By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
“It was pretty cool wearing all the old clothes,” said Katie Smith of Gorham after the Island Falls Historical Society’s Summerfest Fashion Show on Aug. 7. “My grammy’s (Reneva Smith) been involved with the historical society for as long as I can remember,” Smith said.
Six young ladies modeled 1900-1980s clothing that was donated to the museum.
Sandy Newman, author of “Life and Times on Pleasant Pond” served as the hostess and spoke on each of the period dresses as the models walked across the museum’s wooden porch.
“A lot of the clothes have been donated by various families that live here,” Newman said.
The fashion show began with a dress worn by Myra Emerson to Go.
Another highlight of the show was the suit and hat that William Sewell wore to Teddy Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1905.
“The Sewells settled Island Falls,” said Reneva Smith, volunteer at the museum. “William Wingate Sewell was the son who was born in Island Falls. He was a Maine guide, and as a young man, Teddy Roosevelt came here to regain his health. He and William Wingate Sewell became lifelong friends.”
A new book just written on the Sewell and Roosevelt friendship is called “The Making of a President.” The Island Falls Historical Museum has a room dedicated to Sewell, which is filled with memorabilia.
“William Sewell was known all over as the best Maine Guide at the time,” said Newman. “Teddy Roosevelt’s friendship with Bill Sewell led him to be the president who started all the national parks.”
As the fashion show models filtered through, another priceless outfit was presented. It was a sweater knit of two-ply yarn in 1947 by Eva Brown Jones, with a 1940 skirt from Varney’s.
“My mother made the sweater the year she died,” said Smith. “I was 5 and the sweater was put away in a trunk for me so I would someday have something that mother had made.”
Other fashion heirlooms were donated by Newman herself. She reminisced about her 1969 prom dress, a business suit, her first and second grade outfits, as well as a 1986 coral gown garnered with sequins.
“It took about four weeks,” Newman said of adding the sequins. “It was horrible.”
After the fashion show had finished, those in attendance could participate in a scavenger hunt in the museum or get a refreshment and continue to socialize.
“There were a number of people who came,” said Newman. “It was great. It was just fun. I come back every summer, and if you are coming back to Island Falls, you have to come back for Summerfest because that’s when everyone comes home.”
