An Age of Elegance at the Ridgewood Historical Society's Schoolhouse Museum

This evening was an opening reception for the the Ridgewood Historical Society's new exhibit, An Age of Elegance: Weddings from Ridgewood’s Past, on display through July 26, 2009. The exhibition explores the social rituals of love and marriage through historic and lavish wedding gowns, bridal lingerie, accessories and ephemera from the Ridgewood Historical Society’s collection dating from the late 18th century through the early 20th century.

The Schoolhouse Museum and its collections are a Ridgewood treasure, and I recommend you visit some afternoon. Girls (and women) especially will be amazed at the wedding dresses! It's open on Saturdays 1:00--3:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00--4:00 p.m., and Thursdays 1:00--3:00 p.m. The suggested donation is $5 for an adult, $3 for a child, and $10 for a family.

Fascinating Ridgewood History

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the opening of a very special event at the Ridgewood Historical Society's Schoolhouse Museum. It's called "From Belfast to Brooklawn: A Ridgewood Family Odyssey," and it's a display of some amazing mementos and artifacts from the Boyd/Mastin family, who lived for four generations in a big beautiful house on the corner of Ridgewood Ave. and Brookside. Please plan to bring your kids to visit the museum and see this wonderful collection -- it's a great look at life in our Village over 100 years ago. There are family items, housewares, books and letters, clothing, jewelry, a one-horse open sleigh, paintings...one of my favorite displays was a collection of samplers (embroidery), one of which was from 1786 (I think) and had been brought to America from Ireland. Every time I see antique samplers, which were traditionally produced by young girls, I try to imagine my daughter or her friends as nine year olds, sitting quietly and stitching perfectly for what must have been hours! Unbelievable. You can find out more about the exhibit at the Historical Society's website (click here), including when it's open for visitors.