1

In 1998, some members of the Ottawa Valley Historical Society (OVHS) were thinking of hosting a Victorian Tea. They commented that there were actual Victorian fashions held in the collections of the Champlain Trail Museum, and the decision was made to hold a fashion show instead.
To complement the Victorian garments, they added fashions from other eras as well. And "100 Years of Fashion from 1840 - 1940 from the collection of the Champlain Trail Museum" was born!
The Champlain Trail Museum is owned and operated by the OVHS.

2

Victorian Fashion Show Organizing Committee.
22 September 1998
Wesley United Church, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

3

A committee was formed to work on presenting the fashion show. Its members, seen here, are as follows:
back row (l. to r.): Pam Morris, Eileen Hugli, Amy Biggs, Essie Young, Sharon Adams, Mary Lou Sharpe, Marina Dennison, Florence Wilson, Shirley Jones, Helen Carmichael;

front row (l. to r.): Barbara Turcotte, Anne Fullerton, Elizabeth Gilmer (Chair), Frances Lemke, Eileen Sexsmith, Donna Robinson (Vice-Chair).

4

Advertisement
22 September 1998
Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

5

Pat Leonard, a local columnist, featured the fashion show in his local column of August 20, 1998 in "The Pembroke Observer", and by the time that Su Fisher had the posters (seen here) and the tickets ready, demand was overwhelming.

6

Program
22 September 1998
Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

7

Also created as part of the publicity surrounding the show was this pamphlet. It was handed out to those attending the fashion show, and is a good record of all those who contributed to making the shows the great successes they were.

8

As part of the lead-up to the first fashion show at Wesley United Church, photo opportunities were created at the Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village for the local media in order to publicize the event.
The following three photos were taken by the museum photographer, Steve Sipocz, during these "photo ops".

9

Tea time for our models.
1998
Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

10

Our models outside the museum's pioneer home.
1998
Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

11

Our models in the parlour of the Victorian House.
1998
Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

12

Anne Fullerton.
27 June 2003
Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

13

One of the difficulties of putting on a heritage fashion show is the identification of fabrics and styles.
Anne Fullerton, a long-time Pembroke resident, whose husband, Fred, had a blacksmith shop in the downtown area for many years, was invaluable in solving many difficulties that arose.
Her life-long involvement in the textile industry, first in her native Lancashire, England, and then in Pembroke, where she taught many area women the fine art of seamstressing, gave her the knowledge and experience necessary to correctly identify the various styles and fabrics used in the production of the fashions.
She also altered many of the garments, and repaired them so that they were wearable and presentable.

14

Eileen Sexsmith.
20 April 1999
Calvin United Church, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada