Something borrowed, something blue: Baltimore County weddings from the past
A light lunch, a dress that could be worn again, then perhaps a trip to Niagara Falls. For much of Baltimore history, weddings were a relatively simple affair.
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- White floor-length wedding dress; long-sleeved with detachable train. Worn by Carol Ann Greensfelder when she wed Benjamin Karl Baublitz, Jr., on April 17, 1966, in Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rosedale, MD – the same church that the bride’s parents got married in 24 years prior. Gift of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Wedding wreath. Pair of wax, paper and wire flower sprigs. Worn by Emma Hyde Baldwin at her marriage to James Henry Quinby on October 21, 1891. Gift of Gilbert & Carter Quinby, Virginia DeFriest. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Pair of leather and cotton offwhite shoes; marked “2/12/C.” Worn by Emma Hyde Baldwin at her marriage to James Henry Quinby, on October 21, 1891. Gift of Gilbert & Carter Quinby, Virginia DeFriest. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- White leather stiletto heels, ca. 1950s-1960s, with bright green insole, by QualiCraft. Receipt shows they were purchased at Baker’s Shoe Store in Perring Plaza on Joppa Road for $8.23. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- White satin wedding slippers with bow. Note inside reads “my wedding slippers.” Worn by Mrs. Benjamin Harris’s mother. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Harris. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Woman’s white/cream wedding shoes; leather uppers, fabric decorative bow with oval pearl decoration, short heel. Worn by Frank Drayer’s mother in 1899. Gift of Mrs. B.S.L. Davis. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Black and white wedding portrait of woman in white dress with large bouquet of flowers and train with large headpiece, and man in evening clothes with white boutonniere. Image mounted on beige mat with brown borders and “Markiewicz Photos” stamped lower center; sticker on back reads: “Marie & Anthony Kern (Greensfelder).” Gift of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Black & white wedding portrait of Ensign Biays Shannon Bowerman & Mary Alice Moore at time of wedding, September 19, 1919, at Camp Chapel United Methodist Church in Perry Hall. Gift of Mrs. Biays Shannon Bowerman. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Wedding of Frederick Moore Gambrill and Ida Baker Neepier at Rockwell in Catonsville, June 2, 1923. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Long pink wedding dress with lace overlay and long sleeves. Gift of Miss Emily Rote. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Wedding portrait of Charles T. Neepier and Lydia Pamela Baker Neepier on a wedding trip to Niagara Falls in 1885 or 1886. Part of the Neepier family photos. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- White, floor-length wedding gown with adornments of flower patterns, silk pink rose buds, and pearls; shoulder straps hold up the sleeves; in the back, there is a large bow, hiding the bottom of the zipper. Worn by Lisa Ann Baublitz, daughter of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz and Benjamin Baublitz, Jr., at her wedding to Brant Lee Geiman, on November 15, 1997. Gift of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Two-piece Ivory gown made of lace and a sheer material; floor-length with train, with a v-neck cut and long sleeves. Worn by Rosina Schisler at time of her marriage to Charles Elmer Greensfelder on May 3, 1942. Gift of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Two-piece wedding gown; beige silk decorated with a small pattern of lace; floor-length, has a single clasp at the waist. Worn by Caroline Kahler at time of her marriage to Henry George Greensfelder, at Jerusalem Lutheran church in Baltimore on June 26, 1907. Bride was grandmother of donor. Gift of Carol Greensfelder Baublitz. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Gold wedding band, inscribed: “Semper te amaba/W.B.B. to H.M.G./Oct. 16th 1883.” Sits in small box covered with gray speckled leather and white satin inside lid and purple velvet for ring; metal clasp. Worn by donor’s mother, Harriet Muse Spencer, to symbolize her marriage to William Boyd Bland. Gift of Willette Bland. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Marriage certificate of H.S. Stabler and Mary E. Kelley, dated December 13, 1875, signed by Rev. Joel Brown, Woodberry M.E. Church. From family Bible. Gift of Mrs. Carl Fadely. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Wedding of Elizabeth Zimmerer and Michael Kahl, January 14, 1920, at St. Josephs in Fullerton, Md. From left to right, Marty Zimmerer (twin sister, maid of honor), Elizabeth Zimmerer Kahl, Michael Kahl, and John Tremper. Gift of Charles Rutkowski. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Black and white image of woman standing in wedding dress in room with lamp and wicker furniture. Back states: “(1878-1960) Marion Humes/in her wedding dress when she married Philip Calden Turn (1878-1952).” Matted in gray cardboard. Gift of Mrs. George M. Clarke. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
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- Navy blue velvet wedding dress; lace trimmed at neckline; circular insert at bottom of front part of skirt. Worn by donor at wedding in St. James Church, Monkton in 1929. Gift of Mrs. Robert Pearce. (Photo from the Baltimore Historical Society via Enoch Pratt Library)
An online exhibition curated by the Historical Society of Baltimore County reveals changing tastes and cultural practices surround weddings from the late 1800s up through the late 20th century.
Photos reproduced with permission from the Historical Society of Baltimore County based in Cockeysville.
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Kathleen Barry
May 17, 2017 @ 10:56:58
We’re delighted to have our photographs and objects featured, but please note that we are the Historical Society of Baltimore County, based in Cockeysville. Thanks.
Christina Tkacik
May 18, 2017 @ 18:42:11
Thanks so much Kathy, we’ll include in the post. -Christina