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Siuslaw News
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 11, 2016 ❘
SECTION B
SENIOR NEWS
CALENDAR
Coast Life
REIGNING
RHODY
INSIDE — 5B
109th annual Rhododendron Festival begins tonight with showcase
F
lowers, flowers
everywhere.”
It started with
the rhododendrons, grac-
ing every area hill and
hillock, so that Florence
became known as the
City of Rhododendrons
in 1981. To celebrate the
flower, and encourage
visitors to “Watch
Florence Grow,” organ-
izers created the first
Rhododendron Festival
in 1908.
Throughout May 1908, excitement
built in Florence, a small town of 500,
for the new
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
festival.
Siuslaw News
Posters
declared an address by Mayor George
P. Edwards, a clam bake, a speech
CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
from “Poet of the Sierras” Joaquin
The 13 members of the 2016 Rhododendron Court invite the community to attend tonight’s
Miller, a parade and a barge procession
Rhododendron Court Scholarship Showcase at the Florence Events Center at 6:30 p.m. The three
on Siuslaw River.
Senior Princesses from Siuslaw High School will lead teams of the Junior Court through a series of
“A good time is assured to all,” an
activities before one of the seniors is crowned Queen Rhododendra.
article in The West read.
A big part of the first festival was the held Rhododendron Day in June.
“Rhododendrons are at their best and
selection of nine local girls in the first
the weather is fine,” reported The
Rhododendron Court. Only one could
Siuslaw Oar.
be chosen Queen Rhododendra, and
Queen Rhododendra returned to
Laura Johnson became the first rhody
Florence
in 1936 as Gail Darling chris-
royalty, winning a popular vote by two
tened the Siuslaw River Bridge.
votes.
Commemorative Rhododendron
The two-day festival also included a
picnic, an excursion to the beach, a visit Festival buttons bore an image of the
now iconic bridge.
from Mapleton students, races, music
From then until 1941, festivities were
and festoons of rhododendrons all over
held in several of the Kyle Buildings on
area businesses and residences.
Main Street (now Bay Street) and in
After the festival ended, The West
said it was a “memorable day” and The Glenada.
The Siuslaw Oar reported, “There is a
Oregonian said, “Florence will gradual-
wholesome
welcome awaiting every
ly become famous for its annual carni-
visitor, and you will find pleasant
val and its millions of wild rhododen-
SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTO
thoughts that will last undiminished for
drons.”
“Poet of the Sierras” Joaquin Miller crowns Laura Johnson queen of
another year.”
As predicted by The Oregonian, the
the first Rhododendron Festival in Florence in 1908.
Organizers delayed the festival again
festival continued with the popular elec-
from
1942
to
1946,
this
time
due
to
tion of Queen Rhododendra until 1914,
World War II. However, the rhododen-
Scholarship Showcase tonight
when both a queen and an empress
drons continued to bloom and attract
at 6:30 p.m. at the Florence
were crowned. Empress Rhododendra
Events Center, 715 Quince St.,
Eleanor Saubert and Queen of Florence visitors to the coast.
The Browning Brothers Carnival
for the traditional opening of
Mary Cassidy were joined by Queen of
reopened
Rhody
Days
in
1947.
The
fes-
the 109th annual
Mapleton Lulu Beers, Queen of North
tival also dedicated the Florence
Rhododendron Festival.
Fork Alfrieda Lindgren and Queen of
Municipal Airport with air acrobatics by
The three Rhododendron
Glenada Jane Colter. The local theater
pilot Dale Hall.
Princesses of the Senior Court
also showed “a free entertainment of
Florence
— Siuslaw High School senior
moving pictures.”
hasn’t
Lyndsey Keppol and juniors
In 1915, Rhody
“Florence will gradually
missed a
Hanna Anderson and Taylor
Days added
Coolidge — will lead teams,
motorcycle races
become famous for its annual festival
since.
give a speech and show off
at the beach and
carnival
and
its
millions
of
wild
SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTO
Crowds
their talents as the judges pick
provided an
Last year, 25,000 people turned out to
rhododendrons.”
continue to
the next Queen Rhododendra.
excursion train
participate in Rhody Days. This year’s fes-
grow with
Ten area elementary stu-
from Eugene to
each year of the festival. Last year,
dents join the senior girls. The tivities include the Junior Parade, Kiwanis
Mapleton, where festival-goers ate a
Kids Games and the Coast Radio Classic
more than 25,000 people visited the
first Junior Princess Court
free meal of crab and salmon before
Car Cruise on Saturday, May 21, and the
area for the festival. This year will fea-
was established in 1953, with
boarding boats bound for Florence.
Grand Floral Parade on Sunday, May 22.
ture
barbecues,
a
car
cruise,
kid
activi-
five girls. This year features
From 1916 to 1934, Florence did not
ties, a carnival, the Florence Regional
the traditional Junior Princess
hold the festival “on account of condi-
will start the Rhododendron Festival
tions” such as World War I. These years Arts Alliance Arts Festival, the Siuslaw Court with the first Junior Prince
Chapter of the American Rhododendron Court. They will compete in team
on Wednesday, May 18. The carnival
saw the establishment of U.S. Coast
Society’s Late Rhododendron Flower
events to win prizes during the show- first came to Florence in 1950.
Guard Station Siuslaw River in 1917
Show
and
the
Grand
Floral
Parade
on
Look for a full list of Rhododendron
case.
and the opening of Sea Lion Caves in
Sunday, May 22, at noon.
Festival activities in the Siuslaw
After Queen Rhododendra is
1932.
Head to the Rhododendron Court
News on May 18.
crowned, Davis Amusement Carnival
In 1935, the Chamber of Commerce
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
“