2023 Fall Issue

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Dressing for History Story by BONNIE-LYNN NADZEIKA Photos by KAREN FUCITO Editor’s Note: While Bonnie- Lynn typically reports for Lake Hopatcong News, she appears in this piece as a guest columnist. Everyone remembers a first—first date, first car, first job. The first that most impacted me? It was my first history book in Mrs. Gardner’s secondgrade class at Edith M. Decker School in Mount Arlington. The book had a mottled red and blue cover. At the beginning of each chapter was an illustration of a stream in the forest. First came the animals. Then the Native Americans. The first Europeans and so on. I was mesmerized by this march of “progress” in the book. I loved the passage of time, the changes to the landscape, the thought of generations of people living in the same place and how they changed that landscape. I loved feeling as though I was a part of something that was before me and would be after me. What happens to the 8-year-old who loves history? Well, she becomes known as “the girl who read ‘Gone With the Wind’ in fifth grade.” In high school, she is teased that her history teacher doesn’t read her papers or exams, just gives out an A. In my first semester in college I got precisely one A and by now you have figured out the subject. My parents took a look at that grade report, and we all agreed that history was going to be my field of study. A degree in history was followed by a Master of Arts in museum professions. Internships at museums large and small—the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and Macculloch Hall Museum in Morristown, to name a few—followed. I became director of the Morris County Historical Society, a job I relished for 12 years. During my time there, a volunteer with the historical society showed me pictures she took during a trip to Cape May with a group of her friends for Victorian Week. I was enchanted by the beautiful costumes they were wearing and the Victorian setting. My first foray into dressing was a trip with friends to New York City in 2003, to have afternoon tea at the St. Regis hotel. New Yorkers are known for their sangfroid, but we turned heads. Although, I am still puzzled by the guys outside of Madison Square Garden who asked if we had Knicks tickets to sell. Slowly, this group of history-minded friends coalesced into a more formal club: The Metropolitan Vintage Dance and Social Club (fondly known as the Met Club). We have no charter, no elected officers and no membership dues. It is simply a group of friends with a passion for history, whether they are admirers of the majestic dances of 19th century America, enthusiasts of ragtime music or those who enjoy dressing up in bustle gowns. The club format simply serves as a way for the group to make decisions. Members are mostly from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but we also have members from Maryland and Virginia. Teas in New York were followed by my first Victorian Week in Cape May. (I attended three over the years.) I wore a teal blue, silk 1890s gown with puffed sleeves and antique lace. There have been Civil War-era balls at West Point and Gettysburg. Our gatherings—from birthday parties to baby showers—are dressup events. Our group has been a fixture at Victorian Days (now Heritage Day) in Belvidere for 20 years. I tend to participate mostly in local events, but group members travel to happenings up and down the East Coast. We are also happy to loan ourselves out for a good cause. Members have dressed up and participated in fundraising events for the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms and Macculloch Hall. Want to join the group? Well, you will simply have to start showing up at vintage events that the group attends, whether it’s Heritage Day in Belvidere or the annual Met Club-sponsored Armistice Ball. Events farther afield include Remembrance Weekend in Gettysburg. Every November, this event, which includes fancy balls and a fantastic parade of soldiers, is held in commemoration of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Membership in the Met Club is extended to those who have demonstrated a consistent interest in history and their willingness to wear funny clothes in public. In late May, 16 of us boarded the Queen Mary 2 in Brooklyn, New York, for a seven-day Atlantic crossing to England. Dressed in our finery, we attracted a lot of attention boarding Left to right, top to bottom: The group gathers for a photo after a trip on Miss Lotta. Helen Macdonald, Bridget Conlogue and Larry Blasco playing mini golf. Patricia Bases, the author, Jim Geyer and Jennifer Ochmann on the mini golf course. Gregg Kurlander and Eleanor Bilz wait their turn to putt. 14 LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
the ship and for the entire voyage. The ladies’ long hat pins attracted security. (Seriously. Want to board with a hat pin? You need to fill out paperwork.) On board the ship, we were joined by about 100 other vintage dance and history enthusiasts. They came from as far as California. The vintage community is not a large one, so most everyone knew each other, making it a floating reunion. As a friend said to the many passengers who asked questions about our unusual style of dress: “We brought our own band.” We did. Matt Tolentino, a musician who specializes in playing vintage music from ragtime to polka, put together an orchestra. We danced every night in the Queens Room, as larger and larger groups of passengers came to watch. There was also a vintage bathing beauties contest and silent films, accompanied by our band’s pianist. Paris is on the horizon for 2025. After our successful voyage, I decided it was time for the Metropolitan Vintage Dance and Social Club to visit Lake Hopatcong. The group was ready for another chance to don their costumes and board a boat. On a Saturday in August, we took a Miss Lotta luncheon cruise dressed in the same type of ragtime clothing we wore on the Queen Mary 2. We followed the cruise by playing mini golf among the historic structures representing lake history that are part of the Lake Hopatcong Golf Club. Some refreshing beverages at the Windlass were followed by a visit to the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum. Marty and Laurie Kane (president and treasurer of the museum, respectively) opened up just for us. I’m not sure who was more delighted, my friends at the museum’s many treasures or the Kanes, who had a passionately interested audience. I think the biggest reason our group stands out is our costumes. We are not and do not try to be reenactors. Some of us really enjoy finding period-appropriate fabrics and patterns. Other members try and go with the spirit of an era. Some make their own costumes while others purchase them (which can be expensive for a custom piece). And then there are some of us who take a modern piece and make it look vintage. My outfit for the Miss Lotta cruise was a dress from Marshalls with a period-appropriate cummerbund added and a period hat I had bought from a vintage dealer. Curious? You can have a taste of the vintage life this November when the club hosts its annual Armistice Ball. Armistice was the celebration that happened at the end of World War I, which has morphed into Veteran’s Day. The event will be held at St. Peter’s Church Hall in Morristown on Saturday, November 11. Tickets are $40 and available at armisticeball. wixsite.com/armisticeball. We have dance lessons in the afternoon so that everyone can learn a two-step or a foxtrot (vintage style). We ask that ladies wear dresses and gentlemen wear jackets. The band will include some of the best jazz musicians around who love the opportunity to play these great old tunes. Feeling shy about your waltz skills? Come and listen to the fabulous band and enjoy the homemade refreshments. A tea at Willow Hall in Morristown is typically held the next day. Details will be on the website soon. Maybe you didn’t fall in love with your first history book, but it’s not too late to fall in love with history. PROUDLY SERVING THE BOATING COMMUNITY SINCE 1987 Text: 201-400-6031 MORRIS COUNTY MARINE INC. Sales • Service • Storage WE HANDLE: Insurance Claims • Fiberglass • Gelcoat • Mechanical 745 US 46 W • Kenvil, NJ God Bless America TIRED OF POOR SERVICE OR Septic Pumping • Drain Cleaning •Septic Repairs NOT Sewer GETTING & Water Lines A CALL • Septic BACK? Design Septic Installations • Grease Pumping Call Wilson Services. Talk with a real person who can help with all of your septic, sewer, 973-383-2112 water, or electrical service needs. 973-383-2112 WilsonServices.com NJ Lic # 13VH4508600 Septic Pumping* Any $ 25 $ 50 Electrical Service* *Only valid with work performed, invoice of $250 lakehopatcongnews.com 15
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2023 Fall Issue

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