Historical Society Exhibit to Portray 19th Century Clothing

Curious about how fashion has changed in Westwood over the last 200 years?

This Sunday, you'll have a chance to see how clothing in town has evolved over time, as the Westwood Historical Society is holding an exhibit of clothing from the 19th Century.

The event, titled, "In Catherine's Attic," will feature displays of clothing from the early 1830s all the way through the 1980s. The event will also feature a live performance of songs form the early 20th century.

Over the years, Susan Dyer has compiled a vast collection of various articles of clothing from her family from her mother, Helen Catherine Beal's attic.

"[The attic is] a treasure trove of lives gone by, family artifacts, and local history," Dyer said in a statement. "Rediscovering three vintage dresses took my breath away, I hadn't seen them since I was a little girl. The earliest dress from the 1830s, made prior to the sewing machine, belonged to my great-great grandmother, Mary Ellis of Dedham. It is stitched entirely by hand, is made of silk, and features very rare Bishop's sleeves."

There are also many other accessories that Dyer found in her mother's attic, including silk and lace shawls, hats, and ladies' handbags.  

One in particular, a beaded handbag, will also be on display. 

The main focus of the event will be on the items from earlier times, but there will also be some select pieces from the 1900s including a Christening dress, a wedding dress, and ladies' suits from the 1980s. 

All articles and accessories displayed at the exhibit come from the Ellis, Copeland, White, Beal, and Dyer families.

The event will also feature a music program titled "The Golden Years," to be presented by John Root. The program will feature a repertoire of American classics composed in the 1920s and 1930s.  

Root will sing seldom-heard verses along with the familiar choruses of these classics on the keyboard with authentic period piano arrangements.

The program, which is funded by a grant from the Westwood Cultural Council, will run from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, at the Fisher School on High Street in Westwood.