Wedding Dresses
Late 1800's - Mid 1900's
The Museum currently has eighteen wedding dresses on display for the 2025 season. Here's a preview of the dresses extending from the late 1800's to the mid 1900's that are included in this special exhibit supported by funding from the PDCF Grant program. Drop by the Museum when it is open to see the various colours, fabrics and styles of these beautiful artifacts. Take a journey through the fashion of the day.
1800s
1888
J Law married C Ranger
J Law married C Ranger 1888
The information the Museum has on this dress is that it was worn in 1888 by J. Law when she married C. Ranger. No further details have been found for this marriage. The Museum Collection also includes trousseau items belonging to J. Law.
1889
Agnes Jackson married John C Crosbie
Photo credit: R. Smyth
L to R: Goold Borrowman, groom David Somerville, bride June Creighton, Agnes 'Toots' Creighton
This dress was first worn by Agnes Jackson of Sheridan Rapids on February 20th, 1889 when she married John Crosbie in Dalhousie. The dress was worn again when Agnes' grandaughter, June Creighton, married David Somerville in 1950 in Watson's Corners.
1889
Mary McNicol married Hugh Stewart
Mary McNicol's wedding dress 1889
This dress was made by Mary NcNicol of Dalhousie and worn by her on June 4th, 1889 when she married Hugh Stewart of Hopetown. It is most likely that Mary made this dress while she was working for a Dressmaker, Miss Dans, in Perth before her marriage.
1898
Nettie McIlquham married Edward Woods
Edward Woods and Nettie McIlquham June 28th, 1898
Nettie McIlquham, of Drummond Township, wore this dress on June 28th, 1898 when she married Edward Woods of Darling Township at St. Andrews Church in Lanark Village. The dress was worn a second time by Nettie's daughter, Alice Marjorie Woods, when she married William Thomas Moore of North Elmsley Township at the same Church on September 28th, 1935.
1900s
1901
Esther McKay married John Mitchell
Esther McKay and John Mitchell, February 26th, 1901
Esther McKay of Lanark Township wore this dress on February 26th, 1901 when she married John Mitchell also of Lanark Township.
1910s
1911
Eva May Fair married James Alexander Brown
Eva May Fair and James Alexander Brown, 1911
Eva May Fair of Dalhousie Township wore this dress on September 12th, 1911, in Carleton Place when she married James Alexander Brown of Hopetown.
1912
Jane Baird married James Howard Anderson
Jane 'Jennie' Baird's wedding dress, worn February 14th, 1912
Jennie Baird of Dalhousie Township wore this dress on February 14th, 1912, at the home of her mother in Hopetown when she married Howard Anderson of Watson's Corners.
1912
Joanna Law married James Alexander McQuestion
Joanna Law's wedding dress, 1912 probably also worn by her daughter Grace McQuestion in 1936
It is believed that Joanna Law of Renfrew wore this dress when she married James Alexander McQuestion of Ottawa on May 2nd, 1912 in Renfrew. Evidence of updated alterations point to the dress probably being worn a second time by Joanna's daughter, Grace McQuestion, on October 27th, 1936, when she married Robert Campbell Wilson of Cumberland.
1917
Agnes Elizabeth Smith married Ross Albert White
Agnes Smith's wedding dress, worn June 13th, 1917
Agnes Elizabeth Smith, of Arklan, made this dress herself and wore it when she married Ross Albert White at her home on June 13th, 1917. The bride and groom were attended by Ethel White and Thomas Majaury.
1920s
1922
Mabel Elizabeth Dunlop married Marshall Robert Vautrin
Mabel Dunlop's wedding dress, December 20th, 1922
Mabel Elizabeth Dunlop of Drummond Township wore this dress on December 20th, 1922 in the County of York, Toronto when she married Marshall Robert Vautrin of the United States. The features of this dress are consistent with dresses from the early 1900's. Therefore, it is presumed that Agnes wore this dress belonging to either her mother, Jessie McDougall, who married in 1900 or her Aunt Annie McDougall, married in 1902, who raised Mabel after her mother's death when she was a child.
1925
Margaret H Somerville married Lionel John C Barr
Margaret Somerville's dress, June 1st, 1925
Margaret Somerville of Middleville made this dress she wore when she married Lionel John Clifford Barr, also of Middleville on June 1st, 1925.
