1970, 1.
“Can It Survive Being Homebody?” Quincy Herald Whig, January 4, 1964, 8.
“Dogwood Festival Planned for May 1-3.” Quincy Herald Whig, February 15, 1970, 10.
“Dogwood is King Here This Weekend.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 1, 1970, 19.
“Dogwoods Sought for Festival Tour.” Quincy Herald Whig, March 8, 1970, 52.
“Dogwood theme for Miss Quincy.” Quincy Herald Whig, February 19, 1970, 7.
“Gala Ball Launches the Festival.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 3, 1970, 3.
“Garden Club Sponsoring Planting of Pink Dogwoods.” Quincy Herald Whig, April 1, 1962, 28.
“How Trees Were Judged, Suggestion for Future.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 1, 1970. 19.
“John Robert Anderson Returning as Festival Star.” Quincy Herald Whig April 5, 1970, 12.
“Kiwanis Tree Sales Pass 200.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 2, 1969, 20.
“Lincoln, Douglas Debate Slavery.” Quincy Herald Whig, May 3, 1970, 1, 3.
“Powell Issuing Special Dogwood Festival License Plate.” Quincy Herald Whig April 16, 1970, 18.
“Special Logo Designed For The Dogwood Festival.” Quincy Herald Whig, March 22, 1970, 12.
“Unusual Auction Will Finance the Festival.” Quincy Herald Whig, March 6, 1970, 16.
