Fashion history

Along with dishes like "Luscious Chocolate Tea Pie" and "Coconutea Cookies," organizers will be offering up a sartorial spread of old-timey couture.

Pieces from the Coyner collection, an accumulation of family dresses dating back to the Civil War era, will be modeled by more than a dozen church members during the noon hour gathering next Saturday. The collection - which ranges from bustles to black mourning lace to a scandal-inciting flapper dress - was last shown some 50 years ago.

Currently in the possession of churchgoer Marcia Luecke, whose father was a pastor at Bethany Lutheran, the fashion show started out as an impromptu effort, following a house cleaning that had her scouring the attic of her parents' home.

"The whole thing just grew from there," said tea organizer Joan Amundsen. "We were already planning this Mother's Day tea, and she was saying she had all these old clothes she didn't know what to do with, and it turned a light bulb on."

Assigning the clothes was a less than easy task due to the petite figures required to fit some of the century-old trends.

Eleven-year-old Anna Bohlmann, daughter of current church pastor Tim Bohlmann, will be showing off a black mourning gown - complete with capelet - once meant for a full-grown woman.

"It's kind of weird," the girl said.

Also modeling will be 13-year-old Ellie Bohlmann, who actually liked her high-collar black lace number.

"You could wear a dress back then with lace and stuff and be considered cool," she marveled.

Today, that's not so much the case, she added.

It's believed the Coyner family just naturally accumulated all these bits and pieces over the years, with later generations finding them in old closets and attics. Years ago, the family lent them out frequently for various historical events, finally deciding to give them away to Luecke's mother.

The Coyners were a prominent part of Bethany Lutheran, which was once sometimes referred to as "Coyners' Congregation." The long-running Waynesboro family's forebears, then known as the Keinadts, were among the original attendees of the 235-year church.

Saturday's event is open to church members and their guests. In addition to enjoying the fashion show, audience members will also have an opportunity to get in on a little of the action, with several hats to be made available for trying on.

After the event, Luecke plans on donating the clothing collection to a local museum.

"It's amazing this stuff has lasted this long," said Amundsen, who researched the background of each represented style for a presentation that will accompany the show.

"It's really fantastic. This is history come to life."

Contact Alicia Petska at 932-3561.