A chance conversation between two strangers led to the Springfield Art Association's acquisition of Helen Maria Edwards's Civil War-era day dress on long-term loan.
Curator of Collections Erika Holst went to the Dana-Thomas House in late October for that site's Halloween event. While there, Erika began chatting with a volunteer, Mrs. Manning, and happened to mention that she worked at the Art Association. In a happy burst of serendipity, Mrs. Manning declared that she had a dress in her closet which had belonged to Helen Maria Edwards Condell during the Civil War.
Helen Maria was the daughter of Benjamin and Helen Edwards. She moved to Edwards Place in 1843 as a three-year-old child and lived there until her marriage to Moses Condell in the summer of 1861, at which point she moved into a house her parents had given her as a wedding present, just across Fourth Street from Edwards Place. She was a frequent visitor to her parents' house throughout the Civil War, and it is easy to imagine the brown taffeta of her skirts spread out over the Edwards's parlor sofa as she took tea with her mother.
Helen Maria went on to have six children, including a daughter named Eliza Condell. Eliza, born in 1872, lived to be 103 years old. Mrs. Manning became acquainted with Eliza Condell in the 1950s. At one point, when Mrs. Manning needed a Civil War-era dress for a school performance, Eliza Condell loaned her one that had belonged to her mother. Eliza then insisted she keep the dress, and Mrs. Manning had it ever since.
Just before leaving for the Dana-Thomas House, Mrs. Manning happened to glance at Helen's dress in her closet and think to herself that she really should do something with it. Lo and behold, a few hours later she crossed paths with Erika, and the rest is history!
The dress will be displayed throughout the Christmas season. Be sure and come by for a tour to see this piece of family history!
No comments:
Post a Comment