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In 1920, land was donated by citizens in [[Sumter, South Carolina]] to create Memorial Park, as a memorial to soldiers from the first World War and Dillon was hired to complete the design and supervise the project.<ref name="husband's name" /> Her 1922 book, ''The Blossom Circle of the Year in Southern Gardens'', became widely known<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" /> and then in 1927, she pushed for the founding of Sumter's first [[garden club]].<ref name="husband's name" /> When she moved to Sumter, Dillon continued with her writing, publishing columns on gardening which regularly appeared in both ''[[The Item|The Sumter Daily Item]]'' and ''[[The State (newspaper)|The State]]'' published in [[Columbia, South Carolina]].<ref name=plaque>{{cite news|title=Fitting Tribute Paid to Julia Lester Dillon|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rDEvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1372%2C6335381|accessdate=22 December 2015|publisher=The Sumter Daily Item|date=March 31, 1965|location=Sumter, South Carolina|page=6B}}</ref> Upon completion of the city park, Dillon was offered a full-time position as the city landscape architect,<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" /> in 1928 as the Sumter Superintendent of Parks and Trees. Among many projects she planned during this period was the 1938 design for Swan Lake Iris Gardens, though the land was not donated until 1949, after<ref name="Swan park">{{cite news|title=New project tracks endangered Trumpeter swan|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W28oAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FgYGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2326%2C2439557|accessdate=22 December 2015|publisher=The Item|date=February 16, 2000|location=Sumter, South Carolina}}</ref> Dillon's retirement in 1948.<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" />
In 1920, land was donated by citizens in [[Sumter, South Carolina]] to create Memorial Park, as a memorial to soldiers from the first World War and Dillon was hired to complete the design and supervise the project.<ref name="husband's name" /> Her 1922 book, ''The Blossom Circle of the Year in Southern Gardens'', became widely known<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" /> and then in 1927, she pushed for the founding of Sumter's first [[garden club]].<ref name="husband's name" /> When she moved to Sumter, Dillon continued with her writing, publishing columns on gardening which regularly appeared in both ''[[The Item|The Sumter Daily Item]]'' and ''[[The State (newspaper)|The State]]'' published in [[Columbia, South Carolina]].<ref name=plaque>{{cite news|title=Fitting Tribute Paid to Julia Lester Dillon|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rDEvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1372%2C6335381|accessdate=22 December 2015|publisher=The Sumter Daily Item|date=March 31, 1965|location=Sumter, South Carolina|page=6B}}</ref> Upon completion of the city park, Dillon was offered a full-time position as the city landscape architect,<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" /> in 1928 as the Sumter Superintendent of Parks and Trees. Among many projects she planned during this period was the 1938 design for Swan Lake Iris Gardens, though the land was not donated until 1949, after<ref name="Swan park">{{cite news|title=New project tracks endangered Trumpeter swan|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W28oAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FgYGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2326%2C2439557|accessdate=22 December 2015|publisher=The Item|date=February 16, 2000|location=Sumter, South Carolina}}</ref> Dillon's retirement in 1948.<ref name="The Cultural Landscape Foundation" />


She died on March 24, 1959 in Augusta, Georgia and was buried at the Magnolia Cemetery beside her husband.<ref name="bio SC" /> Posthumously, a plaque bearing her name was erected by the Sumter Garden Club to honor her contributions to the city.<ref name=plaque />
She died on March 24, 1959 in Augusta, Georgia and was buried at the Magnolia Cemetery beside her husband.<ref name="bio SC" /> Posthumously, a plaque bearing her name was erected by the Sumter Garden Club to honor her contributions to the city<ref name=plaque /> and in 2003, she was inscribed upon the Georgia Women of Achievement roster.<ref name="bio SC" />


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 22:30, 22 December 2015

Julia Lester Dillon
Born(1871-03-09)March 9, 1871
Warren County, Georgia
DiedMarch 24, 1959(1959-03-24) (aged 88)
Augusta, Georgia
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)teacher, landscape architect

Julia Lester Dillon was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement roster in 2003.

