Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Shown are just two of the items housed in the Hulbert Schoolhouse that helped archivist Rachel Brazil grieve the loss of her mother in 2021. Above: The intricately detailed waistshirt of the 1900s was the fashion standard of its day. This particular piece was donated by Nell Bugbee, and contains elements that were re-invented a century later for women's professional attire.
The beautifully-tatted, ivory-colored handbag belonged to Anna Brown, wife of hotel proprietor George Brown. It was made around the turn of the century, but offers a classic look that would have been right at home in the lace revival of the 1970s and 80s.
Perhaps some of you remember the nursery rhyme, "What Are Little Boys Made Of?"
What are little boys made of?
Snips & snails & puppy dogs tails
And such are little boys made of.
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything nice
That's what little girls are made of.
The rhyme dates back to 19th century England and is attributed to poet Robert Southey. Yet 150 years later, the second part of that poem hung in my childhood bedroom for years.
I have to admit, it was a very confusing expectation for a little girl who made friends with snails!
For the next 30-something years I held a deep disdain for lace, ribbon and frill. As a youngster, I regularly ripped bows out of my hair and made sure to make a mess of any fancy dress my mother forced me to wear. I don't intend to reveal my level of childhood rottenness, but bear with me, it is part of the larger story.
As I mentioned two weeks ago, I began my role as the archivist at the Eddy County Museum entering data for over 3,000 artifacts, many of which included detailed description. Considering it was the dead of winter, and I couldn't get into the museum to actually see these items, my imagination unfolded tableaus of feathered hats, beaded purses, ornate wristlets, heirloom dishware, wedding dresses, parasols and so much more. It wasn't long before I found myself spending my own time doing cultural research in an effort to better understand the culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
At this point in my story, I need to pause and share that in the spring of 2021, my mother passed unexpectedly. During this same time, I was working with the museum to launch its website at eddycounty.catalogaccess.com. If we wanted a successful website, we needed to take photographs, and because the Stavanger Church was under renovation, and the Brantford Depot was daunting in scale, I began in the Hulbert Schoolhouse.
It's funny how things work out, because while I was organizing a display of lace doilies and table runners, I began to think of my mother and how her love for all things frilly was likely a direct result of the poverty she experienced growing up. I have no doubt that as a child she daydreamed of the delicate dresses and gowns of a bygone era. I know for a fact that her wedding dress was adorned with lace, and that she decorated everything in a lush Victorian style.
Then I began to think of the early settlers who made, decorated with, and wore lace amid dirt floors and roads.
I came to understand, based on knowing all that I know now, that I couldn't really blame my mom for wanting to dress me in "sugar and spice, and everything nice," after all, I was born during the 20th century lace revival.
As it turns out, history museums aren't just about old things from long ago. Sometimes museums can give us a chance to learn something new about ourselves. Most importantly, you don't have to be from Eddy County (or even North Dakota) to appreciate the historic and cultural nuances that permeate our artifacts, and their stories.
