The Westbrook Historical Society’s Oct. 5 Meeting
Jana Gordon introduced the speakers at the Historical Society’s Oct. 5 meeting. Judi Beverage of Yarmouth and Kathy Gowen of Westbrook presented a fascinating program, showing clothing worn by ladies in the 1800s. Both ladies were wearing handsome dresses with hoop skirts; Kathy wore a large hat, and Judi, a bonnet tied under her chin.
They dressed a mannequin for us, with many layers of cotton clothing. First was an undershirt, sleeveless, then a chemise; next, long drawers. They showed us long stockings, and black boots, covering the ankles, and laced up; a corset, laced in back, had hooks and eyes or buttons on the front; next came a corset cover, with no sleeves; next, a petticoat, sometimes decorated, sometimes in color. The mannequin was then ready for the black printed dress, with long sleeves. But first came the crinoline and wire frame, with the hoop at the bottom. This was covered with another petticoat, to prevent the ridges from showing. A bonnet and short shawl completed the mannequin’s clothing.
I couldn’t imagine so many layers of clothes and the time it must have taken to get dressed. And they wore long sleeves, even in summer? Wouldn’t those ladies be shocked to see some of today’s apparel?
Judi is an avid collector of historic items and shared part of her authentic clothing collection to society members. In Kathy’s lifelong hobby of sewing, she has learned about 19th century fashions and she has created accurate reproductions of clothing for both herself and her family. These ladies work well together and did an excellent job of describing each item of clothing for us.
Both are members of the Third Maine Regiment, an organization that strives to preserve the daily life of both Infantry Soldiers and Civilians during the 1860s. They are also active in The Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, which strives to perpetuate the memory of the Civil War soldiers and honor all U. S. veterans.
Westbrook Woman’s Club Met Oct. 4
The fall meeting of the Westbrook Woman’s Club took place Oct. 4 in the Westbrook-Warren Church with over 50 attending. It was Open House and Guest Day. Hostesses were Patricia Currier and Germaine Grant. Elaine Spiller was program chairman. Joan Labrecque was refreshment committee chairman, assisted by Christine Bennett, Judy Bennett, Anita Blackstone, Nancy Plaisted and Donna Smith. Roberta Morrill is chairman of the Charity Committee.
Members introduced their guests: Carole Fryover, Eileen Goepner, Kit Juniewicz, Marge Miller, Marian Rich, Joyce Smith, Mary Wescott and Anne B. Foote.
Historian Ethelyn Chase spoke about the history and structure of Women’s Clubs. In 1894 the Maine Federation of Women ‘s Clubs became the second state group to become affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. All the State Federations are patterned after the International Federation with a President and Board of officers and various committees. The President of the Maine Federation was Sally Manchester of the Research Club of Limerick.
The Westbrook Woman’s Club is in District 7. Current officers of this club are President Evelyn Meserve, 1st Vice President Elaine Spiller, 2nd Vice President Carol Quint, Recording Secretary Glenna Carter, Corresponding Secretary Carolyn Leavitt, Treasurer Betty Young, Auditor Louise Leighton, Historian Ethelyn Chase and Parlimentarian Marcia Willock.
Louise Leighton sang and Jan Usher played the piano, for the song “Getting to Know You,” and then club members and guests sang the song again.
Next a video was presented by Judith Reidman and Jean Ann Thomas, showing films from the club’s scrapbooks, of the club’s activities over the years, including health programs, a World War II War Bond campaign, a picture of Tressa Small, an active president of the Westbrook Woman’s Club in 1919, and an early group of officers, all in fur coats or heavy wool coats with wide fur collars and all wearing hats. The clubs put great emphasis on volunteerism, as is evidenced by the many projects and activities in which they participate.
A tea with a great variety of baked cookies, breads, and cakes followed, giving those present a pleasant time to chat while enjoying the refreshments. The party theme was apples, with the paper cups and plates imprinted with apple designs, and the centerpiece on the long table was a small red barrel, filled with apples – – clever!
It was a well-arranged program telling of the varied activities of the club. A project coming soon is the lobster roll sale Nov. 16. For $10 bags are sold, including the lobster roll, chips and a homemade cookie. Members bake the cookies (no bars), with no nuts or peanut butter. Last year 800 rolls were sold at this annual affair. Members will be taking orders for the sale in November.
Curtsinger’s Photographs On Exhibit Until Nov. 27.
The photographic retrospective, “Extreme Nature, Images From the World’s Edge,” by Bill Curtsinger, will be on exhibition at the Art Gallery of the University of New England, Westbrook College Campus, until Nov. 27.
The opening reception, on Oct. 5, from 5-7 p.m., attracted over 200 guests. It is an exciting show. The cover of the card announcing the show pictured many penguins walking on the ice. A visitor in the museum asked if I had seen the film, “March of the Penguins,” and I surely had, and enjoyed it immensely. So Mr. Curtsinger’s several penguin pictures, taken in the Antarctic, were especially pleasing to me.
Most of the photos were in color, but one, in black and white, was one to enjoy, too, showing a leopard seal chasing an Adelie penguin, which was all alone, on an ice floe. The seal is lunging up and down out of the water, onto the edge of the ice, attempting to grab the lone Adelie. The typed description, on the wall beside the picture, said, “This time, however, the penguin got away.”
Many of the framed pictures are very large, and one showed three penguins resting on the ice. Another shows penguins tobogganing down a slope near Cape Hallett, Victoria Land. On the cover of one of Curtsinger’s books; “Extreme Nature,” are two emperor penguins, “flying through icy waters with speed and agility.” These penguin pictures were taken in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Many of the pictures were taken underwater.
Other beautiful pictures were of a swarm of golden fish swimming together, with the rocks below them, also in golden colors; three leopard seals, in open water, posed, with interesting ice shapes behind them; several turtles were pictured, also under water; a polar bear was standing alone on an ice floe; and a huge fish was flying over a waterfall.
Mr. Curtsinger now resides in Yarmouth. He was on photographic assignments for the National Geographic magazine for several years. He will speak from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Westbrook Campus Art Gallery on Nov. 17. His talk is titled, “Conversation With the Artist.”
RECIPE
This casserole is from “A Taste of Hallowell” 1992.
BLACK BEAR CASSEROLE
1 lb. hamburg
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 pkg. egg noodles, cooked al dente
8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces cottage cheese
Brown hamburg, onion and pepper. Cook noodles. Mix together cheeses.
In casserole dish, layer noodles, then cheese mixture, and cover with meat mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.
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