Biography

Julia Lester was born on 9 March[1] 1871 in Warren County, Ga., to Martha [née Pemble]] and Benjamin D. Lester and grew up in Augusta, Georgia.[2] In 1866, she graduated from Tubman High School of Augusta[3] and went on to further her education at Peabody College, where she earned her teaching credentials in 1890.[4] That same year, she began teaching and was working at the Davidson Grammar School[3] in Augusta.[5] Lester married William Bennett Dillon,[6] who was principal of Central Grammar School, in 1892 but was widowed by 1894. Forced to be self-supporting, Dillon returned to teaching and taught for several years at Houghton Grammar School, in Louisiana between 1905 and 1906 and then at a women's night school, D’Antignac School, for several years. Because of hearing loss, possibly due to diphtheria, she looked for other sources of income, including writing and becoming a stenographer for Dr. T. E. Oertel for a time.[3]

Landscape career

In 1907 she took courses at Columbia University and later at Harvard College in landscape design. She began a private practice in Augusta working on residential landscapes and expanded to the public sector, completing projects for both parks and schools. She continued writing in the 1910s and 1920s publishing articles about southern gardening in The Florists’ Exchange, The Flower Grower and House and Garden,[4] as well as publishing an on-going column on gardening for The Augusta Chronicle.[3] Between 1914 and 1917, she was commissioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to landscape several post offices and custom houses[4] in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina.[6] In addition to her commissioned work, Dillon also created a project to teach gardening to children. The Merchant and Manufacturers Association provided funds for school children to plant on empty lots and offered prizes for beautification. The project was so successful that it was launched into a city-wide campaign which included involvement from businesses and various civic organizations. During World War I, Dillon joined the Red Cross and along with other women participated in the Woman’s Messenger Motor Service and made both garments and surgical supplies. In 1919, she served on the board of the State Federation of Professional and Businesswomen’s Club, which in addition to improving the professional prospects of women, urged the legislature to grant suffrage.[3]

In 1920, land was donated by citizens in Sumter, South Carolina to create Memorial Park, as a memorial to soldiers from the first World War and Dillon was hired to complete the design and supervise the project.[6] Her 1922 book, The Blossom Circle of the Year in Southern Gardens, became widely known[4] and then in 1927, she pushed for the founding of Sumter's first garden club.[6] When she moved to Sumter, Dillon continued with her writing, publishing columns on gardening which regularly appeared in both The Sumter Daily Item and The State published in Columbia, South Carolina.[7] Upon completion of the city park, Dillon was offered a full-time position as the city landscape architect,[4] in 1928 as the Sumter Superintendent of Parks and Trees. Among many projects she planned during this period was the 1938 design for Swan Lake Iris Gardens, though the land was not donated until 1949, after[8] Dillon's retirement in 1948.[4]

She died on March 24, 1959 in Augusta, Georgia and was buried at the Magnolia Cemetery beside her husband.[2] Posthumously, a plaque bearing her name was erected by the Sumter Garden Club to honor her contributions to the city[7] and in 2003, she was inscribed upon the Georgia Women of Achievement roster.[2]

References

  1. ^ Lythgoe, Darrin (2001). "Julia Lester". Singleton Family. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Moore, Ivy (February 26, 2003). "Georgia Names Dillon 'Woman of Achievement'". Sumter, South Carolina: The Item. p. 4A. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Caldwell, Lee Ann (February–March 2013). "Julia Lester Dillon: A Most Remarkable Woman". Augusta, Georgia: Augusta Magazine. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Julia Lester Dillon". Washington, D.C.: The Cultural Landscape Foundation. 2001. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. ^ "City of Augusta Pictured in the Exposition Edition of 1891" (PDF). Augusta, Georgia: The Augusta Chronicle. 1891. p. 13.
  6. ^ a b c d McElveen, W. A. “Bubba” (March 2, 1995). "Julia Dillon made Sumter a prettier place". Sumter, South Carolina: The Item. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Fitting Tribute Paid to Julia Lester Dillon". Sumter, South Carolina: The Sumter Daily Item. March 31, 1965. p. 6B. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  8. ^ "New project tracks endangered Trumpeter swan". Sumter, South Carolina: The Item. February 16, 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2015.


Category:1916 births Category:1959 deaths Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard Category:American women architects Category:Peabody College alumni Category:Educators from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:People from Augusta, Georgia

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