1925
Jessie Elma Mitchell married James Robert Smith
Jessie Mitchell and James Smith, 1925
Jessie Elma Mitchell, of Middleville, wore this dress on October 28th, 1925 when she married James Robert Smith of Arklan at the Middleville Manse.
1930s
1933
Pauline Esther Ledingham married A Leonard McKay
Esther Ledingham's wedding dress, July 4th, 1933
Pauline Esther Ledingham, of Almonte, wore this dress she made when she married Alexander 'Leonard' McKay, also of Almonte, on July 4th, 1933.
1940s
1941
Grace Eloise Caldwell married John Kenneth Bowes
Grace Eloise Caldwell and John Kenneth Bowes, November 15th, 1941
Grace Eloise Caldwell wore this dress when she married John 'Kenneth' Bowes at the United Church Manse in Middleville on November 15th, 1941. The bride and groom were attended by Luella Bowes and Earl Caldwell.
1944
Audrey Jean Ferguson married Kenneth Allan
Audrey Jean Ferguson and Kenneth Ritchie Allan, April 22nd, 1944
Marriage
Allan-Ferguson
In St. Paul’s manse, Perth, by Reverend W. R. Alp
on Saturday, April 22nd, 1944, Audrey Jean,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ferguson,
Watson’s Corners, to Kenneth Ritchie,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Allan, of Balderson.
The Perth Courier April 27th, 1944
This dress was worn by Audrey Jean Ferguson of Watson's Corners when she married Kenneth Ritchie Allan, of Balderson, on April 22nd, 1944 at St. Paul's Manse, Perth.
1950s
1952
Lilias Anne Rodger married Harold Stead
Lilias Anne Rodger and Harold Henry Stead, July 19th, 1952
Lilias Anne Rodger of Middleville wore this dress when she married Harold Henry Stead of Hopetown on July 19th, 1952 at St. Paul's United Church, Middleville. The bride and groom were attended by Ivy Rodger, Leonard Stead, Mildred Stead, Dwight Throop and Brien Paul.
1955
Jean Elsie Craig married John Keith Willows
Jean Elsie Craig and John Keith Willows, May 28th, 1955
Jean Elsie Craig of Almonte wore this dress purchased at Tiffany's in Ottawa when she married John Keith Willows of Carleton Place on May 28th, 1955 at the Almonte United Church. They were attended by Dorothy Craig, Lois Craig, Elva Willows, Raymond Willows, John Whyte and Sterling Willows.
1957
Maxine Ann Foster married Ronald James McCurdy
James McCurdy and Maxine Foster November 15th, 1957
James and Maxine McCurdy cutting the cake at their reception
Maxine Anne Foster of Middleville wore this dress when she married Ronald James McCurdy on November q5th, 1957 at the Lanark Baptist Church. The bride and groom were attended by Evelyn Foster Yuill and Roy Yuill.
When a bride-to-be started planning her wedding, if she didn't plan to take on the task of making her own dress, she would secure the services of a seamstress. Some brides were fortunate to have a member of the family who could design and create a wedding dress. Other options for acquiring a dress included enlisting a community member with sewing skills or a seamstress with a shop usually within their own home. It was also common for seamstresses to stay with a family while making the wedding dress and accompanying trousseau items for a bride-to-be. This makes practical sense for more remote areas as it would make it possible to do successive fittings.
Seamstresses & Dressmakers
Margaret Pretty
1860-1910
Margaret 'Maggie' Pretty was born in Hopetown, Lanark Township. She lived all her life on the farm where she was born. She was listed in the Census as a seamstress. Her family recounted stories of Maggie's artistic talent and sewing abilities. She would have earned money through her sewing to contribute to her family's finances.
Maggie Pretty (left) and a young member of her family
Agnes Park and Robert Pretty on their wedding day. Agnes' dress is believed to have been made by her sister-in-law, seamstress, Maggie Pretty
Alice Knapton Aitken
1853-1904
Alice Knapton Aitken was born in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and moved as a child with her family to Rosetta in Lanark Township. Before she was married in 1879, Alice and her close friend and neighbour, Margaret McFarlane (1855-1897) travelled to the nearby community of Almonte to be formally trained as seamstresses. Alice's oldest daughter, Mary Ann Aitken learned sewing skills from her mother and continued to sew throughout her life. Alice's great granddaughter carries on the sewing traditions as an avid quilter.
