Vigo County Historical Society

Wedding unites prominent families

As the years come and go many changes take place as a result of discoveries and inventions, but the rituals surrounding a wedding have stayed much the same for several generations as the 21st century draws near.

In the north room on the main floor of the Vigo County Historical Museum, a beautiful gown is now on display. It was gown worn by the mother of the bride in an impressive wedding.

On July 7, 1910, the Terre Haute Tribune devoted an entire column and described in detail a wedding of unusual interest.

"The home of Mrs. Joseph H. Blake of Butternut Hill was the scene Wednesday night of the wedding of Mrs. Blake’s only daughter, Helen Gilbert Blake to John Clifford Ross."

The ceremony was at 8 p.m. and was followed by a three course wedding supper for the guests. The wedding preparations were elaborate but the invitations included only intimate friends and close relatives.

The wedding of Helen Blake and John Ross received an unusual amount of interest because the marriage united two prominent families of Terre Haute at that time.

The bride was described as "handsome," as was the matron of honor. The gown of the mother of the bride was of white crepe de chine with the lace trim.

The gown is now nearly a century old and is in remarkable condition of preservation. It is really a work of art with its near-perfect styling and stitching.

The gown was given to the museum by Mary Ross McMillan, a granddaughter of Mrs. Blake.