Centerville Historical Museum dresses up - News - Barnstable Patriot - Hyannis, MA

Centerville Historical Museum dresses up - News - Barnstable Patriot

The strains of a lively Strauss waltz propel a catchy video posted at the Centerville Historical Museum website in a kind of dance of fashionable garments dating from the 19th century.

It’s a whimsical preview of an exhibit called “the WAIST,” newly assembled in a main gallery room at the museum, currently awaiting permission to open to the public, following region coronavirus guidelines.

At just conception two minutes, the video captures a view of more than 30 vintage “waists” in a colorful introduction to selections from the museum’s extensive fashion collection.

What’s a “waist,” and why? In this instance, it doesn’t refer to that portion of our bodies that we frequently eye ruefully; instead, according to Randall Hoel, director of the museum, it refers to a popular 19th-century fashion garment that was paired with a matching skirt of similar design and material – becoming, in carry out, a two-piece dress.

By the early part of the 20th century, it had become approved to pair a waist with one or more different skirts, so each formed a separate outfit. The mix-and-match fashion became a desirable style as women began to enter the workplace around the time of World War I, and these garments would morph into the women’s shirts and blouses of our current day. Coupled with the increasing availability of “ready to wear” clothing, they would make a larger wardrobe more accessible to the many women who were now heading out to work.

Waists make for an appealing display, and they’re only one example of the many garments held in Centerville Museum’s large collection of over 3,000 items of clothing and accessories. The bulk of their collection comprises garments from the 19th century, although it contains representative fashions dating up through the 1940s.

Discussing the museum’s history, Hoel explained that the late Centerville resident Dorothy Waterhouse was one of the founders of the Historical Museum in 1952. She brought her own extensive collection of 19th-century bridal gowns, textiles and fashions.

Over the next few decades, Hoel explained, this sparked many more donations that enhanced their original holdings. Waterhouse, who maintained a connection with the museum at Rhode Island School of Design, approved a generous donation of garments for the Centerville Museum from RISD, dating from the 1830s to the 1930s.

Centerville’s collection represents “an ongoing project that we are constantly reevaluating,” said Hoel. He added that the museum evaluates, selects, and often makes changes in its holdings of vintage clothing, sometimes weeding out items or working with other organizations or museums to add or exchange pieces.

The museum recently acquired a variety of garments dating from 1910-1930, some of which figure in another new gallery exhibit displaying three eras of women’s ragged in undergarments, titled “What’s Underneath.” It’s a startling progression – from an earlier era where seven layers of underclothing preceded the dress, to the picture day, where underwear and outerwear are frequently one and the same thing.

Central to the museum’s fashion collection is an accurate database that lists each of the items, dates the garment, describes it in detail and lists its provenance. One such description reads, in part:

“1890: Two-piece brocade, royal blue velvet dress w/ leaf fabricate on beige satin (woven) ... buttons are gold with blue stones, one rhinestone in center ... full skirt with 10 loops of faille, box pleated ruffle at bottom ... Gather in back for bustle... Cotton lined, machine stitched. Gift, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, 1991. 27.”

Each item is numbered and located in storage rooms at the museum. Contrary to what you might think, garments are not hung, but stored carefully in acid-free boxes, making them easy to locate for an exhibit or a loan to another organization.

The museum has more than 150 wedding gowns; a number of vintage military uniforms; examples of popular Edwardian fashions, such as white lawn dresses from the early 20th century; and lingerie, stockings, shawls, capes and shoes. There’s even a mourning dress from 1866, when wearing murky for the rest of your life was de rigueur, even obligatory.

Among their oldest garments are an unfriendly-looking corset from 1670 (still in one piece, clearly conveying its staying power) and a petticoat dating from the mid-1700s.

Hoel said the museum likes to picture fashion exhibits “with a unique perspective,” comparing styles as they change from older to unique eras, as in the unique shows as well as past presentations of bridal fashions and swimsuits.

More information

Centerville Library, Centerville Historical Museum is located at 513 Main St. Museum hours: Currently closed, the museum hopes to open this summer in accordance with State guidelines for phased opening of museums and art organizations. 508-775-0331, www.centervillehistoricalmuseum.org. A link to “the WAIST” video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKAQXGwpPmo&feature=youtu.be

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