Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Victorian Bride

Posted on Feb 8, 2005 in categories Exhibits, Press Releases

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A Victorian Bride, A Look at Bridal Traditions (Feb 1, 2005)

The Glencoe Historical Society’s Eklund History Center welcomes a new exhibit room home to our Victorian Valentine Bride from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, with a special event opening.

With artifacts from three of the Society’s major collections—furniture from the home of Sara C. “Sally” Eklund, items from Ethel Hein, and a dress from the collection donated by Marian Newhall—curator Janice Gemp has created a Victorian room with the lovely bridal dress at its center. The champagne-colored silk dress was worn by the late Marian Newhall’s mother in 1894. Around the room are artifacts from the Victorian era and signage that tells of bridal traditions then and now. Refreshments will be served on this special day.

In addition to the bridal exhibit, the Eklund Center is featuring the first of many exhibits about Glencoe families. The first family history to be shown in words and pictures is that of the Kurschners, a Glencoe-based group since the 1880s. The Kurschners came to Glencoe from Germany via Chicago. The children attended the Glencoe Grammar School – the only school in Glencoe at the time – and were taken in by neighbors following a devastating fire. Read in their own words, the story of this valiant brood and how they lived through the tragedy, making their way from an orphanage back to Glencoe . Pictures of school classes, the original settlers and others explain the story.

Over the following months, we will be collecting and displaying photos and oral histories from other families. If you would like to contribute to this collection of family tales, bring your pictures in and tells us your story. Your family may be featured next!

Other exhibits also on display:

  • A look at the Glencoe Village Seal and how it was created with help from the royal heraldists of Glencoe, Scotland;
  • Glencoe’s Business District; and
  • 1940s: Years of Transition.

The Glencoe Historical Society’s Eklund Center is open every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and by appointment. Call 847.835.0040 and leave a message on the machine if you would like to schedule an appointment. Information can be found at www.glencoehistoricalsociety.org