Despite the unpredictable weather, nearly 30 people attended History Happy Hour this week. Jaimie Timm of the Mower County Historical Society shared nine unique wedding dresses from their collection as well as a few accessories.

Jaimie’s presentation described how wedding fashions have changed throughout history for a variety of reasons including comfort, practicality, Hollywood and royalty trends, and available materials. Weddings were more quickly planned and one’s position in life often dictated how elaborate the attire would be. The stories of Mower County weddings from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s ranged from typical to curious to mysterious.

The tradition of the bride wearing white on her wedding day is attributed to Queen Victoria, who did so in 1840. At that time it was more common to wear a dress of color, but because of her popularity, the common people followed her style choices. At the presentation, Jaimie described the colorful choices of two area brides.Ida Kennedy wore a Navy blue gown when she married Samuel Hubbard in 1898. The Hubbards were lifelong residents of Mower County and were the founders of the Mower County Historical Society. Evelyn Segar wore a dress of burgundy velvet in 1934. Another bride was described as wearing a black satin dress and carrying white calla lilies.

One lovely dress in the MCHS collection remains a mystery. The Mower County Historical Society received the dress in the 1990s from the Senior Citizens of Mower County, but there is no information as to its origin. Made of a synthetic satin, the dress appears to be from the 1940s. It has beading on the bodice and down the skirt and a lace feature in the hemline. If you have any information about this dress featured in the photo, please contact Jaimie at Historical Society.

The YWCA scrapbooks in the collection of the Hormel Historic Home are full of wedding announcements for couples who embraced the historic charm of the home for their special day. We were recently gifted the dress of Anna Hook, who married Wilbur Heimsness on Aug. 4, 1939. The couple held their reception at the Historic Home. The dress of ivory satin and lace neck line and sleeves showcases the fashion of the day, and the photos accompanying the dress show a very happy wedding couple!

Whether you find wedding fashions and customs interesting or not, this is just one of a variety of historical programs offered at History Happy Hour. In its fourth year, this series, sponsored by the Hormel Historic Home, Friends of the Library, and the Mower County Historical Society brings history lovers together for socializing and learning. Join us on the second Monday of each month. History can be fun!

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What’s happening at the HHH

Austin Wedding & Event Showcase

• Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20
• $5 per person.

Reception to welcome MarySue Hormel Harris and her family

• 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29
• Enjoy refreshments and the musical entertainment of MarySue. Free.

Duets and Desserts

• 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31
• Bring a musical partner and play for fun in the historic living room. Refreshments included. Free.