Peoria’s Salute to Women Historical Show
By Channy Lyons | 2nd October 2007
Smiling and Beguiling, A look back on our wise and wonderful womanly wiles!
The Peoria Historical Society’s SALUTE TO WOMEN Historical Style Show at 11a.m.
Luncheon at noon, November 3, 2007 at Pere Marquette Hotel
There is a cartoon called “A Century of Progress?” that shows women dressed in period costumes from 1790 through 1890.
Hems and waists rise through the mid-1830’s…and then lengthen and tighten until skirts have trains by the mid-1860’s, and waists are girdled and bums bustled through the 1880’s.
The women of Peoria followed the latest fashion trends then, as they do today. And despite the 40 even 50 pound outfits they wore in the mid-1800s and the stocking seams they were constantly straightening in the 1940s, they managed to raise families, form charitable organizations, run companies — and shape a warm Peoria environment where a strong work ethic prevails and friendships last for lifetimes.
Sure they faced challenges. But they found ways to make their lives work, no matter what. They collaborated and strategized, outwitted, cajoled, and simply worked hard to accomplish what they needed to.
At the Peoria Historical Society’s fashion show on November 3rd, women of Peoria history come alive as today’s Peoria women model stunning fashions and tell their fascinating tales.
Guests at the 3rd bi-annual style show and luncheon will meet 26 Peoria women including company presidents, artists, community leaders, a doctor, educators, the first symphony concertmistress, writers, and softball stars.
“We select the women from history first,” explained Channy Lyons, event chair, “And then we invite women to model whose careers or experiences connect with them.”
For example, Patti Edwards president of Creative Logic portrays Olga Coyner who ran the Nitrose Company in the 1950s. Bradley professor Stacey Robertson takes the role of Marie Harkness, one of Peoria’s first teachers in the mid-1820s. Mary Muir, active in Westminster Presbyterian Church, plays Elizabeth Griswold who donated the land for the construction of the church in the 1890’s.
For the historical style show, models wear vintage and reproduction outfits, as well as historical costumes and fashions made exclusively for this year’s style show.
“We have characters from every decade from the 1820s through the 1960’s,” said Lyons. “It’s not just a matter of finding a dress. It’s the correct crinoline and the right bustle, the hat and shoes and jewelry that have to found to make the outfits work.
“It’s women like Cheri Beever, who has helped track down costumes, and Laurie Hawley, who can figure out how to make any gown you need, as well as the theater and college costume shops and the opera company who open their costume shops to help us create the right outfits. And personal collectors in Peoria and Bloomington, also. It’s truly a community endeavor!”
Following the style show held in the historic Pere Marquette Hotel, guests will enjoy tasting foods based on menus of Peoria’s foremothers – updated for contemporary tastes of course. Mary Beth Buck, who decided on the menu and table decorations, promises a dessert sampler that will satisfy every sweet tooth.
This year’s Guardian Award will be announced at the luncheon. The award is given to a woman from the Tri-county area who has made an outstanding contribution to the preservation of local history. Past winners were Gloria LaHood and Alice Rossey, and Marilyn Leland. The award is sponsored by Core Construction and Otto Baum Companies.
For reservations, please call the Peoria Historical Society at 674-1921.