Page 14 | Saturday, February 23, 2019
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF GRACE A. DOW
Continued from page 13
a couple of the Dows’ affluence to own.
“Herbert always experimented with his land,” Engel said. “He kept detailed journals of the flowers, fruits and vegetables he grew. He noted things such as when he heard the first frogs croaking in the spring, and even wrote down the chemical equations for the various pesticides and fungicides he sprayed on his orchard land. I always imagine that his land contained his crop gardens, his ornamental gardens and then his orchards.” According to Engel, a trip to Japan in 1923 had a profound influence on Herbert Dow’s green thumb. “He began rearranging his ornamental gardens to mimic those Japanese gardens he visited. His letters convey a deep appreciation for this style of landscape architecture. He even hired Japanese gardeners and landscapers to work on his property.” It’s said Herbert wanted to share his gardens with the public and began organizing tours in the late 1920s. “He had always used them for entertaining and as a place for his family to explore, but these guided tours really allowed anyone to come in and see the gardens,” Engel said. After Herbert’s death, Grace further formalized the public tours. A guard was stationed at the drive and a log kept of the visitors coming through, Engel noted. “While we’ve never seen anything where she wrote down why she did this, we would be willing to hypothesize that she did it to honor Herbert,” Engel added. “The gardens meant a lot to him and she likely saw the joy that they brought to others.” Herbert passed away in 1930 at the age of 64 and Grace in 1953 at 84. Upon her death, she left the contents of her home to The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation which she had established in 1936.
ourmidland.com
“The thing most people are struck by in the house is the warmth,” she said. “I think they are expecting to walk into an imposing mansion, given the bit of Herbert Dow history they know. They are prepared for a Ford Estate or Meadowbrook Hall experience and that’s not at all what they see. The home looks and feels lived in.” The Dows didn’t want to stand out. They wanted to fit in. The Pines of Dow Gardens 1982 To this day, the home is still filled with Dow family belongings. According to Engel, Herbert and Grace were avid art collectors and enthusiasts. They exposed their children to art early, often taking them to art museums and galleries when they traveled. The couple purchased art for their home, some of which among other personal effects of Grace Dow may be seen at The Pines today.
“People are struck by the fact that the artifacts in the home actually belonged to the family,” Engel said. “We don’t have reproductions or donations from others, so visitors are actually seeing the styles, tastes and values of Herbert and Grace.” Visitors, Engel noted, are often pleasantly surprised when they first visit the Dow home. It’s not the palatial mansion one might expect
SCHEDULE A HOME TOUR Guided Tours Tuesdays, Thursdays at 10:00am Fridays at 10:00am, 11:00am Limited space, reservations recommended. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour so that we can accommodate you. Admission Fees Adults $7.00 + garden admission Children $3.00 + garden admission Motorcoaches Welcome Contact us to reserve a special guided tour! School Tours Welcome $1.00 per person Call to reserve a special guided tour!
989 631 2677
“I think the Pines really illustrate the fact that the Dows didn’t want an imposing mansion that would stand out from their neighbors and fellow Midland residents,” Engel said. “They wanted to be a thread in the fabric of the city, just like everyone else. The Dows were modest people.” Stepped-up promotion and new special programs have shed new light on how life was lived inside The Pines. Friday at The Pines, an in-depth look at the home’s artifacts, and self-guided tours on Saturdays with docents available to answer questions are among the offerings. Visitors also have the opportunity to see the Dow home during weekly tours conducted Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. In 2018 over 1,000 people participated in the various historical programming, ranging from tea parties, a Gatsby Party and Christmas at The Pines. “Many people had never been through The Pines because, although Dow Gardens had offered tours of the home for several years, they weren’t promoted much,” Engel said. “Providing more opportunities for people to see the home through general tours was a big goal. There are always new and fun things happening at The Pines and people can like The Pines of Dow Gardens on Facebook to stay up to date with that.”