Latest additions to my collection

Below is an historic garment given to me recently as a result of reading the article on the LMM Trousseau Project.  I will write more about this later.

Below:  Also an historic neck piece - given to me by a friend who visited last week from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  I'm thankful for these gifts to my collection - they're in good hands.

Lots of Interest in the Trousseau

I've had lots of feedback from recent articles in the media on the reproduction of LM Montgomery's Trousseau.  Many emails and calls - I've also had a few people offer me their vintage garments to add to my collection.  Over the past few years I've gathered a good collection of historic garments and costumes.  Thanks everyone!

It's summertime in Cavendish!

It's been a busy few weeks here at the motel as the tourism season peaks on our beautiful Island.  We enjoy meeting new and returning visitors to our motel.   Daily I meet visitors interested in knowing as much as they can about the life and times of Lucy Maud Montgomery - where she lived and the places she wrote about.

This summer is our 35th season in the tourism business.  Here's a few photos from around our motel - check out our website:  http://www.bayvista.ca/

Below: This is Unit 32.  The Breakfast Room is below with its entrance from the side, opposite the Gazebo.

Below:  the flowers are in full bloom these days at the motel.

Below:  The beautiful beaches of Cavendish!

Below:  There's great beauty in the coastlines of Prince Edward Island - the colours of the blue water, sandy beach and red cliffs are wonderful!

VINTAGE PHOTOS - 1970s

Below are come photos of the motel shortly after we bought it in 1977.  It's amazing to look at the photos and not see a tree - today we have alot of trees around us.

Below:  An old postcard - there have been many changes over the years.

 

 Below:  Inside the house-keeping unit - many updates since this photo.

 Below:  Old photos of the motel. 

 Below:  Back in the late 1970's I also worked at the restaurant below the motel - here's a staff photo!

1989

Below:  This photos was taken in 1989 - the 125th Anniversary of the gathering of the Fathers of Confederation in Charlottetown.  I portrayed Andrew A. MacDonald in many events and performances that summer - here I am with my sister Dianne and her children in the gazebo at the motel.

1899 CAVENDISH

Below:  This is a great photo found in the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island - it's titled, "Camping in Cavendish"

At Green Gables for the Afternoon

I was at Green Gables yesterday afternoon talking to visitors to the site about the Trousseau and Lucy Maud Montgomery.  I've read all her books and the journals - some more than once.  I had an engaging conversation with a woman who had lived in Western Canada who had researched LMM's life when she lived in Prince Albert for about a year when she was 15, with her father and step mother.  There was also a pleasant conversation with a lady from the Southern states who is an author and her daughter illustrates her books. There was also many other who stopped to see the dresses, chat and find out more about them.

Here's some photos from yesterday.

 The Trousseau was set-up in the interpretive centre main entry.

 Below:  Wild roses bushes on the Green Gables grounds.

100 years ago today on July 5th, 1911

One hundred years ago today Lucy Maud Montgomery married Rev. Ewan MacDonald at Park Corner, Prince Edward Island.  Be sure to drop by Green Gables in Cavendish this afternoon to see me there with the Trousseau.  For more information about Green Gables see their website at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/pe/greengables/index.aspx

Trousseau at Green Gables, Cavendish

Three of the dresses from the Trousseau Collection are at Green Gables now on display - I will be there tomorrow (July 5th) for the afternoon to answer questions and talk about the Trousseau and Lucy Maud Montgomery.  Here are the three on display.



Media Coverage on the Trousseau

Last week Sally Cole from The Guardian newspaper came out to the house to see the Trousseau and to interview me for an article - that article appeared in today's Guardian on the front page of Section C: Features.  The week before CBC Radio was out to the house to do a story for local broadcast as well through-out the Maritimes CBC broadcast.

LM Mongtomery describes herself

As we worked on the trousseau dresses we referred to Lucy Maud Montgomery's Journals to get as much information as possible about her size and preferences for style and colour of clothing.  Below is a recent photo of five of the dresses - they measure have a 24" waist, 34" hips and a 34" bust.

The following in excerpt from her journal (page 392) entry on December 13, 1920 - this is one of the most indepth physical description I have found.
"...I am of medium height - about 5'-5", but somehow usually impress people as being small - probably because I am delicate featured and have been, until lately, very slight.  My feet are quite large in proportion to my size - I wear number 4s - but they are said to be "perfectly shaped" and I have a high instep and good ankle.  My figure has generally been described as "neat".  I hate the term but i believe it is true...my hands are exceedingly small.  I wear a 5 3/4 glove but could wear 5 1/2.  If my hands were plump they would be very pretty, but they are too thin for beauty, especially when I am cold...I have pretty, well turned delicately made wrists but my arms and elbow are too thin...old rose and salmon, pinks, creams, and yellows become me in colour and I look well in black, brown and navy.  My enemies accuse me of being "fond of dress".  They charge is perfectly true.  I am very fond of pretty dresses, hats and jewelery and cannot enjoy myself if I do not feel well dressed...I do not feel happy when I am alone if I am not prettily dressed.  I am especially fond of lace, pearls and diamonds."

In 1910 L.M.Montgomery went to Boston to meet with her publishers, the LePage Company, while there she recorded in her journal buying a dress - to give you an idea of her thoughts at the time here is an excerpt from her journal (page 26) dated November 29th, 1910.
"...I got a brown broad cloth suite and an exquisite afternoon dress of old rose cloth, hand embroidered in pink silk.  This last garment cost $80.  My old ingrained, economical instincts gave a loud squalk of protest as i said  "I'll take it," but I heeded them not.  There was no reason why I should.  Yet I don't think I shall be able to spend money like this without an effort.  I shall always have to remind myself that I can afford it - always have to appease my conscience by tell it that $80 means no more to me now than 8 once did.  There have been very few years in my life where $80 would not have covered the cost of all the clothes I got in that year."

Quotes above come from The selected Journals of LM Montgomery 1910-1921 Edited by Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston.