On Saturday, March 9th, the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum and Archives hosted its 6th annual Victorian Tea Party. Over Mother’s Day weekend, guests indulged in afternoon tea in the authentic Victorian-Era environment of the E.L. Weigand Great Hall inside the classic schoolhouse, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its construction this year.
Hors d’oeuvres and tea was served, and this year each participant drank the selections of tea from Cedar Grove Coffee from a real porcelain teacup. The cups were donated by Waggish & Co., a new vintage store in Midtown in Reno, Nevada. In addition to the refreshments, guests were treated to an array of entertainment and educational presentations throughout the afternoon.
Music was provided by harpist Leandra Lehmann, an active member of the Reno Harp Ensemble and the High Desert Harpers. At the show she played her Lyon and Healy 30 Concert Grand Pedal Harp, which she affectionally has named Augustus. Bingo was played by guests, the calls all themed to Victorian-era fashion items and references.
Director Nora Stefu gave a speech regarding the 150th Celebration of the Fourth Ward School, and Dr. Kathleen Duvall gave a Victorian Fashion demonstration titled “Snapshot of Fashion 1886.” This history-based presentation analyzed the style of clothing worn by the teachers and principal in a photo posed on the steps of the Fourth Ward School in 1886.
Kathleen is a seamstress and a costumer with a particular interest in the Victorian era, and contributed to several of the Victorian outfits worn by individuals at the event, who participated in the fashion show portion of the demonstration. This culminated with a recreation of the 1886 photo, with several people donning similar attire posed on the steps in the shadow of the educators who stood in that exact place 140 years ago.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the event, Floorcraft LLC and the Virginia City Jerky Company, as well as Maddy’s Place, Cedar Grove Coffee, Smith’s, M25, David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort in Genoa, Roasting House for the Bingo prizes.
