Jeannie Walden portrays Civil War widow
Jeannie Walden has been performing all of her life. At least since age 4, when she stood on the counter doing an impression of Mae West at a Piggly Wiggly store in her hometown of Lenoir NC, she has held many roles. From “Showboat” to Shakespeare, Jeannie Walden has a rich theatrical history.
-
- Mr. Boots the cat, walks around the bed where Jeannie Walden’s Civil War widow costume is laid out on the bed. Alan Walden, right, Jeannie’s husband, helps her put on the costume every time. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Alan Walden, left, smiles as he helps his wife of 35 years, Jeannie Walden, get into her replica of an 1860s era hoop dress. Jeannie Walden has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for Memorial Day and other patriotic observances for the last 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, who has portrayed a Civil War era widow for the past 25 years at local patriotic events, makes a funny face as her husband Alan Walden helps with the clasps on her costume. (She was joking about gaining a few pounds since her last performance.) She is getting ready for her 25th performance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. She is a lifelong actress who has appeared in many theatric events. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Alan Walden, left, helps his wife of 35 years, Jeannie Walden, get into her replica of an 1860s era hoop dress. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- This is a detail of an authentic Civil War memory pin from 1861. The pin would have been worn by a Civil War widow to remember her husband. It is worn by Jeannie Walden, 81, as she portrays a Civil War widow in living history performances she’s been doing for the last 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden gets a Civil War patriotic rosette pinned onto her dress by her husband Alan Walden, right. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Alan Walden places an authentic 1861 widow’s pin on his wife Jeannie’s costume. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Alan Walden, left, watches as his wife of 35 years, Jeannie Walden, checks her hat in a mirror at their home. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, who is 81, checks her costume in a mirror. She has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for Memorial Day and other patriotic observances for the last 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, who is 81, has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for Memorial Day and other patriotic observances for the last 25 years. Here, she kicks off her bedroom slippers before putting on the shoes that she’ll wear to the Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Gardens. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, who is 81, has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for Memorial Day and other patriotic observances for the last 25 years. This is a portrait of her wearing her hat, which is a replica of one that would have been worn in the 1860s. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- These are the hands of Jeannie Walden, who is 81 and has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for Memorial Day and other patriotic observances for the last 25 years. She is sitting down taking a break before leaving for the Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Gardens. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- This is a portrait of Jeannie Walden, 81, who is dressed as a Civil War era widow. She has been portraying the character as a living history actress for the past 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, 81, poses for a picture at her home. She is dressed as a Civil War era widow. She has been portraying the character as a living history actress for the past 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Alan Walden, left, and his wife of 35 years, Jeannie Walden, walk to their car on their way to the annual Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Gardens. Jeannie is wearing an 1860s era hoop dress and has been portraying a woman of the Civil War era for patriotic observances for the last 25 years. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, who has been portraying a Civil War era widow at the annual Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens for 25 years, places flowers on soldiers’ graves during the ceremony. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Jeannie Walden, 81, portrays a Civil War widow for the 25th time at the annual Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. She placed flowers on graves of soldiers in the “Circle Of Immortals.” (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
These days, at 81, the retired NBC broadcasting director has an annual part in the Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Wearing an authentic reproduction of a Civil War era day dress, complete with a hat and hoop skirt typical of the era, she places a flower on each grave in the Circle of Immortals. She wears a genuine antique widow’s pin as part of the outfit.
Every Memorial Day for the past 12 years, her husband Alan Walden helps her don the costume, which has dozens of clasps and closures. It’s a special day for both of them, as he is the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Both say they feel that it’s a wonderful way to keep history alive.
Baltimore neighborhoods
Baltimore street photographers
Year in review
Freddie Gray: protests, aftermath
24 hours with...
A. Aubrey Bodine
Viewing Baltimore from above