ourmidland.com
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF GRACE A. DOW
Saturday, February 23, 2019 | Page 3
said. “Although he eventually ends up traveling for business purposes, he seemed to be a hands-on company president and wanted to be around the nucleus of The Dow Chemical Company. Described as kind, funny, driven and, of course, generous, Grace A. Dow will forever be linked with Midland. And her tireless efforts to help Midland thrive on so many levels will always live on in the lives of others.
Macauley Whiting, Jr. , president and trustee of The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation: Christmas. She was a member of various clubs and served on the board of the Carnegie Library for 42 years.
Grace Dow was born in Midland and lived her entire life in the city. She traveled the world and could have lived anywhere, but always chose to return to Midland. Throughout her life Grace was deeply involved in the Midland community. She donated generously to local civic organizations and individuals in need. Grace served all people. She gifted bridal wreath to newlyweds, provided meals for the ill, and made it possible for Main Street to be decorated at
In 1936 Grace established The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in memory of her late husband to continue their legacy of generosity. Its primary mission is to improve the educational, religious, economic, and cultural lives of the people of Midland and the state of Michigan. In its 80+ year history the Foundation has given over $700 million to worthy organizations. Over half of these gifts have been in Midland. Grace and Herbert passed along their spirit of community involvement and philanthropy to their children and subsequent generations. The Dow family continues to be deeply involved in Midland even as it has multiplied and spread across the country. The descendants of Grace and Herbert
have always constituted the majority of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Grace and her family were grounded in a culture of humility as was demonstrated by the only home they built as a couple. Their house, the Pines, has been preserved largely in the condition it was at her death in 1953. It is open to the public for special programs and tours. Today the Dow Gardens is perhaps the most visible part of the Dow family legacy. Herbert acquired a love of gardening from his grandfather during his early childhood in Connecticut. Both Herbert and Grace had a great appreciation of beauty, so they planted gardens around their family home. They liked to experiment and try new things and were inspired with new ideas experienced in their world travels. This spirit of innovation continues to this day, as the Gardens has been expanded and improved.
HERBERT H. DOW 1910