By Allison Perrine
SHREWSBURY – While the COVID-19 pandemic may prevent people from traveling for the time being, the Shrewsbury Historical Society is giving the community a trip down memory lane.
This October the historical society will host an exhibit of wedding fashions from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, ranging from the early 20th century to current styles and fashions. And whether it’s the hand-embroidered tulle, intricate patterns or delicate lace, there’s a piece sure to catch everyone’s eyes. “There is a personal and often historic story behind each dress, either who designed it, where it was made and the materials used,” said Donald Burden, president of the Shrewsbury Historical Society. “Some of the dresses on display are accompanied by photographs of the bride in these very dresses taken on their wedding date.”
The idea for the exhibit came from several historical society members who noticed that, over the years, the organization had been gifted a variety of gowns, especially wedding dresses, according to Burden. They decided to gather the 20 dresses in their possession, restore and repair them, and get them ready for display. The rest is history, he added.
“As historic textiles, wedding dresses have represented hope, ceremony and ritual. The Shrewsbury Historical Society’s new exhibition ‘Wedding Dresses’ is a luminous and powerful look at these creations and the women who wore them,” said Bernadette Rogoff, director of collections for the Monmouth County Historical Association. “The installation itself is creative, exciting and engaging, while the research and labeling allow visitors a fascinating in-depth look at the past owners of many of the garments.”
The gowns reflect influences from World Wars I and II, the Jazz Age and more, according to the organization. Burden doesn’t doubt that each guest will have a favorite, but one particular dress from 1886 is sure to leave an impression. It was later worn by Miriam Allen’s granddaughter in 1951. The exhibit also includes a 1982 gown with more than 6,000 hand-stitched seed pearls on lace throughout the dress.
“These wedding dresses have all been tastefully restored, each one unique with amazing details like beads and buttons and lace. The exhibit hall is transformed by lights and mirrors which creates a pristine space to view and appreciate the dresses and other wedding-related items such as photos and wedding party outfits,” said retired Red Bank librarian Elizabeth
McDermott. “Brides, dress designers, wedding photographers as well as historians will enjoy seeing these one-of-a-kind gowns and veils. This exhibit captures the creativity and workmanship that comes together to make a bride’s dress the height of a wedding day.”
Before the pandemic struck, the historical society would traditionally host an Autumn Fall Festival fundraiser in one of the historic homes along Sycamore Avenue or Broad Street, said Burden. It usually raises about $3,000 which supports the operations of the historical society, covering the cost of electricity, phone bills, insurance, repair work and more.
“The historical society is a total volunteer organization. It operates independently and receives no funding from the Borough of Shrewsbury budget allocations,” said Burden. “It is truly a member-supported organization.”
The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays by appointment. To schedule a visit, email ShrewsburyHistoricalSociety@gmail.com. Anyone interested in attending is asked to please follow COVID-19 protocols. Contributions will be accepted, including through Venmo, @ShrewsburyHistorical-Society.
This article was originally published in the Oct. 1-7 edition of The Two River Times.
