Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - February 16, 1986
By Georgiann Curry
Vigo County Historical Society

Wedding day attire, 1893

The historical treasure of the week is a wedding dress and hat which belonged to Sarah Ellen McNabb, who married John Henry Viehe April 26, 1893, in Petersburg.

Many weddings at that time took place in the bride's home, a friend's home or in the parsonage. Sarah and John were married in the Methodist Church parsonage.

Sarah's dress is mauve silk trimmed with ecru lace. Most dresses of that era were two-piece, as is this one. The bodice has a tucked yoke with a shallow "V" neckline and an edging of mauve ruching and bows.

Beautiful crocheted silk lace attached to the yoke forms a wide bertha collar. The sleeves are puffed above the elbow with a wide lace ruffle. The lace of the sleeves and the bertha collar are of different patterns.

The bodice is darted and stayed to form the small waist necessary for the fashion of the day.

The skirt--of the same fabric--is gored and has a short train. Three rows of ruffles at the hem are the only trim.

To complement her dress, Sarah chose a beige silk hat trimmed with a buckle and egret feathers. The hat was constructed on a wire base to give it shape.

As with most vintage wearing apparel, the wedding dress is fading and deteriorating, but it is still and elegant ensemble.

Sarah's wedding dress was donated to the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley in 1984 by lucile Failing. It is on display in the seamstress shop on the second floor of the museum.

Located at 1411 S. Sixth St., the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.