Alice Knapton Aitken
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Mary Ann Aitken Thompson
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Kate A Hogg
1868-1958
Kate Hogg lived in Galbraith in Lanark Township and earned money as a seamstress and a millner to contribute to her family's welfare. Kate and her older sister, Jane, were listed in the 1891 census as dressmakers and 'wage earners'. Their Great Aunt, Elizabeth Hogg, was a dressmaker in Perth and Elizabeth's daughter, Nellie, was a millner who had a shop on Gore Street so the skills may have been passed down through the family. Kate taught sewing skills to a group of local young ladies.
Kate Hogg
local sewing group led by Kate Hogg of Galbraith
Agnes Peacock
1862-1932
and
Catherine 'Kate' Peacock
1863-1956
Agnes and Kate Peacock
Agnes and Kate Peacock were born near Middleville in Lanark Township. Their mother died when they were 10 and 9 years of age respectively. As young women, they moved to Lanark Village and were employed by Delong's Tailor Shop in the village.
Marion Umpherson Prentice
1850-1918
Marion Umpherson Prentice, a local seamstress and milliner
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Marion Umpherson Prentice in front of her home on the main street of Lanark Village where she conducted her sewing and milliner businesses
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Marion Umpherson was born in Umpherson Mills in Lavant Township. She married James Josiah Prentice in 1874. After her husband’s death, Marion supported her young children, Agnes and Lorne, as a weaver. She saved enough money to purchase a house on the main street of Lanark Village where she operated a business earning a living as a dressmaker and later a milliner. Her daughter, Agnes, worked with her mother. Agnes married James George McLean who operated a tailor shop next door to Marion’s business in the building later known as the Post Office and then the Dairy Bar.
Marion was a very successful business woman and travelled to Ottawa to view and buy new materials for her shop before each season. The clothing industry was most active from Spring until Fall.
Miss Dans
Dressmaker in Perth
Miss Dans, Dressmaker in Perth
Miss Dans was a dressmaker in the town of Perth. Mary McNicol worked at her shop. The Museum's wedding dress exhibit features Mary's dress worn in 1889. The pattern and the dress were probably influenced by her work with Miss Dans.
pattern used by Mary McNicol for her wedding dress
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Mary McNicol's wedding dress worn in 1889
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Mary Theresa Scissons
1885-1984
Photo credit: Ottawa Citizen
Mary Theresa Scissons was born in the rural area of Dunrobin near Ottawa. Her mother taught her to make house dresses and aprons. At the age of 16, Mary’s sewing skills were in demand. Neighbouring families would ‘fetch’ her and she would stay in their homes for a week or two to complete all their sewing needs. She reported that she even made the women’s Sunday dresses. It was common for young dressmakers to stay with families for a period of time to prepare trousseau and wedding garments for young brides-to-be.
Next, Mary began working for the C. Ross Company at the corner of Sparks and O’Connor Streets in Ottawa. This is where dresses for the elite citizens of Ottawa were made for fancy balls and important occasions like the opening of Parliament. Mary recalled working on dresses for Lady Earl Grey, wife of the Governor General and Lady Laurier, wife of Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier. She also worked on a dress for Mrs. M. J. O’Brien, wife of a Renfrew lumber millionaire and mining magnate. On one occasion, Mary was chosen to work on the floral embroidery for a very special gown. The upstairs of the C. Ross Company was where 25 girls worked on garments from 7am to 6pm with an hour off for lunch for $2.50 a week. Mary decided that she could not make enough money to pay her $1.25 per week rent at the rooming house where she stayed and left the C. Ross establishment in 1910. It was at the rooming house where she met Charles Liberty and they were married soon after. The couple settled in Almonte. Mary continued to sew for her whole life.
Information compiled from The Ottawa Citizen, June 21st, 1980 and the blog of L. Seccaspina.
Traditional stitching techniques used in wedding dresses
Photo credits: R. Smyth
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