April 25, 2024
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Sunday driving tour connects Reagan, Lowell Park lore

Dixon Park District organizes afternoon program featuring six park enthusiasts as historical interpreters

By Troy E. Taylor
The diving float is a permanent fixture outside the Reagan Bathhouse at Lowell Park near Dixon. The float, as seen on Wednesday, was anchored in the Rock River and swimmers leaped from it into the water during the summers when Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard. It is one of the sites that will be part of a driving tour on Sunday organized by the Dixon Park District.

The diving float is a permanent fixture outside the Reagan Bathhouse at Lowell Park near Dixon. The float, as seen on Wednesday, was anchored in the Rock River and swimmers leaped from it into the water during the summers when Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard. It is one of the sites that will be part of a driving tour on Sunday organized by the Dixon Park District. (Troy Taylor)

DIXON – Lowell Park will be the subject of a historical driving tour at 1 p.m. Sunday organized by the Dixon Park District.

There will be historical presentations at six sites within the park every half-hour through 4 p.m.

Even those familiar with the park see something new or engaging with each visit, said Lucas Pauley, director of marketing for the park district.

“I just went out there the other day to take some pictures,” Pauley said. “I feel like every time I go out there, I notice something different. There’s something to learn or read.”

The sites featured on the tour are the Lowell Pinetum, the Ruth Edwards Nature Center, Lowell Shelter, Vaile Shelter, Reagan Bathhouse and Woodcote cottage.

Deb Crowson, a 32-year member of the Kiwanis Club, will talk about the role the nature center serves.

Former Dixon mayor and attorney Jim Dixon, a descendant of the man who blazed Kellogg’s Trail, will discuss the ecological purpose of the Pinetum (which is pronounced pie-NEE-tum, by the way).

Ron Pritchard, a longtime member of the park board, will share the story of Lowell Shelter.

Jerry Schnake, who manages the volunteer staff at Reagan Boyhood Home, will provide background on the bathhouse, once the most popular site in the park, and how Ronald Reagan served as a lifeguard from 1926 to 1932.

Teresa Smith is an outdoors enthusiast who will share insights on the unique design and construction of Woodcote.

Tom Wadsworth, who conducted the research for all the presentations, will reveal the history of the Vaile and Pitcher shelters, their design and why they got their names.

The park faces the Rock River and has boat access. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2006.

The park encompasses Lowell Forest, an Illinois Nature Preserve. Within it is a hairpin-curve road that leads to Lowell Shelter and the Overlook.

The park lands were donated to the city in 1906 by Carlotta Lowell, daughter of a fallen Civil War general.

Limestone structures were constructed as public works projects.

A map of Lowell Park that was part of the application to United States Department of Interior and the National Park Service in 2002 to get on the National Register of Historic Places.

A map of Lowell Park that was part of the application to United States Department of Interior and the National Park Service in 2002 to get on the National Register of Historic Places. (United States Department of the Interior)

Timeline

Information about the history of Lowell Park taken from the application filed with the United States Department of Interior and the National Park Service in 2002.

1826. Boles Trail from Peoria to Galena crosses the park between what is now the Pinetum and the South Road.

1836. John Richards builds a house on the property.

1842. Land surveyed by Col. William Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton.

1860. Charles Russell Lowell Jr. of Burlington, Iowa, purchased property. He was killed at Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864 and it was inherited by daughter Carlotta.

1906. Park is offered to the city of Dixon.

1907. Grand opening attended by an estimated 6,000 people for a Merchants picnic.

Lowell Shelter, a limestone structure situated atop the Overlook is seen Wednesday at Lowell Park. The shelter is accessible via Hairpin Road within Lowell Forest and is one of the six place that will be part of a driving tour Sunday highlighting the park's historic sites.

Lowell Shelter, a limestone structure situated atop the Overlook is seen Wednesday at Lowell Park. The shelter is accessible via Hairpin Road within Lowell Forest and is one of the six place that will be part of a driving tour Sunday highlighting the park's historic sites. (Troy Taylor)

1908. A superintendent is appointed to implement conservation and architectural plans made by the Olmsted Brothers architectural firm of Boston. Those plans include a caretaker’s house, the Woodcote, made of limestone quarried on the site.

1911. O.C. Simonds becomes park supervisor.

1921. Bus service from Dixon, a longer dock at the beach, a bathhouse and electric service are added to the park. The new lights allow the beach to stay open until 10 p.m.

1926. Ronald Reagan applies for the job of lifeguard.

Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard for seven summers at Lowell Park in Dixon. This photo was taken by his mother in 1927 and is considered by some experts to be the most published photo of any president. (Dixon Telegraph)

1933. Civil Works Administration projects begin for stone piers at entrance, building shelters, roads and hardwood picnic tables.

1934. Pine seedlings placed in the Pinetum. Work relief superintendent for Lee County was J.E. Reagan, father of Ronald Reagan.

1942. Commissioners report that, after 35 years, the park improvements established by O.C. Simonds’ plans were completed.

1959. Beach closed because of disuse after the opening of Memorial Pool in Vaile Park.

1960s. Playground equipment installed.

1978. Nature center building erected by Kiwanis Club. Charles Walgreen Jr. donates a parcel of 43 acres bordering the south side of the park.

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Troy Taylor

Troy E. Taylor

Was named editor for Saukvalley.com and the Gazette and Telegraph in 2021. An Illinois native, he has been a reporter or editor in daily newspapers since 1989.